The Fat Man was arrested in Florida in 1984 for money laundering and smuggling quaaludes. The locomotive engineer engaged the brakes while blowing the horn, but the train could not stop in time and rolled over the bodies. Unsolved: The Mysterious Deaths Of Don Henry & Kevin Ives - YouTube A must read if you care about justice for the innocent. Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2016. I realize now why everyone needs to know what happened to them. Reprinted by permission. , Jon Underwood | Jan 13, 2017 at 4:29 pm. The two teens were hit by a . The state medical examiner, Dr. Fahmy Malak, said they had been under the influence of marijuana and ruled the deaths accidental. They were partially covered by a light green tarp. , of being corrupt and involved in drugs. The case remains unsolved, and Leveritt draws no conclusions. The state medical examiner, Dr. Fahmy Malak, ruled the deaths an accident as a result of marijuana intoxication, saying the boys had smoked the equivalent of 20 marijuana cigarettes and fell asleep on the tracks. I ordered the book immediately and devoured it over the course of about 2 weeks. It is a tale of multiple murders and of justice repeatedly denied. It was alleged that they were the officers seen beating the two boys in a store parking lot. Almost like, huh? Just sayin. This book kept me up at night until I had read the whole thing! A powerful story reminiscent of A Civil Action and Not Without My Daughter, The Boys on the Tracks is destined to become one of the most powerful works published in 1999. 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, United States, as they were laying on the tracks. The Boys on the Tracks is the story of a parent's worst nightmare, a quiet woman's confrontation with a world of murder, drugs, and corruption, where legitimate authority is mocked and the public trust is trampled. The story expanded to encompass the lies of the US Government concerning the Iran-Contra Affair. Murder On The Tracks - The Story of Kevin Ives and Don Henry In the documentary, two veteran sheriff's deputies, Jay Campbell and Kirk Lane, were alleged to be the killers. Excellent book - tragic story - Beautifully Written! However, their bodies were found along train tracks in Alexander, Arkansas, approximately 120 miles (190km) to the east of Mena. However, on the night of Saturday, August 22, 1987, Kevin and Don met a group of friends on the outskirts of Little Rock at a favorite gathering place for the local teenagers. The Train Deaths: Don Henry and Kevin Ives Don Henry and Kevin Ives. They told us that he was bad news and that he was involved in drugs.. The train was over a mile long and was traveling at a speed of fifty-two miles per hour. Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2018. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges. Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout. The boys' bodies were terribly mangled. He placed the train into an emergency stop position and laid down on the horn. Arkansas governor and wife will appear on TV", "The People President Clinton Didn't Have to PardonBecause They're All Dead", "Report: Starr Rules Out Foul Play In Foster Death", "New Witness? https://prospectiveonline.com/12135/feature/the-murder-of-kevin-ives-and-don-henry/#comment-5199, https://prospectiveonline.com/12135/feature/the-murder-of-kevin-ives-and-don-henry/#comment-5161, https://prospectiveonline.com/12135/feature/the-murder-of-kevin-ives-and-don-henry/#comment-5135, https://prospectiveonline.com/12135/feature/the-murder-of-kevin-ives-and-don-henry/#comment-5132, https://prospectiveonline.com/12135/feature/the-murder-of-kevin-ives-and-don-henry/#comment-5109. Please use a different way to share. The action grips readers from the beginning, with the death of two teenagers, Don Henry and Kevin Ives, told from the perspective of the train engineers who accidentally ran over the boys' bodies. The 1987 case was originally ruled a double suicide, then an accidentAthe boys supposedly smoked too much marijuana and passed out. It has to be death.". However, he was unable to stop it in time. All information was gathered from The Obstruction of Justice documentary. Special Bulletin: Wanted: Jose Blandon. The documentary drew a line in the sand between Ives and Harmon. In October 1997, prosecutors brought more drug charges against Harmon, and he was sentenced to three years in prison, for a total of more than 11 years. Matrisciana was a video journalist who also filmed The Clinton Chronicles in the early 90s. Murder on the Tracks - The Massive Cover-up of Kevin Ives and Don Henry Mother of boy found dead on tracks in 1987 suing United States of America, Judge to look at files in 1987 deaths of 2 boys found on central Arkansas railroad tracks, Former wrestler claims he witnessed murders of Don Henry and Kevin Ives, Mom of cold case victim dies; Linda Ives sought answers in the deaths of 2 teens for decades, Linda Ives, mother who sought answers in 'Boys on the Tracks' case, dies at 71, SitcomsOnline Discussion of Don Henry and Kevin Ives, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, This case originally aired on the October 12, 1988 episode of. However, I came to find them helpful in feeling Linda's utter frustration with trying to crack the veneer of corruption of the good ol' boys network in Arkansas. Don Henry & Kevin Ives.. The Railroad Tracks (Documentary) One week before Kevin and Don were killed, a man wearing military fatigues had been spotted in the vicinity. Our nation needs to know about this corruption and we need to clean it up. Clinton Body Count Series: #9. They searched the area, but were unable to find the man. We were able to locate a pilot, who was interviewed by Jean Duffey (a former deputy prosecutor and drug task force director). Mara Leveritt told the story of the boys on the tracks as a journalist should: facts only and told in a narrative style. Gofundme.com/donhenry-kevinives - Facebook These witnesses testimonies could have solved the murders of Kevin and Don, however they were all killed before they had the chance. Mara Leveritt's 1999 book Boys on the Tracks: Death, Denial, and a Mother's Crusade to Bring Her Son's Killers to Justice is one of the most important examples of investigative journalism in modern Arkansas history. Please try again. The investigation was rushed, and the infamous state medical examiner at the time, Fahmy Malak, was quick to rule the deaths as accidental due to a marijuana-induced coma. They believe that he found out about their investigation and named them as suspects in order to taint their credibility and hinder their investigation into him. They denied any involvement in the case and sued Matrisciana and his film company for defamation, and the judge awarded them $USD598,750. Oh, and by the way Barry seal not only had a small FLEET of planes, he also has a helicopter, as well as boats with one that had a helicopter landing pad He also had 2 of most things important to him such as TWO C-123 Fairchild cargo planes(think Air America, which ironically enough is where they came from yep, the CIA) anyways, one was the one that was shot down by the Sandinistas that Eugene Hasenfus parachuted to the ground from, and it was completely destroyed and the other one is now a BAR IN COSTA RICA! I respect the mother's quest for justice and her investigation. Mile Higher. Jeff Rhodes told his family that he feared for his life because he knew too much about Kevin, Don and McKaskles murders. Kevin Ives and Don Henry on Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Friends, Train Crew Subpoenaed In Investigation Of Deaths Of Teens, Malak Ruling In Train Deaths Of Teens Challenged By Pathologist, Jury asks FBI to probe train deaths in Newton County, Jury 'not completely pleased' with progress in investigation of two Bryant teens' deaths, Drugs cause of deaths? Spotlighting was a fairly widespread activity among the local boys. Curtis recalls that Don came into his bedroom at around 12:15am. 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. But few tragedies compare with the story of Linda Ives, whose teenage son and his friend were found mysteriously run over by a train. Police have been unable to locate him. Leveritt does an excellent job in capturing Mara Leveritt tells an awesome tale about the two young boys murdered in Arkansas after they stumbled onto the airfield where cocaine drops from Central America were flown in and arms to Central America were flown out. Train Deaths Are Officially Homicides. Arkansas Gazette, March 6, 1988, p. 3B. Seal continued to smuggle drugs into the U.S. as an undercover agent until 1986, when he was gunned down by the Colombian Medellin Cartel. [2] Over 300,000 copies of the film were put into circulation[3] with perhaps half that being sales.[1]. Don Henry and Kevin Ives case. by Hayden Jones - Prezi She has won several awards, including the White Award for Investigative Reporting. After the film aired, she had her son's body exhumed and a second autopsy performed. The case to this very day is still unsolved and no arrest. Malak was known for asking police officers what they thought happened to a body, and then he would rule the death the way the officers told him to. By then, it was almost 1AM. Details: In the pre-dawn hours of August 23, 1987, a seventy-five car, 6,000 ton Union Pacific cargo train made its regular night run to the UP freight yard in North Little Rock, Arkansas. To cover their tracks, they laid them on the railroad tracks and covered them up with a tarp. Unlike many works that have dug for the dirt of the Clinton gubernatorial era, this is an authentically shocking, deeply unsettling portrait of contemporary American power backstopped by arrogance and callous greedand of the drug war as a weapon of social control from which insiders enjoy impunity. His shirt was found in Bryant, but his body was never discovered. In March 1990, Saline County deputy prosecutor, Jean Duffey, was assigned to lead a drug task force to investigate drug smuggling in Saline County. The state medical examiner, Dr. Malak, concluded they had smoked the equivalent of twenty marijuana cigarettes. Bill Clintons old job Hmmm Clinton also denied ever speaking with Black when confronted about it. It is not known if the boys were Kevin and Don. He felt that was like questioning the existence of the bodies on the tracks. 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. Answer: Protecting the legacy of three U.S. Presidents. The two left around midnight to go back to Dons house. The story of Barry Seal reveals that the CIA, DEA and State Department have each been implicated in various drug trafficking operations that were used to illegally supply countries with weapons internationally. The action grips readers from the beginning, with the death of two teenagers, Don Henry and Kevin Ives, told from the perspective of the train engineers who accidentally ran over the boys' bodies. Excerpt. Friends who were with them that night confirmed this amount. It is also known as the "Boys on the Tracks" case. A federal judge later dismissed many of the agencies listed, but ordered three of them to turn over the pertinent documents to him. Ive been to Mena one time to go hiking with my dad. Just a few months later, on August 24, Kevin's sister, Alicia, passed away at the age of fifty-three. That said, her investigatory efforts seem impeccable; little within this page-turner reads as implausible conspiracy theory. Prospective Online | The Murder of Kevin Ives and Don Henry These witnesses testimonies could have solved the murders of Kevin and Don, however they were all killed before they had the chance. He stated he had flown that \"route\" a number of times and we were able to corroborate geographical information he provided.\"Q - \"Do you think any other state officials or officials in the federal government know the truth about your son's death and are staying silent about it for some reason? In June 1988, a local man came forward, claiming that on the night of the murder, he saw two police officers beating two boys senseless in a store parking lot before tossing them into a police car and driving away. INVESTIGATIONS - ID Files These relationships began to tie the murders to something larger than just a homicide. It is not only extremely well written, it points out how our law enforcement - from the local police on up - fail to take an investigation seriously !. His documentary accused many men holding high rank, such as. 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. Don Henry and Kevin Ives: The Boys on the Tracks | Bizarrepedia "[7] Don Henry's father also noted that he did not believe his son would have risked his gun getting scratched by laying it on gravel. After facing all of these drug charges, it may not be so far-fetched that he was at the tracks when Ives and Henry were murdered. Item may have minor cosmetic defects (such as marks, wears) on the cover, spine, pages, or dust cover. Years after the film was released, Clinton paid an out-of-court settlement to resolve the accusations made by Paula Jones in the movie. Think about this for minute A bunch of weapons and parts illegally are sold to Iran the money(not all) is diverted to the Nicaraguan Contra rebels as well as weapons, again both illegally Tons of cocaine was shipped into the U.S., by plane-load after plane-load, year after year, by the pilots that were bringing the weapons to the Contras and for it all, only ONE PERSON, Thomas G. Clines, went to jail for 16 months, for not reporting taxes?! Don Henry and Kevin Ives | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki | Fandom If you want a window into the corruption of our government at the state and federal levels, read this book. The government was certainly running drugs in '87. The boys' bodies were terribly mangled. The man is a sleazy pol and perv but I'd want to see solid evidence of his being brought into the fold of something like Black Eagle or related CIA Reagan-era malevolence. She uses the public record to present the facts. Obstruction Of Justice: The Mena Connection ( Part 1 Of 2) [1] Matrisciana later acknowledged that he was not in any danger, but that the interview was staged for dramatic effect at Falwell's suggestion. Suspects: The man wearing military fatigues witnessed by police and others remains a possible suspect, but police have never been able to locate or positively identify him. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. The appeal focused primarily on free speech and the ability to criticize public figures. The claims in the video are controversial; some have been discredited, while others continue to be debated. He ruled their deaths an accident. Local law enforcement attributed the deaths to a massive overdose of marijuana and dismissed the crews tale as optical illusion, in the first of many suspicious official fumbles. Mara Leveritt has worked for twenty years as an Arkansas journalist. Neither had they ever seen Kevin spaced out nor any signs that he was into drugs. True Crime. That was her immediate reaction to the ruling. Leveritt brings up every wild conspiracy theory in Arkansas and ties each to the boys' death; some of the theories are wacky right-wing fantasies, others are simply small-town oddities. To learn that the child was murdered is worse. Clinton promised Black that he would get a man on the case, but never did. On most weekends, the two double dated. [5] The parents did not accept this finding and conducted their own investigation. Your email address will not be published. Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2019. The story of betrayal begins locally but quickly expands. The authorities arrived soon after, and some claim this is when they began a massive cover-up. Three hours later, Stephen Shroyers locomotive came speeding down Bryant Hill. By all accounts, the engineer did a masterful job of bringing his train to a stop. A second autopsy revealed that Don Henry had been stabbed in the back and Kevin Ives' skull had been crushed prior to being run over. Former wrestler claims he witnessed murders of Don Henry and Kevin Ives This page is not available in other languages. A second autopsy by Georgia medical examiner Dr. Joseph Burton found the equivalent of one or two marijuana cigarettes, not 20. The book's subject is one of the state's most famous unsolved cases. In late December 1988, the grand jury investigating the case released their final report, stating that the deaths were the result of foul play; however, no indictments were issued regarding the deaths. Clinton Bush and CIA Conspiracies: From The Boys on the Tracks to Jeffrey Epstein (War on Drugs), Dark Alliance: Movie Tie-In Edition: The CIA, the Contras, and the Cocaine Explosion, If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood, The Boys on the Tracks: Death, Denial, and a Mother's Crusade to Bring Her Son's Killers to Justice, Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three, Dark Spell: Surviving the Sentence (Justice Knot Trilogy), The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice, Aberration in the Heartland of the Real: The Secret Lives of Timothy McVeigh, Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties, This book is serious and shocking. The Nicaraguan Contra were essentially the enemies of the Sandinistas. The 1987 case was originally ruled a double suicide, then an accidentAthe boys supposedly smoked too much marijuana and passed out. After months of constant persuasion and pestering by the parents of the boys, the bodies were exhumed, and a second opinion was brought in, Atlanta medical examiner Dr. Joseph Burton. The general public remained ignorant of many of the facts until long after the fact when the record was researched by people such as Leveritt. The Los Angeles Times reported that Larry Nichols, who appears throughout the film and is the primary source for a number of the murder and mysterious death claims, was fired from his Arkansas state government job and once admitted to an Associated Press reporter to being motivated by spite. Linda Ives, mother of the victim Kevin Ives, has devoted her life to finding out the truth behind her sons murder. The Deaths . A grand jury ruled the deaths a "probable homicide. Garrett also believes that the tarp existed. Hasenfus was captured by the Sandinistas and confessed to them that the CIA was providing the Contras with weapons to fight the Sandinistas. The grand jury urged authorities to continue investigating the deaths and the drug problem in the county. Fanciful as this may sound, Leveritt documents how Ivess quest for transparency was consistently stymied, first by local agencies, then the state police, finally by the FBI. In July 1988, a grand jury reversed Dr. Malaks original finding of accidental death and officially ruled their deaths "probable homicides." In 1987, Linda Ives suffered a parental worst-nightmare when her son and a friend were run over by a train, whose crew observed them supine and covered with a tarp before impact. The parents of the boys insisted on a second autopsy, and after exhumation it was ruled that homicide was likely. They honked their horn and tried to stop the train, but they were unsuccessful. Exposing a web of silence and complicity in which drugs, politics, and murder converge, The Boys on the Tracks is a horrifying story from first page to last, and its most frightening aspect is that all of the story is true. Copyright 1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. The apparent murder in Saline County in 1987 of seventeen-year-old Kevin Ives and sixteen-year-old Don Henry has spurred ongoing controversy, including conspiracy theories tying their deaths to a drug-smuggling scandal. The director admitted the payments but denied he had instructed any paid participants to say anything that was false. You might think it sounds like crime fiction but this is real.crime. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. By the time the engine shuddered to a standstill, Conductor Jerry Tomlin was on the radio notifying an approaching train on a parallel track to stop because some boys had been run over. Her approach is one of scrupulous reporting and lively narrative. Boys on the tracks: Murders of Don Henry and Kevin Ives Wilson was known as the Lady with the Snow in Little Rock. The two deaths have remained unsolved, but have sparked public interest in the morals and intentions of those we elect to represent and protect us. When police officer Danny Allen attempted to stop him, the man opened fire and managed to disappear into the night. Today Kendall and Josh discuss the case of Don Henry & Kevin Ives. Thanks for sharing the real word, this cant rest until solved. "We've got death. Murder On The Tracks The Story of Kevin Ives and Don Henry (1hr:20mins) Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2021. Filmography. All public officials who had indictments against them were cleared of all wrongdoings. The boys had reportedly left home about midnight to go hunting. Duffey wrote in ID files, Lynda Hollenbeck wrote for the Benton Courier and Doug Thompson wrote for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. August 23, 1987 - 17-yr-old Kevin Ives and 16-yr-old Don Henry were murdered, and their bodies placed on train tracks to be mutilated by a passing train - cover-up begins immediately with authorities (Saline County Sheriff's Department) treating the scene as an "accident".. Aug-Sept, 1987 - State Medical Examiner, Fahmy Malak, does autopsy first leans towards . Don and Kevin's parents, however, could . The film alleged that Kevin and Don were killed after they accidentally witnessed a clandestine drug deal that involved top state officials. About 4:00 a.m. on August 23, 1987, the crew on board a 75-car, 6,000-ton Union Pacific freight train, more than a mile long and traveling at a rate more than 50 miles per hour, en route to Little Rock, Arkansas, spotted two boys lying motionless across the tracks, about 300 feet ahead.