The first words uttered out of Nathan Vossler’s mouth through a black phone during an exclusive interview at the Montgomery County Jail Saturday, Nov. 14, were, “Did you bring any books?”

He said, “I like to keep my mind off things.” Nathan wants to read any books by John Grisham, whose books have been adapted into several movies including “The Pelican Brief,” “Runaway Jury” and “Christmas with the Cranks.” He has a limit of three books at once, but he can exchange them for different ones.

Nathan, a sophomore business economics major, was arrested Saturday, Oct. 3, for especially aggravated kidnapping allegedly involving a 6-year-old girl in Emerald Hills Apartments.

Nathan talked in depth about his several school involvements such as his service as Dungeons and Dragons Club president, International Student Organization, History Club, African American Cultural Center, Hispanic Cultural Center, Newman Club, Library Trivia Night, International Education, tutor for statistics, Gamma Beta Phi and Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies and making the Dean’s List every semester since starting college.

“I did everything possible.”

For Nathan’s APSU 1000 class, Lorneth Peters, academic counselor, asked her students to write about how many events they have attended so far. Nathan said he had attended “46 events before International Night.” The last picture Nathan and his wife Mary took together was at Mudbowl. Mary was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 14, for aggravated arson.

Nathan said they “always invited people to go to church.” The Vosslers are members of First Baptist but occasionally visit other churches when invited by friends.

“If I didn’t have God, I wouldn’t have anything. He wants me here for some reason.”

Nathan described his jail cell as 8-by-8 feet by foot shared with two other people, a sink and toilet and black iron, steel bunk beds.

He has been moved nine times from pod to pod in the jail for various different reasons since he has been there. Nathan first heard about the fire at the apartment he shares with his wife in a letter.

“I was terrified she was dead. I didn’t know anything at all.” Nathan called a guard and said he would like to talk the pastor.

Five minutes later, the guard came back with another guard. They cuffed him and took him out of his cell and put him in suicide watch for five days. He wore a white paper gown, sat on a mat and took everything including his glasses.

“It was really cold and really terrible.”

But he kept moving on.

He said, “I write her every day the mail goes out and keep writing if they wouldn’t take the mail.”

His old King James Version of the Bible was brought up during conversation. Nathan said it was hard to read and he is trying to obtain a different one. He then talked about premonitions and things happening for a reason. He mentioned how he told a tutor in the Marks writing lab not to go out alone because of a feeling he had. The Vosslers have been talking to this person about attending church. Nathan also said on Friday, Oct. 2, the day before his arrest, he felt like something was going to happen to him.

He told Mary “Don’t go anywhere without me.” Nathan was asked to talk about what happened that day, but he said he could not answer because the call was being monitored.

Right before the screen flashed, indicating one minute was left, Nathan said, “It’s hard, a hard thing with the charge. This is basically the pit stop for the scum of the earth.”

He did agree to another interview just before the screen went blank. For more exclusive interviews with Nathan and Mary Vossler, check out future editions of The All State.