The teenagers had stayed out late hunting the night before. Over the years, theories have been spread that the boys walked up on a drug drop and were killed. However, Linda and her attorney did not find anything in the documents related to the murders. He was certain that the tarp was there. double homicide. In March 1988, the parents announced that Dr. James Garriot of San Antonio, Texas, had given a second opinion on Malaks findings. On the same night the boys died, a similar-looking man dressed in military fatigues was spotted nearby. Kevin and Don set off to go spotlighting, a form of night hunting which is illegal in Arkansas. They were best friends and popular seniors at the Bryant, Arkansas high school. Hours later, the two boys are seen lying on some railroad tracks before they are run over by a cargo train and the . He determined that they had been in a deep sleep induced by the "psychedelic" effects of the drug and had never heard the oncoming train. That was her immediate reaction to the ruling. His behavior had aroused suspicion. The case was profiled on the television program Unsolved Mysteries. of the criminal element to ensure that their illegal business dealings were Five minutes later, Celine County officers showed up. "Now she rests peacefully in the arms of Jesus. The two bodies were identified as 16-year-old Don Henry and 17-year-old Kevin Ives - best friends, notorious goofballs, and popular seniors from Bryant High School. In August of 1987, the bodies of 16-year old Don Henry and 17-year old Kevin Ives were hit by a train in Alexander, Arkansas. In March 1990, Kevin and Don's manner of death were officially changed from "accidental" to "homicide". Ticker Tape by TradingView. All four of the people on the train who were able to observe the scene prior to the accident stated that the bodies were partially covered by the green tarp. Day, Chris. Anonymous tips to the telecenter suggested that Kevin and Don were murdered by drug traffickers, and that they may have stumbled onto them in the middle of a "drug drop". Police have been unable to locate him. State officialsincluding the state medical examiner, Dr. Fahmy Malakruled the boys death as an apparent suicide despite the fact that all four parents disputed the ruling. The area was searched, but he was never found. On her Facebook page, Alicia Ives wrote: "The world has lost a bright light. of marijuana at the time of their death, so their deaths were ruled as She was 71. Police officer Danny Allen stopped to question him. "I hope and pray you will help spread the word out there and get the information out there; there has been so much going on recently, I almost feel like Kevin [Ives] and Don [Henry] have been left behind because it has been so many years.". Support Our Sponsors! For decades, people have tossed around theories, shared ideas, and spread rumors about who was responsible for the deaths of the teens on August 23, 1987. On the weekends, they went to double dates with their girlfriends. In July 1988, a grand jury reversed Dr. Malaks original finding of accidental death and officially ruled their deaths "probable homicides". The two victims were identified as 16-year-old Don Henry and 17-year-old Kevin Ives, best friends and popular seniors at Bryant High School. The state medical examiner, Dr. Fahmy Malak, said they had been under the influence of marijuana and ruled the deaths accidental. The Train Deaths: Don Henry and Kevin Ives. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The parents of the boys insisted on a second autopsy, and after exhumation it was ruled that homicide was likely. It further speculated that the two boys had been murdered after stumbling upon a shipment moving through Saline County that night in August 1987. Furthermore, he found evidence that Dr. Malak did not follow proper procedures when conducting the autopsies. Former Little Rock Police Department detective Keith Rounsavall was one of those private investigators. Suddenly, while going through the town of Alexander, he saw something in his path; he could not tell what it was. Police have been unable to locate him.Six weeks after the investigation was reopened, Garrett came up with a strangely similar case. When Stephen laid down on the diesel horn, he got no reaction from them. Speculation persisted throughout the years that the teenagers were murdered because they witnessed activity related to drugs that were being smuggled into the U.S. from Central America, possibly via an airport in Mena. From the boys witnessing a drug deal, a mysterious army clothed man inhabiting the area, to law enforcement and political corruption police covering up the whole investigation. Continue with Recommended Cookies. On November 15, 2017, a federal judge ordered three defendants in the suitthe Executive Office of U.S. They loved to work on their cars and hunt. Unable to stop in time, the train ran them over, finally coming to a complete stop in Benton where Union Pacific employees reported the incident to the police. They made no attempt to rise.". About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Details: In the pre-dawn hours of August 23, 1987, a seventy-five car, 6,000 ton cargo train made its regular night run to Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1993, the Ives family urged to reopen Don and Kevin's murder case, and the new man assigned to it was an out-of-state detective named John Brown. Curtis was not worried about them going into the woods because he did not think they would get in trouble. Several witnesses who testified before the grand jury were charged with drug trafficking and other offenses. "They looked like they had laid down there and pulled this cover up on them like a blanket, part of it was off. In March 1988, Dr. James Garriot of San Antonio offered a second opinion and was skeptical of the findings about marijuana. They tend to be a bit more rough and tumble than their female counterparts. Neither Kevin nor Don owned such a tarp. Just as the train was approaching Bryant, Arkansas, the train driver saw something on the tracks. : Bizarre Theories That You Should Know. He felt that was like questioning the existence of the bodies on the tracks. Later, another pathologist ruled that Don Henry's shirt showed evidence of a stab wound. accidental. Suit over Records in 87 Deaths Dismissed. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, September 20, 2019, pp. The locomotive engineer engaged the brakes while blowing the horn, but the train could not stop in time and rolled over the bodies. In the pre-dawn hours of August 23, 1987, a seventy-five car, 6,000 ton cargo train made its regular night run to Little Rock, Arkansas. It ranks as one of the most remembered one in the series. Lying parallel to both of them was Dons .22 rifle. He is not sure why someone would do that, however. In July 1988, a grand jury reversed Dr. Malaks original finding of accidental death and officially ruled their deaths probable homicides. However, no suspects were identified. Their families have conducted their own investigations and are still hoping that the case can be solved. Onthe night Kevin and Don were killed, witnesses again saw the man in military fatigues. Garrett then focused on the green tarp. 1A, 5A. These Central American drug war/Cold War ops were run by Langley frat . "The only person who knows the truth now is Linda Ives," he said. The deaths were initially ruled an accident, the result of the boys in a deep sleep on the tracks while incapacitated due to high amounts of THC allegedly present in their blood. So far, the run had been clear sailing, as engineer Stephen Shroyer approached the small town of Bryant, Arkansas. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. The film alleged that Kevin and Don were killed after they accidentally witnessed a clandestine drug deal that involved top state officials. Curtis recalls that Don came into his bedroom at around 12:15am. However, he was never charged in the case or officially labeled a suspect. The state medical examiner, Dr. Fahmy Malak, said they had been under the influence of marijuana and ruled the deaths accidental. It is not known if the boys were Kevin and Don. In 1996, Linda and film producer Patrick Matrisciana released the film, "Obstruction of Justice," which detailed the botched investigation into the murders. Harmon, who had represented the Ives and Henry parents, was convicted of racketeering, conspiracy, extortion, and drug possession with intent to distribute in 1997. Cody Lynn Berry The unsolved 1987 slaying of teenagers Kevin Ives and his friend, Don Henry, is one of the most high-profile homicide cases in Arkansas history, with an investigation tinged with international intrigue, conspiracy theories of local corruption and allegations of cover-ups that went as high as some of the most powerful political institutions in the United States. As a result, the families were not able to move forward with their investigation. He was known for his anti-apartheid and philanthropic works. Newly appointed prosecutor Richard Garrett had Kevin and Dons bodies exhumed for a second autopsy to be performed by a noted expert. 31 years later, Haynes claims he witnessed their deaths: a Kevin waited on the porch while Don went inside to talk to his father, Curtis. Additional support provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council. The hospital clerk told an investigator, per Leveritt, Thats why the families were not billed. However, a medical report found by an EMT at the tracks that night noted that the boys blood looked like it lacked oxygen, raising questions about whether Ives and Henry were already dead when the train hit them. Lying parallel to both of them was Dons .22 rifle. The death of Henry and Ives, as well as the other suspicious sightings and deaths listed above, join a list of other deaths believed to be associated with the drug running of Barry Seal and the cover up of the drug trafficking activity during the late eighties in Arkansas, that continued after Seal's murder the year prior to this incident. On the same night the boys died, a similar-looking man dressed in military fatigues was spotted nearby. A rifle was found nearby and a state medical examiner at the time ruled their deaths as a suicide. Kevin waited on the porch while Don went inside to talk to his father, Curtis. When it was found that Don Henry's shirt contained evidence of a stab wound to the back, and Kevin Ives' skull may have been crushed by his own rifle, the ruling was changed to "definite homicide." Families don't accept explanation, Marijuana coma? Spotlighting was a fairly widespread activity among the local boys. The locomotive engineer engaged the brakes while blowing the horn, but the train could not stop in time and rolled over the bodies. The boys bodies were terribly damaged but were later identified as 16-year-old Don Henry and 17-year-old Kevin Ives.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'conspiracytheories_in-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',620,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-conspiracytheories_in-medrectangle-4-0'); The reports revealed that the boys were under the influence The day after the conference, the investigation was officially reopened. Honor or memorial gifts are an everlasting way to pay tribute to someone who has touched your life. No matter the medium, the end is always the same: no It seemed difficult to believe that they would lay on the tracks without moving a muscle, while a huge freight train was hurtling towards them blaring its horn. The Murders of Kevin Ives and Don Henry Shortly after midnight on August 23, 1987, teenagers Kevin Ives and Don Henry set out to go night hunting in the wooded area near Don's home in Bryant, Arkansas. AtConspiracy theoriesyou can read about real experiences or perhaps read about mind boggling instances that may or may not have taken places living up to the name of it being aconspiracy. Neither Kevin nor Don owned such a tarp. The second Prime Minister of India - Lal Bahadur Shastri, was also a senior leader of the Indian National Congress party. People say that the boys were present during a drug drop and The case was the subject of journalist Mara Leveritt's award-winning book The Boys on the Tracks. After that, Dan Harmon, the parents lawyer, made a deal with Steed in February 1988: If the parents would withdraw their criticism of Steed and support him, they would get the investigation they had wanted all along. The train was over a mile long and was traveling at a speed of fifty-two miles per hour. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'conspiracytheories_in-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_1',624,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-conspiracytheories_in-large-mobile-banner-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'conspiracytheories_in-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_2',624,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-conspiracytheories_in-large-mobile-banner-2-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-2-multi-624{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}, Haynes says he sobered up a few years ago and reached out to Larry and Linda Ives after years of guilt. One week before the boys died, a man wearing military fatigues was spotted not far from the train tracks. Train Deaths Are Officially Homicides. Arkansas Gazette, March 6, 1988, p. 3B. By then, it was almost 1am. The Clinton Chronicles advanced the conspiracy theory that, while governor of Arkansas, Clinton had a connection to a scandal involving large shipments of cocaine, guns, and money from Central America passing through Arkansas at the Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport. Today Kendall and Josh discuss the case of Don Henry & Kevin Ives. the unsolved 1987 slaying of teenagers kevin ives and his friend, don henry, is one of the most high-profile homicide cases in arkansas history, with an investigation tinged with. : 5 Reasons To Ponder Upon, The Death of Mary Reeser and Spontaneous Human Combustion, Aliens Walking Among Us? Onthe night Kevin and Don were killed, witnesses again saw the man in military fatigues. However, many do not consider him to be a credible source. New York: St. Martins Press, 1999. The gun and flashlight near the bodies suggested they were using a hunting technique known as spotlighting, which involves using a bright light to scan for animals whose eyes brightly reflect the light after dark. One week before the boys were killed, a man wearing military fatigues was spotted near the train tracks. Rate and review titles you borrow and share your opinions on them. Life will never be the same, but the memories she left behind will forever be treasured.". Friends who were with them that night confirmed this amount. 16-year old Don Henry and 17-year old Kevin Ives head into the woods to do some late-night hunting, but never return. By the time Allen got up from his seat, the man was gone. This time, he was leaving town, heading down a road less than 200 yards from the spot where Kevin and Don were later hit. The first time you log in to our catalog you will need to create an account. Kevins father, Larry, could not believe that Kevin was knocked out on marijuana or into any kind of heavy drugs because he was usually home when Kevin would come home from school and his mother, Linda, was home at nights; they had never seen him spaced out or seen any signs that he was into drugs. A federal judge later dismissed many of the agencies listed, but ordered three of them to turn over the pertinent documents to him. In the video, Haynes refers to a male as a criminal politician multiple times, but never stated him by his name. On the morning of August 23, 1987 train engineers on the way to Little Rock noticed boys two boys lying motionlessly on the train tracks with a green tarp over them when they sounded their deafening horn the boys did not move and were run over by the train in Bryant Arkasas. On August 23, 1987, the bodies of 16-year-old Don Henry and 17-year-old Kevin Ives were hit by a freight train in Alexander, Arkansas as they lay on the tracks. The parents did not accept this finding and conducted their own investigation. He was certain that the tarp was there. 2023 Encyclopedia of Arkansas. In the tragic evening, Kevin and Don met a group of friends at the commuter parking lot a popular gathering place for the local teenagers in Bryant, Arkansas. They were best friends and popular seniors at the Bryant, Arkansas high school. The boys did not move, despite the sound and vibration of the approaching train, its emergency brakes, and its air horn. Last edited on 20 December 2022, at 01:41, "Vigils held at Capitol, courthouse 25 years after Ives, Henry deaths - The Saline Courier", "Arkansas mom's motion in bid to unseal files says DEA hiding crimes", "Judge orders agencies to review more information in 'Boys on the Tracks' FOIA lawsuit", "The Mysterious Deaths of Don Henry & Kevin Ives", "New Witness? 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