If you missed part one click here.

The fact that Saline County was a hotbed of drug trafficking was an open secret in Arkansas at the time. However, it was the infrastructure set up by the DEA, state government, and local law enforcement that allowed this operation to continue with relative impunity. The murders of Kevin Ives and Don Henry put all of this in jeopardy.

With that context in mind, let’s return to the cover-up. Powerful forces were clearly at work against justice, beginning with Sheriff Steed, who lost, withheld, or destroyed evidence from the outset. He even had the audacity to boast about the thoroughness of his investigation. But it’s the absurd autopsy findings and obstructive behavior of State Medical Examiner Fahmy Malak that offer the first clue as to how deep the conspiracy runs.

Malak initially claimed that the boys died while in a marijuana-induced psychedelic coma, a theory that defied reason. He also suppressed critical tests, instructed his assistant to “never mind” the clear stab wounds on Don Henry, and mishandled the boys’ bodies so egregiously that an independent medical examiner later described the autopsy as the most “bizarre” he had ever seen. Why would he act this way? What possible stake could Malak have in this? It might have something to do with who appointed him—and who not only allowed him to continue after such egregious mistakes but actually praised him and gave him a 40% raise: then-Governor Bill Clinton.

Malak’s rulings were notorious for their absurdity and were consistent with his troubling track record. Among his most outlandish decisions were declaring a suicide in the case of a man shot five times in the chest, despite no weapon being found at the scene; accusing another medical examiner of murder over a misread document; and making multiple errors in interpreting tissue and DNA samples. One of his most bizarre rulings involved a decapitated man, where Malak absurdly attributed the cause of death to a stomach ulcer. He then explained the missing head by claiming the family dog had eaten it, even producing “evidence” of brain tissue in the dog’s stomach. When the head was later found in a garbage can, Malak suggested the dog must have vomited it up. However, it is the case of Susan Deer that offers the most revealing insight into Malak’s methods.

In June of 1981, 17-year-old Susan Deer was in a car with several boys when they drove past Billy Ray Washington. The boys threw a beer can and yelled racial slurs at Washington, who responded by throwing a chunk of concrete at the car. The projectile struck Deer, causing damage to her teeth and nose, and she was taken to the emergency room. Though her injuries were not life-threatening, reconstructive surgery was required. The following afternoon, the surgery began and seemed to be progressing fine, until complications arose. Deer died during surgery. The complications, which were well-documented in the medical file, occurred when nurse-anesthetist Virginia Dwire Kelly struggled to transfer breathing tubes from Deer’s throat to her nose, depriving her of oxygen for an extended period, leading to cardiac arrest.

Malak ruled the death a homicide, attributing it to blunt force trauma, which led to Washington being tried for murder and exonerated Kelly from malpractice. It’s worth noting that Virginia Kelley is Bill Clinton’s mother. The Clintons have long been a source of controversy, and this incident is far from the only time Bill Clinton’s name arises in this case.

Now, let’s return to Don Harmon and the grand jury tasked with investigating the murders. By the time the grand jury met on December 31, 1988, at least seven witnesses directly involved in the case had been murdered. Harmon, Garrett, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arkansas State Police all insisted that these deaths were unrelated, and no suspects were identified. Despite witness testimony and anonymous tips pointing to Kirk Lane and Jay Campbell as the killers, the grand jury was blocked from hearing about them. The public will likely never learn what the grand jury’s recommendations were, as Judge John Cole sealed the findings.

Though the murder case remained open, the sealing of the grand jury marked the end of any genuine cooperation from state and local law enforcement. Yet, Linda Ives remained relentless in her pursuit of answers, even as witnesses were silenced and evidence systematically destroyed.

Chuck Banks

 

In early 1989, public discontent with the drug epidemic and corrupt local officials sparked a federal probe into corruption in Saline County, overseen by U.S. Attorney Chuck Banks and run by his deputy Robert Govar. At the same time, a budget was allocated for a new drug task force, led by former prosecutor Jean Duffey. Much of what we know today—and the subsequent FBI, DEA, and CIA investigations—can be traced back to these efforts.

From the beginning, Duffey’s investigation was hindered by her boss, District Prosecutor Gary Arnold. Arnold made it clear that she was not to use her task force to investigate public officials. Arnold had gained a reputation in Juvenile Court for letting child rapists go free. Fortunately, Duffey ignored his demands.

Her investigation would last only nine months, plagued by multiple shutdowns by Arnold. But it didn’t take long for her undercover agents to uncover that the drug scene above street level was controlled by familiar faces—Harmon, Lane, and Campbell. Realizing that Govar’s investigation into Saline County corruption was running parallel to her own, Duffey passed along all her findings to him. As you might guess, this turned out to be a mistake.

It is no coincidence that Bob Govar’s two best friends were Kirk Lane and Jay Campbell, the prime suspects in the murders of Henry and Ives. Govar spent nearly every weekend at their private hunting lodge, drinking and partying, all while he was supposed to be investigating them. In a twist of irony, a DUI sting was set up while Govar was known to be at the lodge. He was arrested for DUI after a drunken binge with the very suspects he was supposed to be investigating.

Regardless of Govar’s connection to the suspects, Chuck Banks had no intention of allowing the case to reach the public. Despite the grand jury’s recommendation for indictments against Harmon, Lane, Campbell, and others involved in the Saline County drug ring, Banks shut down the investigation, claiming there was no evidence of corruption.

Meanwhile, Jean Duffey, the only one trying to do her job, found herself squarely in the crosshairs of Harmon and other conspirators. By late 1990, Harmon had been elected District Prosecutor and wielded the full power of his office against Duffey and her task force. Ironically, Harmon accused her of corruption and fabricated scandals. Within weeks, Duffey was fired. Worse, Harmon’s old ally, Judge John Cale, issued a subpoena for Duffey to appear in court and hand over all records from her investigation. When she refused, Cale issued a felony arrest warrant, even though failure to appear was technically an “unclassified misdemeanor”—the lowest possible offense, akin to jaywalking.

By June 1991, the situation was dire. Despite half of her task force resigning in protest, the tide of public opinion, and relentless harassment from Harmon and Cale, Duffey had been totally discredited. When several of her undercover informants reported that a $50,000 bounty had been placed on her head, she was forced to flee the state. Wisely, she took her files with her.

Continued Here

 

 

Jason Roberts is a Seattle-based author noted for his acclaimed western horror series The Dead Wind Trilogy as well as other works of cosmic horror infused with historical fiction. His web-based series, Dark Distractions examines paranormal mysteries, unexplained phenomena, and all things strange.