Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens
Contents
40. Cypress Cove
Overview
The prosecution opens by establishing motive through eyewitness Rodney Horn, who describes Kya attacking Chase at Cypress Cove and shouting a death threat. Tom Milton reframes the incident as potential self-defense. The testimony gives jurors a vivid conflict while Eric underscores Kya’s anger as motive for murder.
Summary
After lunch, Judge Sims has the prosecution begin. Instead of forensics, Eric calls Rodney Horn to start with motive. Rodney testifies that while fishing near Cypress Cove on August 30, 1969, he and Denny Smith heard a man and woman arguing in the woods.
Rodney says they motored closer as the woman began shouting. From nearby, he saw the woman—whom he identifies as Kya Clark—kick the man hard, then again as he writhed. When the man stood, Rodney recognized him as Chase Andrews. Rodney describes Kya stumbling toward her boat with her clothing askew, shouting.
Rodney states that as Kya fled, she yelled, “Leave me alone, you bastard! You bother me again, I’ll kill ya!” Eric highlights this to show anger and motive. The courtroom reacts, and Judge Sims restores order.
On cross, Tom Milton emphasizes that Rodney initially heard a woman sounding in distress and saw no consensual behavior, suggesting Kya may have been defending herself against a stronger man. On redirect, Eric narrows the focus: regardless of consent, Kya was “plenty mad” and issued a death threat, reinforcing motive for the jury.
Who Appears
- Rodney HornEyewitness; testifies he saw Kya kick Chase at Cypress Cove and heard her threaten to kill him.
- Kya ClarkDefendant; identified by Rodney as the woman who fought Chase and shouted a death threat.
- EricProsecutor; opens with motive, eliciting Rodney’s account and emphasizing Kya’s threat and anger.
- Tom MiltonDefense attorney; reframes the incident as possible self-defense by highlighting Kya’s distress.
- Judge SimsPresides; admonishes witness to use Kya’s name and manages courtroom reactions.
- Chase AndrewsDeceased; identified as the man Kya kicked during the Cypress Cove altercation.