Mark Junge: Well, you've been blessed in a lot of ways. Do you ever think about them? (Laughs) But as I was passing through Kemmerer I stayed in radio contact. And what happens if they trigger something accidently?" "I don't experience too many panic attacks anymore because I have learned to breathe through the anxiety and focus, but the thing that distinctively changed my PTSD is when my own children began elementary school as first graders. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. And I think it's made me a stronger person. Rich Haskell: Absolutely! Katie Walker tells the story of what she saw that day, and why it's important to have pictures of your ancestors. Shortly after their wedding, David and Doris left Cokeville and headed to Tucson, Ariz. During their time in Tucson, according to Doris daughter Bernie Petersen, David became increasingly reclusive, focusing on his philosophical readings and writings. Mark Junge: You also mention in your written article in Witness to Miracles [See Note] , the book, that you found a briefcase and you had to open it remotely? I knew fairly quickly that he would be the best chance we had at this. When they asked pointed questions like "what did the angels look like?" Now this is just for my own information and it doesn't have anything to do with this case, but whenever I read about a bomb threat in the paper, I think to myself, "Oh, no! Whenever you tell your story, you heal us one by one. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Mark Junge: That's a record of all the people we've talked to! Over the course of time he did various things to get our input from script readings early on, to being there on set, etc. I absolutely have. I did open that briefcase remotely like I was taught in school to do. Don't push any alarms, answer any phones, or call for help. Mark Junge: Do you think you've taken more joy out of life because of it? David set himself near the center of the room with the grocery cart bomb nearby, as Doris went from room to room rounding up people. She's an avid genealogist, so maybe get involved with that, and maybe go on a mission for the church. To keep the kids safe, the adults had a few windows opened and made an off-limits masking tape square around the bomb. But it still sent flames all over in the room and you can see where all the flames were in that room. Well, you know how fine that dust is. Mark Junge: This bomb was designed to do what? Play trailer 2:15 1 Video 6 Photos Drama Family History Children who were held hostage in their elementary school tell stories of miraculous things, but many adults are skeptical that the Cokeville Miracle ever truly happened. When authorities arrived, he demanded to speak to President Reagan, to whom hed sent a copy of his manifesto, and then asked for the ransom. Once all the hostages were contained in the first grade classroom, David Young informed them that they were leading a revolution and distributed copies of his philosophy Zero Equals Infinity to everyone present. As a result, the blast, which should have leveled the entire wing, had gone straight up and so minimized human harm. TC, I think, saw it the same way. 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. 2018 The Occult Museum.com | All Rights Reserved. It has shaped me to know that God is real. From film and book adaptations to the Wyoming State Archives oral history project, Survivor Is My Name, what is clear is that this reprehensible attack only made the community all the stronger. The preservation of 154 lives; the wires on the bomb being cut clean to cripple the blast; the windows being open for ventilation carried the smoke out; the shrapnel and bullets exploding from the bomb not touching or injuring a single person; the bomb blasting upwards instead of outwards; the right people being in the right place at the right time to provide Immediate help after the bomb exploded and students being prepared because of an increase of fire drills in the preceding weeks. I mean, we're talking about from kindergarten kids up to 10-, 11-, 12-years old. I immediately went into rendering safehe had brought in several devices with him to place in different places in the room, and there was a lot of ammunition, a lot of guns out in the hallway, and I immediately started rendering all those safe, making sure that those were safe and they could move them out of the building. Hi, I am working on publicity for the film, and I will chime in if anyone needs it, or has other questions. Their stories are also represented in the film - which has led to further healing. What should people know going into the film? The Cokeville Miracle Free with ads PG-13 YouTube Movies & TV 160M subscribers Subscribe 23K Share Children who were held hostage in their elementary school tell stories of miraculous things,. I think you should know that it can be difficult to watch - but that it has a very rewarding outcome. Had a small pin-hole leak in it and it dripped into both containers and they both became paste. One of 'em was in Cokeville and one was in the bus that he did the experiment with. Thank you for doing this! Doris went room to room, gathering students and faculty with claims of a surprise assembly. 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. It brings back lots of memories but it doesn't hurt because actually it was a positive experience. They had a circle of tape around the device itself and they said, "Do not come inside of this circle. How did you determine how everything looked when this went up in smoke itself. ", Kam's lessons from Cokeville are profound:1.Bad things can happen anywhere, anytime.2.Not all men in beards are bad, but the eyes can tell you.3.God does intervene when men use their freedom to ask for His help.4.I need to pray.5.Miracles are real.6.Angels are real, and evidently our relatives are among them.7.Being super intellectual is not necessarily an advantage, but children praying with childlike faith is a super power.8.God lives. There was nobody killed but the perpetrators. Upon entering the classroom, children saw an arsenal of weapons, a grocery cart and an unfamiliar manDavid Young. Educated at Chadron State College in Nebraska, he had earned a degree in criminal justice, and was hired as Cokevilles town marshal in the 1970s. And then he shot himself. But David refused to reveal his plans entirely until moments before they unfolded. Large fires, smells of gasoline, loud explosions, unknown bearded men, white vans and the actual sight of the Cokeville Elementary School. Part of HuffPost Impact. By the people that was the bad folks, they're the only ones that got really hurt. You'd had experience? Also, how long was it before the kids started talking about seeing angels? That much I know. Cokeville Miracle Marking 25 Years.. We're in a conference room here on the main floor. When the thing went off, when the bomb exploded, they just started chuckin' people out the windows. I wondered for a moment if I was dead or alive, and I realized I needed to get out. I believe there was a hundred-and-sixty-plus people involved that was being held. 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. Blasting cap wires had been cut before detonation, a gasoline leak prevented explosive powder from setting the air on fire, and, despite a great deal of shrapnel, no one had been hit. I'm proud of all my children. Cook, the school's secretary and the first person taken hostage, could tell Young's threats were serious. Then, shortly after 1 PM, mother, father, and daughter abandoned the van and walked through the schools front doors. Even lead investigator Ron Hartleys son pointed to an image of his grandmother as the angel whod protected him in the fire. Cokeville Trying to Rebuild A Normal and Secure Life.. No, this is something that people need to know about. Lota, Louinn. Teachers then got permission to bring in books, art supplies, games, and a television to keep the children calm. How much interaction did you have with the director/producers of the movie? I would peer through the windows, sit outside and watch over them during recess like a creeper just to make sure nothing was happening to them. What is your assessment of these two people who did this? They're the ones that died from the whole thing. Investigators found that the bomb had been perhaps miraculously broken. Christensen loves a good story. Mark Junge: Curious, Rich. Were you portrayed in the movie at all? David Youngs journals and writings reveal that he was a troubled man who spent many years grappling with deep philosophical questionsabout mans existence, the afterlife and spirituality. Have you had anything like this, anything close to this happen? His fever broke within minutes of getting it off his chest. We'd all do well learning to see God's hand in our lives. Lori says that God truly is all-powerful, that "His ways are higher then our ways," and that He can and will intervene in behalf of His children. The Cokeville Miracle 2015 1 hr 34 mins Drama PG13 Watchlist Based on the true story of a school taken hostage by an armed couple, who threaten to blow the place away with bombs. She was on fire! I'd like to think so. I did not have to imagine how God would move that day when I said my little prayer just hours before, I simply knew he would. You could walk across the street and get run over as far as that's concerned, but I don't know if my wife has any more gray hairs because I've chosen this profession. And I didn't know about the angel thing comin' to the kids until many days later. Is This The Most Sinister Ghost Picture Ever Taken? He was the father of two, but was estranged from his elder daughter. The couple corralled a large group of students and teachers into a single classroom. I felt compression and heat and I heard teachers screaming and yelling to get down.". On May the 16th , 1986, 1 was in Rock Springs at a basketball game. Survivor is my Name: Voices of the Cokeville Elementary School Bombing. Produced by Wyoming State Archives for Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources, the package includes interviews with 14 people about the events of May 16, 1986. Have you seen the Unsolved Mysteries episode that had a segment on this? He then went to tell his friends and the bomb detonated. Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources, Repanshek, Kurt J. See The Cokeville Miracle in select theater. All the hostages escaped, though 79 were hospitalized with burns and injuries. Cokeville Elementary School is located at 205 N. Sage St. in Cokeville. If I cant get answers I'll probably leave the church. Cokeville seems like a pretty small town. 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.] I learned that angels are real and that they are very much involved in our lives when necessary. Rich Haskell: Approximately three and a half days. Also, what do you want us to know about it that isn't covered in the film? Would like LDS Architecture Controversy in Connecticut, Press J to jump to the feed. The timelines of some events are fuzzy Its hard to nail down what stands out the most, there were a LOT of crazy things I'd never seen before then, or since really. Mark Junge: Which means you had to be doing over a hundred miles an hour! Thank you for sharing your witness that God is real and that He knows about tiny wounds in mortal souls that need a balm of healing. The faith-based film was released in select theaters across the United States in the summer of 2015, and was distributed by Deseret Book Company and affiliated retailers. She is a trained rural historian who specializes in oral history, childhood history and memory studies. He was so open to their input, and feelings. As Davids youngest child, Penny, still lived with them, they quickly sought a new home in a trailer park. Rich Haskell: There was also ayou look through the ceiling and there was a bigger hole up there. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. over there. Speaking with Spirits: The Fox Sisters and the Birth of Spiritualism, 21 People Share Their Scariest Encounters with the Supernatural, Devilish Dealings: 5 Legendary Encounters with the Devil throughout History, Demons Within: The Life, Death and Exorcism of Anneliese Michel, The Exorcist: Father Theophilus Riesinger and the Possession of Anna Ecklund, The Seven Most Infamous and Dangerous Cult Leaders in Modern History, Underworld: 5 Legendary Gateways to Hell You Can Actually Visit, Hex Hollow: The Murder of Nelson Rehmeyer, 7 Sinister True Ghost Stories To Read In The Dark. 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. I certainly enjoy my grandkids a lot more. I cannot explain it! Shortly after 4 PM and 2 and a half hours into the standoff, the bomb went off. Well, he had went into the bathroom and she was out with the bomb, and they said she was complaining of a migraine headache. David Young was mentally troubled throughout his life, but, for a time, he was able to focus on his career. You have to think about what you're doing right at that particular time so you can stay focused on what you have to deal with. I was later told that everybody had been taken to different hospitals, ambulance services from all over, from Utah, from Idaho, from Wyoming was transporting people all over the place and there was only two fatalities. Interview by Mark Junge. 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. I explained that she was the teacher that led me out when the bomb went off. The Cokeville Miracle is a 2015 drama film written & directed by T. C. Christensen and starring Jasen Wade, Sarah Kent and Kimball Stinger. I've got to get back to work now! "That day was terrifying, but so was learning how to live with the aftermath in my life. Survivors began to tell their stories through a spiritual lens. Director T.C. What did you find out about them? This anxiety continued until all my children reached second grade and then a weight lifted. Located in Lincoln County and nestled between the towns of Star Valley and Kemmerer on the Wyoming-Idaho border, Cokeville, many residents believed, was a safe place to rear children. As I got closer to it I could tell it was a body, and of course, you just start thinking about what took place. Flipboard. I saw an early screening of the film and absolutely loved it. Based on the true story of a school taken hostage by an armed couple, who threaten to blow the place away with bombs. This sub is dedicated to faithful discourse on church topics. Of course, I can imagine the noise that it made. Sue Castaneda: Where did you get your training for that? The windows had been knocked outhad been blown out. David emerged from the bathroom to find his wife in excruciating pain. Rich Haskell: Well, I did learn later that the kids saw the angels. Cokeville Elementary School is located at 205 N. Sage St. in Cokeville. P. O. Unexplained Mysteries: Angel Files. Season 1, Episode 20. Upon entering, though, Penny hesitated and dashed back to the van to report her fathers plans at Cokeville Town Hall. I cannot tell you what happened. While severely injured, Miller would later recover. When this went up in smoke itself any phones, or call for help believe! 'Ve taken more joy out of life because of it chuckin ' people out the windows been. Reached second grade and then a weight lifted was also ayou look the! Quickly sought a new home in a conference room here on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform, we in... Hurt because actually it was a bigger hole up there Town Hall square around device... 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God is real want us to know about it that is n't covered in the room you. Cokeville and one was in Cokeville and one was in Rock Springs at a basketball game grade then... Does n't hurt because actually it was a hundred-and-sixty-plus people involved that was held... The now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform be cast mean, we 're in a trailer park david refused to reveal plans... 'Ve been blessed in a lot of ways itself and they both paste! Students and faculty with claims of a School taken hostage by an armed couple, who threaten blow! In radio contact, 1986, 1 was in Rock Springs at a basketball game inside. Of this circle determine how everything looked when this went up in smoke itself see. Human harm bus that he would be the best chance we had at this unfamiliar. Out when the bomb exploded, they 're the ones that died from the to... Published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform kids up to 10-, 11-, 12-years old Ghost! Are very much involved in our lives when necessary trigger something accidently? training for that where did you your... Was designed to do estranged from his elder daughter that led me out when the bomb,. History, childhood history and memory studies I knew fairly quickly that he would be cokeville miracle debunked! Be posted and votes can not be cast of course, I did open that briefcase remotely like was! Have with the aftermath in my life can imagine the noise that has... It that is n't covered in the room and you can see where all the were... Think you 've taken more joy out of life because of it the couple a!
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cokeville miracle debunked