The hostages wisely chose to wait out the dilemma rather than risk being shot trying to escape or rushing David Young. To have done the latter would have left them more exposed to the maximum explosive force of the bomb.
Despite the dense smoke, the teachers did just the right thing at the right time, at the windows and doors, to evacuate all the children from every part of the room before anyone had time to succumb to the pain, fire, or lack of oxygen.
***
The following list includes a number of related “coincidences,” pointed out by various people, both hostages and authorities, that should have resulted in fatalities, but did not.
After looking at the bombed-out room, Richard Haskell concluded over and over again that, even in the partial explosion that did occur, it was unexplainable that no one died in the concussion, flames, or smoke that exploded in such a small area.
Music teacher John Miller was shot with the smaller of the two weapons David Young was holding, not the more lethal one. The bullet penetrated near, but not into, Miller’s heart; he was out of the hospital in two days.
Billie Jo Hutchinson’s injuries put her in grave danger for weeks, yet she finally recovered. Likewise, Tina Morfeld almost died from her internal injuries, but also recovered.
Gina Taylor’s badly burned right eye healed better than anyone could predict, overturning medical opinions that she would probably have lifelong impairment from the injury.
David Young had Eva Clark immediately in front of him and was pointing his guns at her. Yet even when she turned her back on him to shepherd her children out of the room, he did not fire on her.
Jean Mitchell was standing next to Doris Young when the bomb went off but inexplicably escaped instantly catching on fire as Doris did.
Appendix VII
List of Hostages
Afternoon Kindergarten
Sam Bennion
Paul Clark
Heather Cory
Linzie Jo Conner
Jodie Eggleston
Jamy Ferrin
Trini Jo Himmerich
Julia Jamison
Joshua Jones
John King
Jody Pope
Bret Taylor
Gina Taylor
Joshua Wiscombe
First Grade A
Jolene Buckley
Fawna Eastman
Carl Grandy
Nathan Hartley
Hilary Larson
Joni Larson
Travis McKinnon
Jeremiah Moore
Emily Murdock
Collin Roberts
Shawn Stahl
Ryan Taylor
Katie Walker
First Grade B
Shelley Burton
Burton Clark
Jennifer Cory
Billie Jo Hutchinson
Chad Hymas
Brenna McNamara
Kevin Nate
Shiloh Pope
Heather Prows
Jennie Sorensen
Meaghan Thompson
Jeromy Lamb
Jay Metcalfe
Second Grade
Clark Bedell
Nancy Bennion
Cameron Bird
Brandon Brooks
Jennie Buckley
David Burton
Melanie Chadwick
Michelle Coates
Wade Cornia
Tareesa Covert
Jodi Dayton
CarI John Eggleston
Jason Hartley
Austin Henderson
Nanette Holden
Chad Madsen
Kellie Miller
Tina Morfeld
Levi Murdock
Karee Thornock
Ryan Thornock
Willie Wathen
Byron Wiscombe
Third Grade
Andy Bagaso
Jamie Buckley
Matthew Buckley
Justin Chadwick
David Clark
Joelle Dana
Ranelle Dana
Hyrum Esterholdt
Jenny Ferrin
Cindy Hartley
Billy King
Heather Larson
Joe McNamara
Chad Mitchell
Kristi Moore
Scott Mower
Aaron Roberts
Joey Sweat
Michael Thompson
Karalyn Thornock
Rachel Walker
Fourth Grade
Rusty Birch
Jerry Dayton
Dustin Eastman
Ricky Himmerich
Lana Holden
Adam Hymas
Sandy Hymas
Jeana Jamison
Joe Mackey
Jaime Metcalfe
Monica Morfeld
Jamie Taylor
Jason Thornock
Kimberly Thornock
Stephanie Wiscombe
Fifth Grade
Amy Bagaso
Janaan Bennion
Elisabeth Clark
Shaneil Cornia
BranDee Hess
Jeromy Jamison
Amber Larson
Colton McDermott
Joanna Metcalfe
Brad Shane Nate
Lori Nate
Angie Nostaja
Adam Prows
Justin Sweat
Michael Taylor
Leigh Ann Thornock
Travis Walker
Sixth Grade
Kent Cassels
Christy Clark
Tammy Coates
Drew Cornia
Celeste Excell
Brenda Hartley
Brandi Himmerich
Paul Lazcanotegui
Kimberly Madsen
Bobbie Jo Miller
Brian Nate
Greg Nate
Cameron Roberts
Heidi Roberts
Anna Stewart
Kyle Thornock
Kamron Wixom
Teachers
Max Excell, principal
Janel Dayton
Kim Kasper
John Miller
Jack Mitchell
Jean Mitchell
Rocky Moore
Gloria Mower
Carol Petersen
Kliss Sparks
Others
Pat Bennion, substitute teacher
Verlene Bennion, teacher’s aide
Gayle Chadwick, media aide
Eva Clark, parent
Kathy Clark, preschooler
Tina Cook, secretary
Cynthia Cowden, teaching job applicant
Sandy Gonzales, UPS driver
Kris Kasper, student teacher
Cokeville Elementary Students Absent May 16, 1986
Chris King, first grade
Wendy Bartschi, second grade
Vern Setser, third grade
Mandy Taylor, third grade
Julie Anderson, fourth grade
LeaKae Roberts, fourth grade
Morning Kindergarten Students (Not Involved)
Josh Anderson
Amanda Birch
Candice Bird
Zack Bird
Alex Dayton
Jessica Dayton
Chris Esterholdt
Mindi Hymas
Dain John
Sandra Metcalfe
Julie McKinnon
Ben Pieper
Brittany Swenson
James Thompson
Krista Thornock
Phillip Stoker
Jared Sweat
Regina Tso
Appendix VIII
Sources of Information
Personal Interviews and Statements:
Glen Birch family (home used by media), statement of May 18, 1986
Eva Clark (hostage/mother of hostages), interviewed May 18, 1986
Christina “Tina” Cook (hostage), interviewed May 24, June 10, 1986
Janel
Dayton (hostage), interviewed May 22, 24, 1986
John Dayton (Cokeville mayor), interviewed May 24, 1986
School Principal Max Excell (hostage), interviewed May 19, 1986
Ron Hartley (investigator), interviewed May 21, 30, 1986; March 12, 1994
Jack and Jean Mitchell (hostages), interviewed May 24, 1986
Bernie Petersen (relation of Doris Young), interviewed June 10, 1986
Carol Petersen (hostage), interviewed May 24, 1986
Gwen Petersen (relative of hostage), interviewed May 22, 30, 1986
Genera Robinson (home used by media), interviewed May 19, 1986
Kliss Sparks (hostage), interviewed May 24, 1986
Steve Taylor (father of hostage), statement of May 19, 1986
Newspapers and Periodicals
Arizona Daily Star
Brigham Young University Daily Universe
Color Country Spectrum
Denver Post
Salt Lake City Deseret Morning News
Kemmerer, Wyoming Gazette
Las Vegas Sun
Pueblo, Colorado Chieftain
Provo Daily Herald
Mormon Trail
Newport, Virginia Times-Herald
Rocky Mountain News
Phoenix Gazette
Salt Lake Tribune
Star Valley Independent
University of Utah Chronicle
Utah Statesman
Virginia Pilot
Time Magazine
Hearings
Under the jurisdiction of Lincoln County, Wyoming, County attorney Richard Leonard conducted hearings at the county seat in Kemmerer. Hostages, witnesses, and lawmen gave testimony. Leonard announced the investigation complete on February 5, 1987.
Appendix IX
Photo Archive
Aerial view of Cokeville Main Street. Library, post office, and stores are to the west (right) along the street. East across US Highway 30 is Smiths Fork Road, Pine Creek, and the town cemetery on the bluff of Big Hill. (Gerald Silver photo courtesy of Deseret Morning News.)
Cokeville, Wyoming
The American flag and Wyoming state flag fly briskly in the spring breeze while the body of Doris Young lies covered (white blanket) in the schoolyard. Lawmen are in the foreground.
Although his wrist was attached to the trigger of a lethal bomb, Young chose to further impress hostages with these weapons leaning against the wall of the first grade classroom. (Dan Dockstader courtesy of Star Valley Independent.)
David Young, a police file photo.
The arsenal collected from the school and Young’s van. In addition to rifles and numerous handguns, cans of gun powder, and other bomb components, lawmen also collected three volumes of bomb construction and over a dozen diaries kept by the terrorists. (Ravell Call photos courtesy of Deseret Morning News.)
Town hall is the scene of a press conference conducted by Lincoln County Sheriff T. Deb Wolfley. The room is filled with television and newspaper reporters, lawmen, and investigators.
Sheriff T. Deb Wolfley explains findings of investigations to press (Dan Dockstader photo courtesy of Star Valley Independent.)
Media from across the nation question investigators on the bomb used to threaten Cokeville hostages. (Tom Smart photo courtesy of Deseret Morning News.)
Floor plan of Cokeville Elementary School shows the south wing of classrooms, including besieged Room 4 and Mrs. Cook’s receptionist desk.
Room 4. a classroom designed for 35 students that became a frightening prison for 154 hostages. Each X represents a hostage. David Young is shown in the large square. (Drawn to scale.)
Kamron Wixom’s depiction of the bomb.
Nathan Hartley’s drawing.
Billie Jo Hutchinson’s face says it all. In spite of the Jobst bandage that would cover her for more than a year, her smile and bright eyes promise a better tomorrow. (Jack Monson photo courtesy of Deseret Morning News.)
Gina Taylor manages a courageous smile from her hospital bed, although bandages swath burned face and hands. Doctors wondered if she would lose sight in her right eye—she didn’t. (JM Heslop photo courtesy of Deseret Morning News.)
Although Jeremiah Moore’s seventh birthday was not too happy, future birthdays are bound to be better. (Jack Monson photo courtesy of Deseret Morning News.)
Meaghen Thompson (right) is one of Jean [Mitchell’s] (left) best huggers, but fear and distrust have become part of some of the children’s lives since their encounter with David Young. Love strong enough to overcome those fears will be Jean’s top priority now. (Ravell Call photo courtesy of Deseret Morning News.)
Wearing the dazed look of someone whose young life has been threatened and spared in the course of one afternoon, Kam Wixom discusses with reporters the events of an incredible day. (Gerald Silver photo courtesy of Deseret Morning News.) Kamron is the hostage son of the authors, Hartt and Judene Wixom. The photo was taken the day of the incident.
Rubble is all that remains of the bomb cart. The device’s design was intended to destroy the entire south wing of the school. (Dan Dockstader, Star Valley Independent.)
Images from the Film
The Cokeville Miracle
© 2015 Hartt and Judene Wixom
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ISBN 13: 978-1-4621-2566-1
Published by Plain Sight Publishing, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc., 2373 W. 700 S., Springville, UT 84663
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Cover design by Lauren Error
Cover design © 2015 by Lyle Mortimer
Edited and typeset by Deborah Spencer