"Our local investigation was headed by our sheriff, Jim Steed. He later went on television bragging about what a thorough investigation he had conducted, and that he felt very sorry for us as parents, but that he had every confidence in Fahmy Malak's ruling. Their investigation was so thorough that they left my son's foot out there for two days in plain sight."
A number of pieces of evidence collected at the scene eventually turned up missing. Police refused to acknowledge the existence of this gun, even though it's collection by police was captured on video. Likewise, all three members of the train crew observed a tarp covering the boys' bodies on the tracks prior to the impact. The conductor even showed investigators where the tarp had landed after the impact. Nevertheless, the police denied the tarp's existence.
Dan
Harmon (right) Richard Garrett (left)In what would turn out to be the most ironic twist in this case, Deputy Prosecutor Richard Garrett and his friend, defense attorney Dan Harmon, approached Linda Ives and convinced her that they would do everything in their power to catch those responsible for the murder of their son. Harmon was subsequently appointed special prosecutor to head the grand jury probe. However, as his investigation advanced, potential witnesses began turning up dead.
Keith
ConeyKeith Coney, who was believed to be with Kevin and Don that night, told friends and family members that law enforcement officials were responsible for the murders. Two days later, he was killed when his motor cycle crashed while he was being chased. According to some officers, his throat had previously been slashed, and he was apparently fleeing his attackers when he lost control. However, this crucial information was left out of the final report. There was no autopsy or investigation.
T.V.
Reporter (news footage)
Keith
Coney's Mother (news footage)
Keith
McKaskle
Richard
Garrett, Interview (news footage)
Keith
McKaskle Back to Richard Garrett
Dan
Harmon, Saline County Prosecutor
Don
Birdsong, Arkansas State Police (news footage) "Nothing would link this investigation to the deaths of Don Henry or Kevin Ives, and I don't foresee anything in the pursuance of the rest of this investigation that would be anything that would make me change my mind."
March, 1989. Boonie Bearden, a friend of both Coney and Collins disappeared. An article of Bearden's clothing was found in the vicinity where an anonymous caller claimed his murder had taken place. His body was never recovered.
April, 1989. Jeff Rhodes was murdered after telling his family he knew too much about Kevin, Don, and McKaskle's murders. Rhodes had been shot in the head and his remains set on fire in a dump.
July, 1989. Richard Winters, another grand jury witness, was gunned down during a robbery which apparently was staged to cover his murder. His case remains unsolved.
June, 1990. Jordan Ketelsen, who was believed to be connected to the McKaskle murder was killed by a shotgun blast to the head. There was no police investigation, and his body was cremated before an autopsy could be performed.
June, 1995. Mike Samples, another grand jury witness, was shot to death. Sources claim he had been involved in retrieving drugs dropped from airplanes. Authorities have denied any connections between these cases and the murders of Kevin and Don.
Doug
Krile, KARK, NEWS 4
Unlike other videos about our government, Obstruction of Justice is not based on unsubstantiated accusations and innuendoes. Obstruction is a carefully documented story of the "train deaths," which has a powerful impact on everyone who sees it. Jean Duffey and Linda Ives negotiated control of the contents of Obstruction of Justice, which tells this amazing story, and they have vowed to raise enough money through video sales to file a civil law suit. This is clearly the only justice the families of Kevin and Don will ever see.