I think you should know that it can be difficult to watch - but that it has a very rewarding outcome. 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. Rich Haskell: I don't know the birthdates but I know the names. I've got to get back to work now! David and Doris Young took 167 hostages (150 children, 17 adults and one unlucky UPS driver) at the elementary school. In the days and weeks immediately after this event, most accounts focused on the horrors of the day. In 1986, 154 children and teachers survived the bombing of Cokeville Elementary School. How has that experience shaped your life? Returning, David Young shot his wife, then himself. Cokeville Elementary School is located at 205 N. Sage St. in Cokeville. I can't explain it. David had also sent a copy of the manifesto to Reagan. Hey, I am not the survivor, but I spent my summers in Cokeville, my family is from there, and I have been helping on publicity for the film. Rich Haskell: I think it could be a spiritual experience that I have with church, or being around the kids, I don't know. Interesting stuff to me! There was nobody killed but the perpetrators. NOTE: Witness to Miracles was published in 2006 by Pronghorn Press, www.pronghornpress.org . Don't go past this square. 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. 96 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from J.Cano: Law & Order: SVU - Best Episode We know he built two of 'em. Retro Report took a look back at this episode, with a focus on how Johnson & Johnson and . And that was their whole intent of coming to Cokeville. After a two-and-a-half hour standoff, the children were becoming restless, so the teachers preoccupied the kids in the form of movies, games, prayer, and books. Welcome to /r/latterdaysaints, a sub for members and friends of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (formerly known as Mormons). She was a total torch! 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. Mark Junge: How many actual bombs have you had experience with? And you could see that she had been burning by just looking at her out on the front lawn. Certified Bomb Technician. 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. Throughout the standoff, David grew increasingly agitated and irritable. Virginia Tech, it wasn't that way. Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources, Cheyenne. Sue Castaneda: Carla said that some people were mad that we were there. To my right is Sue Castaneda who is the Wyoming Oral History Project Director, and across the table from me is Rich Haskell, who is a certified bomb technician. Teachers were confused and baffled by Young's nonsensical, strange writing. He did deliver our salvation that day. It was perfect! Whenever they would come to Wyoming I would be part of their security team. She has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals on the history and heritage of Germans from Russia on the Northern Plains. She's an avid genealogist, so maybe get involved with that, and maybe go on a mission for the church. But we knew what our story was, and that it could help offer hope. I saw an early screening of the film and absolutely loved it. I think it was still in his body. Well, he had put wooden shelves for layers. Mark Junge: That's a mighty powerful gun! The two died after the bomb. 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. The top basket contained a gallon milk jug of gasoline, wired with a blasting cap. I think it's because of the ages of the kids, to start with. Mark Junge: Do you think you've taken more joy out of life because of it? That's why I have a computer. This wasn't a simple bomb. [5], "You could see that the roof tiles had been lifted out of their brackets. Mark Junge: With bombs? Contact us at editor@wyohistory.org for information on levels and types of available sponsorships. For more information about our sponsors and the people behind WyoHistory.org, visit our About Us page: Hostage crisis at the elementary school in Cokeville, Wyo. 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. Mark Junge: EOD. When the thing went off, when the bomb exploded, they just started chuckin' people out the windows. 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. Rich Haskell: Pretty sophisticated guy is what he was. [5][10][8], When the bomb detonated, the majority of the explosive force was channeled through loose ceiling tiles into the roof, and open windows acting as vents. Do you ever think about that? And screaming, I can't imagine the screams that she was making. According to survivor accounts, Doris enticed many into the first grade room by announcing that their presence was required for a school assembly. That's a true line in the movie. In addition, national reporters began arriving within hours of the explosion. His fever broke within minutes of getting it off his chest. Rich Haskell: I am. I've spent many, many hours and many days with the leaders of the Mormon church, with the Prophet of the Mormon church. I don't know ifI just felt an emptyactually I could just see a hundred-sixty people dead! 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. Go to their hands and knees and crawl out. I'm proud of all my children. If you are interested in seeing the film, theaters are listed here. Doris developed a headache from the gasoline fumes, and raised her hand to her forehead. Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources, Repanshek, Kurt J. Rich Haskell: Okay, I'll buy that! Mark Junge: Did you find the bullet that killed him, too? Rich Haskell: Yes. COKEVILLE, Wyo. Mark Junge: And you're sheriff in Sweetwater? 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. Rich Haskell: No. To go off to the side? Witnesses later testified that just before the explosion David Young had connected the explosive to his wife. Mark Junge: Well, you've been blessed in a lot of ways. The Cokeville Elementary School was the site of a horrific hostage situation on May 16, 1986 when David and Dorris Young took a homemade bomb inside the school. In Cokeville, Nowhere, Wyo. When did Cokeville miracle happen? I was literally blown out the door when the bomb went off , and i remember how time slowed down in those seconds. You can ask me anything about this today between 1-2pm. So I went to Huntsville, Ala., to Redstone Arsenal. 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. Mark Junge: Okay. Well, when I arrived and saw that body layin' on the front lawn, I was told that was Doris. Rich Haskell: I'm Rich Haskell. Cokeville Trying to Rebuild A Normal and Secure Life.. Davids writings reveal that he hoped life would be better for him and Cokevilles children in this imaginary place. I'm currently the Sheriff of Sweetwater County. We're in a conference room here on the main floor. No, not at all. It was a great movie, very well directed and acted. David became increasingly agitated, and decided to leave the room. So many of 'em thatI don't know. I mean, not everybody would do this. Number one, that's where he worked. 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. "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 . Mark Junge: Do you think you were cut out to do this job? 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. Dozens. Rich Haskell: I don't know. 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! Meanwhile, police and parents gathered out of sight of the school room where hostages were gathered. They lived in a mobile home with Princess, Davids youngest daughter from his first marriage. This is not a Mormon film it is more of an inspirational film. He demanded a ransom of two million dollars per hostage ($308 million, $720 million adjusted for inflation), and an audience with President Ronald Reagan. The Cokeville Town Hall is located at 110 Pine St. For more information, visit the website of the Cokeville Chamber of Commerce at http://www.cokevillewy.com or call (307) 459-4195. When I looked at everyone looking at me (as if I should call on someone to say it) I realized I should call on Allyson Cornia - literally because she was the smartest kid in the class! When I arrived I could see out on the lawn, there was a black object laying out on the grass. You'd had experience? Mark Junge: So it would have gone upward, but would it have killed the kids? Cokeville Recollects Miracle of 1986: Hostage Survivors, Town Residents Compile Book, ________. It is a touchy topic for us, and could come across the wrong way. And my children. Mark Junge: Yeah, my brother-in-law worked in the Navy as a chief petty officer and he worked with what they called EOD. 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. My name is Mark Junge and I'm here at the Hiltonis it the Hilton Hotel? Rich Haskell: Well, I like to think I'm a better person because of it. And then what? In the meantime, David and Doris Young gathered children, teachers, staff and visitors in the elementary school into one central location. Did this shake the faith of some people, or would you say it strengthened it in most? The kids couldn't have cut it. [T]rust is big here youngsters grow up knowing they can turn to many other members of the community with confidence, write Hartt and Judene Wixom in Trial by Terror: The Child-hostage Crisis in Cokeville, Wyoming. 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. He knew what the community was all about. He was asking large amounts of money. Davids friends did not know that the Biggie was a plan to take over Cokeville Elementary School, hold each of the children hostage for $2 million dollars apiece and then detonate the bomb, transporting the money and children to his Brave New World, where he would be God. He instructed Doris and Princess, by now a young adult, to handcuff them inside his van. Cokeville Children Held Hostage by Bomber., Cokeville Elementary School Bombing: 25-Years Later. Accessed May 17, 2013, at, Fagg, Ellen. They increasingly spoke about their memories in public with professional psychologists, church officials and community counselors. As I come to the junctionI'm sorry, I don't know what the road is that goes over to Bear Lakebut as I was passing that intersection, they did inform me that the bomb had exploded. You can see what's happening in the world today. She was on fire! Rich Haskell: Were above the level of the kids, yeah. When they asked pointed questions like "what did the angels look like?" Then when I became a deputy, Sheriff Stark says, "You know, we're going to start finding a bunch of old explosives, dynamite and things. Transcriber's notes: I have added some reference footnotes to this transcript where I thought appropriate. Mark Junge: This was a life-changing event. The windows had been knocked outhad been blown out. The kids could just go to the bathroom right from their classroom. This did, in fact, happen in Wyoming! Doris accidently triggered the bomb by motioning to her hostages with her arms. 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. Yeah. The miraculous events that followed transformed the lives of hundreds of people, including many who witnessed angels or received heavenly help from deceased ancestors. Rich Haskell: If it would have went off like it was supposed to have gone off, it would have lifted the roof off of that school. [6] With permission, the teachers brought in books, art supplies and a television to help keep the children occupied. He had just big rings of perspiration. For more information about our sponsors and the people behind WyoHistory.org, visit our About Us page: Hostage crisis at the elementary school in Cokeville, Wyo. Rich Haskell: Absolutely. TC (the director) also worked incredibly hard to make this a story that can be widely appreciated by members of all faiths. We know for a fact that he had tried that device because he did it in Arizona and totally destroyed a school bus. What is your assessment of these two people who did this? . On May 16, 1986, . 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.
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