Unexplained Mysteries: Angel Files. Season 1, Episode 20. But shortly after entering the school, Princess decided to rebel. Maybe writing that up 2 years ago when this came along was more healing for me than for him, but I gave it all to him! Rich Haskell: Yes. Mark Junge: Do you know the names and birthdates of all your grandchildren? You can check out [CokevilleMiracle.com] (http://www.cokevillemiracle.com/movie.html). 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. I walked into the bathroom and there was the suspect that had started this whole mess, layin' there on the floor with ahe had a pistol in his hand and you could tell he had shot himself in the head. The Hilton Garden Suites in Laramie, Wyo. Wyoming Town Still Healing a Year After School Bombing., Schoolhouse Blast Still Felt a Year Later., Survivor is My Name: Cokeville Elementary School Bombing1986 News Report Audio. Audio Recording. He did deliver our salvation that day. Accessed May 28, 2013 at. But I know that, well, I'll just be quite frank. It would have killed them. We know for a fact that he had tried that device because he did it in Arizona and totally destroyed a school bus. Doris tried numerous times to calm the children by telling them to "think of it as an adventure movie," or that they "would have a great story to tell their grandchildren." She acknowledges these students for assisting her in researching her contributions to the WyoHistory.org web site. David's youngest daughter from his first marriage, Princess, entered the elementary school with David and Doris, but refused to carry out the plan, leaving to report the incident at the town hall. I did see the lighting had changed in the room, and it was right in the same timeline as everyone else's witness. Rich Haskell: Uh, I can understand that. 2 Recreation Board, Indigenous People in Wyoming and the West, Emergency Management Coordinator Kathy Davison on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, EMT Glenna Walker, Mother of Three Young Children, on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Lead Investigator Ron Hartley, Father of Four Student Survivors, on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Public Works Director and Fireman Kevin Walker, Father of Three Young Children, on the 1986 bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Secretary Tina Cook on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, First grade teacher Janel Dayton on the 1986 bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Second grade teacher Carol Petersen on the 1986 bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Third grade student Rachel Walker Hollibaugh on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Third grade student Jamie Buckley King on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Fourth grade teacher Kliss Sparks on the 1986 bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Fourth grade student LeaKae Roberts on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Green River Historic Preservation Commission, Natrona County Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Natrona County Recreation Joint Powers Board, Sublette County Historical Preservation Board, University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources, Casper Chapter, Wyoming Archaeological Society, June Frison chapter, Wyoming Archeological Society. Rich Haskell: I sometimes do, but you can't let yourself think about it. Now, 28 years later, Conger and more than a dozen other survivors are reliving . Flipboard. But I walked up to the window and looked inside the window and didn't hardly see anything out of the ordinary except it was all black inside. The Cokeville Miracle. When faith bears a miracle. - Medium She's an avid genealogist, so maybe get involved with that, and maybe go on a mission for the church. Used with thanks. Rich Haskell: It's a combustible. I know there's angels. By Jamie Armstrong May 22, 2015 09:35 AM MDT. Edit: Also, were you at that early screening? The Wyoming History one may be the best. When you say what cut the wire? Mark Junge: Well, you've been blessed in a lot of ways. 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. Have there been any lingering psychological effects from going through something so traumatic while so young? The kids could just go to the bathroom right from their classroom. As long as that piece of wood was in there to keep those separated, it would not detonate. Mark Junge: Well, and it burned some of the kids. It's a little basket that has different layers on it. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Now you are a bomb technician. How has that experience shaped your life? I think I made it there in record timeI'm not sure. Returning, David Young shot his wife, then himself. [7] Geography [ edit] Kameron Wixom, son of Hartt and Judene Wixom, writes a childlike faith saved us. In his contribution to the Witness to Miracles book, Kameron writes: I didnt have to see angels, hear them, or even think that their presence might be required that day. ", Mark Junge: So it took you three days, three and a half days. We know he built two of 'em. Cokeville Trying to Rebuild A Normal and Secure Life.. Mark Junge: Had you seen anything like what took place in this classroom before? Can you describe this? Sue Castaneda: Did you look at (unintelligible). Mark Junge: You think when we talk to you to bring this up againI know you're emotional about itbut does it hurt you to talk about this? Bomber's body removed - Billings Gazette I've been involved with law enforcement since 1977 in Sweetwater County. Witnesses later testified that just before the explosion David Young had connected the explosive to his wife. Students, teachers, staff and visitors frantically exited the building, with teachers helping many of the children escape through the windows. Young was a former Cokeville town marshal who had been living in Arizona for several years. And it was a perfect trajectory up into the ceiling where that bullet was. Dr. Clark is the faculty advisor of the Sweet Memories: Research Group at Western. Many children showed signs of distress with sobs, complaining of headaches from the smell of gasoline from the bomb, or simply wanting to go home. One teacher was shot when he tried to flee,. And that was their whole intent of coming to Cokeville. Rich Haskell: Not really that often, but every time I think about it I get very emotional. And it burned some children. The first chapter is titled A Town of Trust.. You can see what's happening in the world today. The top basket contained a gallon milk jug of gasoline, wired with a blasting cap. where there's only a limited population, that's going to throw the fear of God into everybody. May 16, 1986, will never be forgotten by the residents of Cokeville, Wyo. This did, in fact, happen in Wyoming! Today In History: The Cokeville Elementary School Bombing You can also read about it on [Wikipedia] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cokeville_Elementary_School_hostage_crisis). After a stand-off lasting two and a half hours, the gasoline bomb the couple had brought into the school went off prematurely, badly burning Doris Young while David Young was out of the room. Mark Junge: And what happened? In their minds they could start another world. It brings back lots of memories but it doesn't hurt because actually it was a positive experience. Mark Junge: Do you think David or Doris would have cut it? A Project of the Wyoming Historical Society. Of course, I can imagine the noise that it made. It'sI'm still doing that kind of thing because whenever they hold General Conference in Salt Lake City I go to Salt Lake City to be part of the bomb team for the church while they have General Conference. Mark Junge: Today is the 23rd of September, 2010. Sue Castaneda: Carla said that some people were mad that we were there. He hadn't had anything to eat and she finally convinced him to get something to eat, and he let her be in charge of that bomb. I absolutely have. Lenita's father Rocky was a fifth grade teacher at Cokeville Elementary School at the time of the bombing, Lenita was a seventh grader. 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. But it didn't. When I arrived I could see out on the lawn, there was a black object laying out on the grass. Rich Haskell: And fourteen and a half great-grandchildren. I'm currently the Sheriff of Sweetwater County. Mark Junge: You'd been tested, though. 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. May 16, 1986, will never be forgotten by the residents of Cokeville, Wyo. The only two fatalities were David and Doris Young. Because of the experience and the different classes that I've attended, I know what bombs do to people, to buildings and to all kinds of structures. You could see that the roof tiles had been lifted out of their brackets. Mark Junge: What do you want to do with the rest of your life? Several other survivors were there. Rich Haskell: Well, run fordo another term as sheriff and then retire, and my wife and I are going to doshe loves genealogy. 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. And the bathroom was off to the side of it because it was the kindergarten class. Peterson, Carol. Just before implementing the Biggie, David Young had also sent a copy of the document to President Ronald Reagan, the president of Chadron State College and numerous media outlets. The bomb did detonate and fire, thick black smoke and toxi fumes filled the room. Yeah, we didn't get a lot of sleep. Too many of 'em to try to remember their birthdays. Rich Haskell: Absolutely! 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. The circuit was powered by a 9-volt lantern battery. You start messing with the kids, now you're going to have yourself a war. [10][2][3] The injured were triaged to several area hospitals in Wyoming and Idaho.[2][3][11]. Rich Haskell: Well, I like to think I'm a better person because of it. David Young entered the school with his wife transporting a large gasoline-filled device that appeared to be a bomb. What is cokeville miracle about? Explained by Sharing Culture As I sat there and watched him, I could feel he was becoming agitated. And if I had been a little less of a jokester I may have seen something in that strange light. They were sitting out across the fence with scopes on their rifles just ready to shoot until the sheriff went out and said, "No. Young met his second wife, Doris Waters, while in Cokeville. Returning to the scene, David shot his wife, a teacher, then himself. Did this shake the faith of some people, or would you say it strengthened it in most? Of what you would picture an angel, with the wings and, Mark Junge: Well, if I'm a skeptic, I could say, "Well, that's just the way the flames shot up.". I actually hadn't thought of doing that, yet. Totally destroyed it! Certified Bomb Technician. She is one of the survivors whose story has become a part of The Cokeville Miracle. I don't know. Mark Junge: That's a mighty powerful gun! President Hinkley, President Monson, and President Faust. Mark Junge: One of the things that Sue and I found out is that people don't regret doing this because they think it's important for history. 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. I believe a presence was entering the room at about that time. That's why I have a computer. Rich Haskell: Were above the level of the kids, yeah. The story was also featured on Unsolved Mysteries, Unexplained Mysteries, and I Survived A movie about the incident, The Cokeville Miracle, was made by filmmaker T. C. Christensen and released on June 5, 2015. Mark Junge: So it would have gone upward, but would it have killed the kids? Rich Haskell: There was also ayou look through the ceiling and there was a bigger hole up there. Either way, right after my joke is about when David excused himself from the room. COKEVILLE, Wyo. The Cokeville Elementary School hostage crisis occurred on Friday, May 16, 1986 in Cokeville, Wyoming, United States, when former town marshal David Young, 43, and his wife Doris Young, 47,[1] took 136 children and 18 adults hostage at Cokeville Elementary School. Over the course of time he did various things to get our input from script readings early on, to being there on set, etc. (Laughs) Yeah, I understand what you're saying, but it was. On that Friday afternoon in their quiet, rural town, a deranged couple entered the community's elementary school, took those inside hostage and detonated a bomb in a first grade classroom. The Cokeville Elementary School hostage crisis occurred on Friday, May 16, 1986 in Cokeville, Wyoming, United States, when former town marshal David Young, 43, and his wife Doris Young, 47, [1] took 136 children and 18 adults hostage at Cokeville Elementary School. It was a great movie, very well directed and acted. 25 years after school bombing, Wyoming town remembers story of survival Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Rich Haskell: Sure. 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.] The windows had been knocked outhad been blown out. In most cases I have deleted redundant ands, ers, uhs, buts, false starts, etc. ", All told, 79 of the hostages suffered injuries, mostly second-degree burns, smoke inhalation, and other injuries from the exploding bomb. Whenever they would come to Wyoming I would be part of their security team. These are designed to just spread out the particles all over the air. Chaos ensued. SHARE Cokeville miracle marking 25 years. This narrative was perpetuated in many publications and productions. Debbie Sparks and Steven Moore, both EMTs, discuss on May 9 the elementary school bombing. I was a little bit nervous, of course. You know this is going to sound morbid, but I always thought if the Muslims, the radical Muslims were smart, they would take their jihad to local communities because that would scare the hell out of 'em like it did in Cokeville. And then he shot himself. And that's what we in this country have that these other fanatics or whatever is the family is the import factor. 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. results in the deaths of perpetrators David and Doris Young; 154 hostages survive. Cokeville Public Library. I guess I should say I am only speaking as a child, the adults were probably tense the entire time! Why? The gasoline bottle was leaking. Sue Castaneda: Which is the son who is also running for sheriff? Mark Junge: You had some bullets in the ceiling that you had to investigate, too. Is that morbid thinking on my part? Trauma is trauma and everyone deals with it differently. It was cut. On that Friday afternoon in their quiet, rural town, a deranged couple entered the communitys elementary school, took those inside hostage and detonated a bomb in a first grade classroom. Mark Junge: to go through all this? WyoHistory.org welcomes the support of the following sponsors. Current students at Cokeville Elementary School aren't taught about the '86 bombing, but most know the general story. As time progressed, however, a different story emerged in this highly religious and largely Mormon community. Dr. Clark is the faculty advisor of the Sweet Memories: Research Group at Western. While he was writing his philosophy, Zero Equals Infinity, Doris took part-time jobs including housekeeping and waitressing to support their meager lifestyle. The miraculous events that followed transformed the lives of hundreds of people, including many who witnessed angels or received heavenly help from deceased ancestors. TC is one of my heroes. Mark Junge: And that's the lesson we learn. No. Details: At 1:20pm on Friday, May 16, 1986, forty-three-year-old David Young and his forty-seven-year-old wife, Doris, wheeled a shopping cart containing a homemade gasoline-filled bomb into Cokeville Elementary School in Cokeville, Wyoming, just after the lunch hour recess. And I think that these people actually thought that they could start another world. 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." A quarter of a century later, Williams can still vividly recall the chaotic scene following the explosion. I had just cracked a little joke with a toy tank of legos as I drove it "across the death line" or the masking tape square on the floor. over there. [7][5] The reason for the wire cuts are so far unexplained. She has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals on the history and heritage of Germans from Russia on the Northern Plains. Where's he running? Well, with the window being open, with the ceiling tiles being able to lift up and down, I think that absorbed a lot of the explosion of the gasoline bottle. One of the miracles that day was that not a single person was lost. 'Amityville Horror' killer dies in prison at 69 - NBC News 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? Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources, Cheyenne. Box 37, Cokeville, Wyoming 83114. Im living proof.. There's a piece of wood in there that separates the jaws of a clothespin and in that clothespin there are two metal connections that the wires were hooked to which made the electrical connection with the bomb. Nobody come inside this circle." Well, when I arrived at Cokeville, of course they had the roads all blocked off and there was not a lot of people around the school at the time. Rich Haskell: I don't know the birthdates but I know the names. You went back home? Mark Junge: This bomb was designed to do what? Parentheses ( ) are used for incidental non-verbal sounds, like laughter. It packed the brute force of twenty-five sticks of dynamite. Rich Haskell: Yes. 10 Years Later, Cokeville Just Says: Let Us Be Rich Haskell: No. In the tiny classroom, they watched movies, played games, prayed. One of 'em was in Cokeville and one was in the bus that he did the experiment with. The two brought in a bomb attached to themselves with a lanyard. A compilation project by the Cokeville Miracle Foundation, a 501(c) (3) charity. Thank you for doing this! 2 Recreation Board, Indigenous People in Wyoming and the West, http://news.google.com/newspapers/p/deseret_news?id=nz1TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BYQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4165,3587249&dq=cokeville+bombing&hl=en, http://archive.org/details/SurvivorIsMyName-VoicesOfTheCokevilleElementarySchoolBombing, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udNB_xdPiYE, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mz1TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BYQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6656,2193766&dq=cokeville+trying+to+rebuild&hl=en, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oD1TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BYQDAAAAIBAJ&dq=cokeville&pg=7027%2C3851642, http://wyospcr.state.wy.us/MultiMedia/Display.aspx?ID=86&icon=1, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1928&dat=19870529&id=-AogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c2UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1067,6238243, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19870521&id=w4sfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zH4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4596,6209063, https://www.deseret.com/2006/5/15/19953524/cokeville-recollects-miracle-of-1986, http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18072820, http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article%E2%80%943077bf4a-a45e-5dad-ae3a-a99aa8fcf3aa.html, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19960515&id=Ke5LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fuwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5227,9406392, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19940404&id=GoQwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iuwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2778,1992787, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705372484/Cokeville-miracle-marking-25-years.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe_ZX4Qbsi4, Emergency Management Coordinator Kathy Davison on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, EMT Glenna Walker, Mother of Three Young Children, on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Public Works Director and Fireman Kevin Walker, Father of Three Young Children, on the 1986 bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Lead Investigator Ron Hartley, Father of Four Student Survivors, on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Certified Bomb Technician Rich Haskell on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Secretary Tina Cook on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, First grade teacher Janel Dayton on the 1986 bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Second grade teacher Carol Petersen on the 1986 bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Third grade student Rachel Walker Hollibaugh on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Third grade student Jamie Buckley King on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Fourth grade teacher Kliss Sparks on the 1986 bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Fourth grade student LeaKae Roberts on the 1986 Bombing of Cokeville Elementary School, Law and Order in Cokeville: A Woman Mayor and Prohibition, Green River Historic Preservation Commission, Natrona County Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Natrona County Recreation Joint Powers Board, Sublette County Historical Preservation Board, University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources, A Projectile Killed Doris Young, Not Bomb Blast, Police in Cokeville Say., Castaneda, Sue and Mark Junge.