Mark Junge: Do you still think about this? A compilation project by the Cokeville Miracle Foundation, a 501(c) (3) charity. Sept. 21, 2010. And it burned some children. Did you see anything? Cokeville Elementary School hostage crisis, "Radical Right Link Suggested in Hostage Case", "Cokeville Elementary School Bombing | WyoHistory.org", "Couple take over school but die after bomb blast", "Couple in School Blast Linked to Extremist Group", "Certified Bomb Technician Rich Haskell on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School | WyoHistory.org", "Lead Investigator Ron Hartley, Father of Four Student Survivors, on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School | WyoHistory.org", "Secretary Tina Cook on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School | WyoHistory.org", "A projectile killed Dorris Young, not bomb blast, police in Cokeville say", "In 1986, 154 children and teachers survived the bombing of Cokeville Elementary School", "Emergency Management Coordinator Kathy Davison on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School | WyoHistory.org", University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Liberty Point International Middle School, Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, "'No Way to Prevent This', Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens", List of school shootings in the United States by death toll, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cokeville_Elementary_School_hostage_crisis&oldid=1139490391, Improvised explosive device bombings in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 11:55. Anything? Mark Junge: You'd been tested, though. Two of the three blasting caps on the bomb failed to detonate; the wires to each tuna can had been reportedly cut. Go to their hands and knees and crawl out. I don't think that they were planningor David was planning on the ceiling tiles in the school. David was a diabetic. He had tried this deviceand they were designed tothat it would be a delayed explosion. [7] The mechanism was triggered by a dead man's switch, consisting of a wooden piece separating two metal connectors within the jaws of a clothespin, forming an incomplete circuit. So there's doubt in your mind that there was divine intervention? Everyone else survived, including the injured John Miller. But it still sent flames all over in the room and you can see where all the flames were in that room. And then what? It just embedded into the walls from the ammunition from the heat. It was a great movie, very well directed and acted. Chalkboards andwhat do they call those?whiteboards, I think they are, along the walls. When you say what cut the wire? The Wyoming History one may be the best. David became increasingly agitated, and decided to leave the room. What stands out in your mind the most, looking back? Edit: Also, were you at that early screening? Once the wooden piece was removed, the two metal connectors completed the circuit, detonating the bomb. (Laughs) But as I was passing through Kemmerer I stayed in radio contact. The incident was detailed in the book The Cokeville Miracle: When Angels Intervene[12] by Hartt Wixom and his wife Judene, published by Cedar Fort, Inc., which formed the basis for a CBS made-for-TV movie titled To Save the Children. My name is Kamron Wixom, I was a 12 year old 6th grader in 1986 when a mad man took over my school (Cokeville Elementary) with a bomb and his guns. Because it was sittin' low enough and the kids were low enough that it would have done it. It packed the brute force of twenty-five sticks of dynamite. Healing will come Slowly From Within a Wounded Cokeville. Weredo you think it had something to do with angels? And I think that these people actually thought that they could start another world. A Project of the Wyoming Historical Society. She was totally burned. On one hand people didn't want money to be made off of suffering, but on the other hand it felt ungrateful to not share it in the way that TC would or could. [7][5] The reason for the wire cuts are so far unexplained. Mark Junge: Oh, really! Have you seen the Unsolved Mysteries episode that had a segment on this? The bomb was an improvised explosive device constructed in a small two-wheeled shopping cart with two baskets, one on top of the other. COKEVILLE, Wyo. Because in the bus, everything was solid in the school bus. My husband and I are looking forward to seeing the movie, as we weren't around when it happened and have just recently learned about it. Hi MadreDeUnMono! I don't know how many people under the age of 35 know about the Chicago Tylenol murders, but for a few weeks in 1982, it was a national news sensation. One of the miracles that day was that not a single person was lost. Immediately following the detonation, the teachers started to shove children into the hallway, and through two open windows onto the grass outside the school, causing chaos as panicked parents tried to break through police lines. I had the chance to watch the pre-screening of the film and it was very emotional. Seven people in the Chicago area died after ingesting Tylenol capsules laced with potassium cyanide. I knew fairly quickly that he would be the best chance we had at this. Rich Haskell: Well, after I arrived it took probably three to four hours to make sure everything was neutral and everything was not going to be a threat any longer. Cokeville Recollects Miracle of 1986: Hostage Survivors, Town Residents Compile Book, ________. Rich Haskell: Approximately an hour and ten, hour and fifteen minutes. David, who dared not risk their reporting him to the authorities, responded by holding them at gunpoint. They do now - ever since the Youngs barged in on the Cokeville Elementary School with guns and a bomb to demand . Do you think this is a historical event? Rich Haskell: Well, as we were talking before we started recording, because of my knowledge with the explosives and with the law enforcement and everything else, I've had many opportunitiesbecause of the explosivesI've been with Vice President Cheney when he was here in Wyoming up in Pinedale. This all happened about 8 months after the bombing. Twenty-five years ago on Monday, a man and his wife pushed a homemade gasoline bomb into Cokeville's sole elementary school and demanded $300 million in ransom. I received a telephone call from my dispatcher informing me that an incident had taken place up in Cokeville and they were requesting me to drive to Cokeville for assistance. Educated at Chadron State College in Nebraska, he had earned a degree in criminal justice, and was hired as Cokevilles town marshal in the 1970s. I have no doubt about my friends witness testimonies - even though I saw or heard nothing such as they did. Transcriber's notes: I have added some reference footnotes to this transcript where I thought appropriate. I have given that some thought. Teachers were confused and baffled by Young's nonsensical, strange writing. [8] This unintentionally activated the triggering mechanism and the bomb exploded, severely injuring Doris, and filling the room with black smoke and pockets of fire. . As I sat there and watched him, I could feel he was becoming agitated. Why? "The sadness that comes with the death of an 8-year-old, you can . [10][2][3] The injured were triaged to several area hospitals in Wyoming and Idaho.[2][3][11]. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Cokeville Elementary School teachers and staff tried to keep kindergarteners through sixth graders calm and entertained. And what happens if they trigger something accidently?" David had also sent a copy of the manifesto to Reagan. I've got to get back to work now! Amy Bagaso Williams was a fifth-grader when a couple used a bomb while taking hostages at her Wyoming school on May 16, 1986. I can't explain it. Doris had a migraine headache that day, in talking with the other folks, and she was complaining about that, and asked David if she could open the windows because the gas fumesevidently the gas was leaking from the incendiary and he finally consented to let 'em open the window. On May 16, 1986, a man and his wife with a bomb took . Now this is just for my own information and it doesn't have anything to do with this case, but whenever I read about a bomb threat in the paper, I think to myself, "Oh, no! Mark Junge: In fact, didn't you say you burned up your engine? I really did not even want to walk inside that building because I was just afraid that I'd see kids all over the place. If I deleted an entire phrase, I have inserted ellipses . At least 74 people, most of them children, suffered second-degree burns when the bomb went off at about 4 P.M. at the Cokeville Elementary School. I mean, okay, you lose the Twin Towers, you might get the Pentagon damaged, but if somebody's town hall or school is blown up in Star Valley [Wyo.] Rich Haskell: I don't think that they were planningor David was planning on the ceiling tiles in the school. It was cut. The wire was cut. This is not a Mormon film it is more of an inspirational film. Rich Haskell: No. You start messing with the kids, now you're going to have yourself a war. Rich Haskell: Not really that often, but every time I think about it I get very emotional. 1 of 7. Mark Junge: They weren't big enough, in a way. . SHARE Cokeville miracle marking 25 years. "Move!" At about 9:30 a.m., the bomb disposal squad used a robotic device to shoot out the end caps of the device, remove the . Rich Haskell: Well, by none of the kids bein' hurt that was supposed to be hurt. When were you satisfied that there were no more bombs? During the Cokeville Elementary School hostage crisis. . No, we can't do this. The only thing I bristle at is that TC has me suggesting that we say a prayer. These are designed to just spread out the particles all over the air. Rich Haskell: No, it's not. ", All told, 79 of the hostages suffered injuries, mostly second-degree burns, smoke inhalation, and other injuries from the exploding bomb. Retro Report took a look back at this episode, with a focus on how Johnson & Johnson and . Dr. Clark is the faculty advisor of the Sweet Memories: Research Group at Western. the children began describing things more specifically and that is when the mom was prompted to find the photograph of their grandmother. That dead-man switch is a piece of string that goes around your wrist and it's hooked into a clothespin, the other end of it. Rich Haskell: It's a combustible. Rich Haskell: I don't know. Certified Bomb Technician. over there. The man and woman who took an elementary school here hostage Friday, injuring 70 children when their homemade gasoline bomb exploded, had ties to the Posse Comitatus and other white supremacist. On May the 16th , 1986, 1 was in Rock Springs at a basketball game. You can't think, well, maybe something could happen, because yes it could. Mark Junge: They don't want it brought up again. I know there's angels. Vengeance for having been fired did not seem to have been the motive, but rather a philosophy recorded in journal entries referring to a Brave New World where he wanted to reign over intelligent children. You could see that the roof tiles had been lifted out of their brackets. At that time all of the different agencies was pretty much on the same radio frequency and I was stayin' in touch with them, lettin' them know what my location was and they were in turn telling me what was taking place. I was, and I still am, a certified bomb technician at the time, and I was, as far as I know, the only bomb technician in the southern half of the state of Wyoming. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. They just didn't let it die out. They had written the manuscript, ready for publication, when the Walkers contacted them as family friends and said you may want to come ask our daughters some questions. Cokeville Trying to Rebuild A Normal and Secure Life.. Rich Haskell: I think it could be a spiritual experience that I have with church, or being around the kids, I don't know. You can ask me anything about this today between 1-2pm. ", Mark Junge: So it took you three days, three and a half days. The windows had been knocked outhad been blown out. You can see what's happening in the world today. Although many were burned, some severely, only the perpetrators of this horrible incident died. Mark Junge: We were worried, Sue and I, that people would take offence, right? Which is hard to believe, but a positive experience in that they learned something. Mark Junge: Well, I want you to know that we think you're courageous for doing this with us. They had to come and get my car and get me another one. One of the miracles that day was that not a single person was lost. and detonated a bomb inside. How much interaction did you have with the director/producers of the movie? It was just shootin' everywhere. Flipboard. It brings back lots of memories but it doesn't hurt because actually it was a positive experience. Survivor is my Name: Voices of the Cokeville Elementary School Bombing. Produced by Wyoming State Archives for Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources, the package includes interviews with 14 people about the events of May 16, 1986. I wondered what that was, but then immediately noticed my friends over by the door talking to Doris. Audio/Video Recording. When Columbine took place, it was such a big deal, and I mentioned to a couple people, "You know, Columbine wasn't the first school to have anything happen." Mark Junge: How many actual bombs have you had experience with? The photo of Rich Haskell is by Wyoming State Archives. Mark Junge: Are you one of the most experienced people in the area? I called back to my dispatcher and they did inform me that the school in Cokeville was being held hostage by two individuals and there was bombs involved. results in the deaths of perpetrators David and Doris Young; 154 hostages survive. Jessica Clark, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of history and political science at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, Wyo. And that's what we in this country have that these other fanatics or whatever is the family is the import factor. I did open that briefcase remotely like I was taught in school to do. You HAVE to find the positives or the negatives can eat you up the rest of your life. Cokeville had so little crime that many folks didn't bother to lock their doors. We had people from ATFAlcohol, Tobacco and Firearmsand there was another bomb technician that came up from Evanstonhe was studying to be a bomb technicianand we all looked at that and said, "That wire's been cut." AP file. Contact us at editor@wyohistory.org for information on levels and types of available sponsorships. So I went to Huntsville, Ala., to Redstone Arsenal. In a May 16, 1986 photo, the body of Doris Young is removed by officials after the Cokeville Elementary hostage situation in Cokeville, Wyo. As time progressed, however, a different story emerged in this highly religious and largely Mormon community. Interesting stuff to me! I later learned he'd been shot in the back. All the hostages escaped, though 79 were hospitalized with burns and injuries. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Mark Junge: Which means you had to be doing over a hundred miles an hour! Had a gallon milk jug full of gasoline on one level, had aluminum powder, flour and those two components was in tuna fish cans directly under the gasoline bomb. Mark Junge: Okay. For me, what has impressed me about the film is not necessarily the story of Angels (which are remarkable), but that the majority of the 154 hostages chose to see God's hand in their lives that day. Everything was blackened. I can understand that. Mark Junge: And you know, in Sue and I's conversation with these dozen people we've talked to now, seems like they also feel the same way you do. Rich Haskell: Pretty sophisticated guy is what he was. Doris accidently triggered the bomb by motioning to her hostages with her arms. There was no give in the school bus. I got a chance to talk to Jennie Sorensen Johnson, who was seven when David Young rolled a bomb into her first grade classroom. The Hartley story didn't come out publicly until my parents (who wrote the book in the year after the bombing) began asking questions about this kind of thing. Survivors began to tell their stories through a spiritual lens. I didn't touch the body at all. I'm proud of all my children. Mark Junge: And that's the lesson we learn. Unexplained Mysteries: Angel Files. Season 1, Episode 20. Over the course of time he did various things to get our input from script readings early on, to being there on set, etc. I was frightened and felt that we needed to do something to try to calm down or to be careful, because he was so agitated. "[6] The two men eventually refused to participate in the event. Jessica Clark, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of history and political science at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, Wyo. So we took the tiles off and went up into the ceiling and crawled up into the upper space up there and found a .45 slug up embedded into the iron girders up in the wall, and thought, okay, where did that come from? Mark Junge: And you're sheriff in Sweetwater? It said in there that they had brought blasting caps, ammunition, those types of things in and there was a sealed briefcase that was in the hallway. Rich Haskell: Were above the level of the kids, yeah. Here is a local story from the 20 year anniversary (we are at the 29th year now), What's your side of the story? Rich Haskell: Yes, I did. It was suggested we say a group prayer and I thought it was a great idea, so I helped gather a group of us together. May 24, 1986 12 AM PT. I did not have to imagine how God would move that day when I said my little prayer just hours before, I simply knew he would. But it didn't. David and Doris Young took 167 hostages (150 children, 17 adults and one unlucky UPS driver) at the elementary school. But he knew the culture, he knew the type of people, and I'm not sayin' that Mormon people are better than anybody else, but their way of life is family is first. She tied the string around her wrist. "We could tell that he was becoming very nervous. But David refused to reveal his plans entirely until moments before they unfolded. 10 Years Later, Cokeville Just Says: Let Us Be., Pierce, Scott D. Save the Children is Shallow, Exploitative: Focus is on Wacko Bomber Instead of 167 Cokeville Students and Teachers., Troone, Trent. All the hostages escaped, though 79 were hospitalized with burns and injuries. The Power of Faith: 25 Years After School Bombing, Town Remembers Story of Survival., Mitchell, Ruth Ann. Cokeville Children Held Hostage by Bomber., Cokeville Elementary School Bombing: 25-Years Later. Accessed May 17, 2013, at, Fagg, Ellen. Cokeville Public Library. Is that morbid thinking on my part? [5] The leaking gasoline's fumes prompted teachers to open the classroom windows, unknowingly creating vents for the impending explosion. Rich? Mark Junge: Well, you've been blessed in a lot of ways. This allowed gasoline to drip into the tuna fish cans, turning the aluminum-flour mixture into paste, unable to aerosolize. They learned to trust in their God, the kids were healed for the most part, and they value life more now. I cannot tell you what happened. The tuna fish cans, if you can imagine, here's two tuna fish cans sittin' here like this, and a gallon jug of gasoline sittin' above it. Rich Haskell: I'm Rich Haskell. We didn't know if the blasting caps were in therejust exactly what was in there. He knew what the community was all about. It became a story of a miracle rather than a tragedy. Ahntastic Adventures in Silicon Valley His fever broke within minutes of getting it off his chest. Cokeville Bombing. Undated scrapbook. Others miracles were reported and some of those are recorded in this compilation.." I'd like to think so. Rich Haskell: No. I know it is real. One of the unique things that I noticed when I went into that room and I don't know if any of the other people have told you about it or whatever else, but when I walked into that room you could see the outline on the whiteboard of an angel. (Laughs) Yeah, I understand what you're saying, but it was. We know he built two of 'em. Story: Witness who ran toward marathon bomb 'saw bodies flying' "The death of any child shatters us all,'' Barnicle said. It is a touchy topic for us, and could come across the wrong way. David went to the school office, handing out a manifesto titled "ZERO EQUALS INFINITY" and announcing "This is a revolution!" Mark Junge: You also mention in your written article in Witness to Miracles [See Note] , the book, that you found a briefcase and you had to open it remotely? I did see the lighting had changed in the room, and it was right in the same timeline as everyone else's witness. So many of 'em thatI don't know. Cokeville Elementary School is located at 205 N. Sage St. in Cokeville. Rich Haskell: No. Both hostage takers died, while 79 hostages were wounded. She was a total torch! Debbie Sparks and Steven Moore, both EMTs, discuss on May 9 the elementary school bombing. You see the bag ladies pullin' them around behind them when they go to the store and they can put their groceries in or whatever else. TC is one of my heroes. One thing to mention is that the tension in real life seemed much more present at first, and then once prayers were said the mood really lifted. Mark Junge: What were they designed to do? For instance, The Cokeville Miracle Foundations 2005 book Witness to Miracles: Remembering the Cokeville Elementary School Bombing and the Wyoming State Archives oral history project called Survivor is My Name both focused on the reconstructing of this narrative as a miracle instead of a tragedy.