The events of April 19, 1995 in Oklahoma City brought the world to Kingman, Arizona. The Oklahoma City bomb detonated at 9:02 a.m. and destroyed the Murrah building. This was a federal building. It held offices for federal employees including Social Security Administration, Veteran's Administration, United States Secret Service, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. It also housed a day care, America's Kids. 500 people worked in the building. A third of the building collapsed as a result of the blast. 168 people were killed, including 19 children. Hundreds more were injured. The building was demolished and a memorial put in its place. This is still the worse domestic terrorism action.
Timothy McVeigh had planted the bomb, using a rider truck with a mixture of fertilizer, diesel fuel and other chemicals which was then detonated to deadly effect. McVeigh had perfected his explosive techniques in the desert around Kingman. He was drawn to Kingman as his friend from military service, Michael Fortier lived here. They shared antigovernment sentiment. Both were upset with the Branch Davidian intervention in Waco, Texas.
Timothy McVeigh was originally from New York, Mike Fortier from Kingman, and a third man, Terry Nichols, who had a more active part in the plot from Michigan. It was he and McVeigh who rented the truck and turned it into a bomb.
McVeigh lived in several houses in the Kingman area over a couple years before the bombing, including staying with Fortier and his wife, and renting a residence in Golden Valley. When staying with Fortier they would discuss antigovernment literature and ideas. At one time he showed Fortier and his wife how he intended to make the bomb, using soup cans to represent barrels of chemicals and kerosene. Fortier and his wife attended several test bombs detonations; mostly pipe bombs. This tests would take place in the desert by Kingman but I am not sure where. I heard it might be off of Stockton Hill Road. Fortier lived in a mobile home complex. Again I have not been able to find an address.
McVeigh would not always stay with Fortier. He would often stay at hotels in Kingman, once on west Beale, but also Hill Top and a Motel 6. He had several jobs in Kingman, including as a security guard and also worked at True Value Hardware where Fortier also worked. Fortier introduced McVeigh to drug usage, including marijuana and methamphetamine.
Fortier traveled with McVeigh; and went with him to check out the Murrah building at one point. He also received stolen arms from McVeigh and sold them at gun shows and used part of the money to help McVeigh finance his final operation.
When McVeigh left Kingman to actually bomb the Murrah building, Fortier declined the offer to go with him. So in essence he knew of the plot, but did not participate in the actual bombing.
When confronted by the FBI within two days of the bombing, Fortier lied and said he did not know McVeigh or his bomb plot. However he eventually turned. For a plea bargain agreement he became the primary witness against McVeigh and Nichols. Fortier received a twelve year sentence for his involvement. He served ten and then went into witness protection plan. His parents, who lived in Kingman moved away as the result of these events. Timothy McVeigh was convicted and executed. Terry Nichols received a life sentence. Fortier's wife was not charged despite knowing of the plot. This was part of the plea bargain arrangement of Michael Fortier.
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Russ TwoRavens
ReplyDeleteIf I remember, at some point he lived in the trailer park at the bottom of perfume pass on the north side of the road. If you're new, that location is just past where I-40 E exits for Route 66. I haven't been out there in years. I just looked at google street view and it's called Canyon West RV Park.
I think I read about where he tested his explosives a long time ago but it won't come to me. I worked with a girl named Heather whose boyfriend was a friend of Michael Fortier. She had met McVeigh once but had no involvement.
I worked at MCC at the time. I remember there being FBI agents all over the place. Again, IIRC, that was when I learned that there was a very small permanent office used by the FBI in Kingman. It was not a point of public contact.
I remember when I heard about it in the news and they said it was someone named McVeigh from Kingman, I thought of Frank McVeigh, I believe he was the principal at Palo Christi, and I couldn't imagine it being him. Just weird confusion until more information came out.
Val Collins
ReplyDeleteFrank McVey has a son named Tim who was my boss at Jack in the Box in the 80s. I moved away in 1989 and after hearing they caught the Oklahoma bomber and it was Timothy McVeigh I immediately thought how awful that was for our friend Tim McVey to share the same name with that mass murderer.
I always wondered if people would wrongly blame our Tim.
Pat Mullen-Lamb
DeleteVal Collins, i saw Tim at Smiths a couple years ago. They were fine.
Jeanne Munn
ReplyDeleteAll I remember is that the FBI was everywhere.
Nik Weiss
ReplyDeleteWeirdly enough my dad did (knew Timothy McVeigh)
Audra Murphey Bowers
ReplyDeleteHe lived on McVicar.
Jackie Abbott
ReplyDeleteI had heard that he lived in the trailer park on Route 66 near the old Crazy Fred’s truck stop. West of Kingman.