Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery - Episode 1: The Tapes

Hosts: Bobby Sands and Mike Boettcher
Producer: ABC News
Release Date: November (50th anniversary of Karen Silkwood’s death)

Introduction

In the gripping premiere of "Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery," hosts Bobby Sands and Mike Boettcher delve into the enigmatic and tragic death of Karen Silkwood, a courageous whistleblower whose demise continues to spark controversy fifty years later. This episode, titled "The Tapes," uncovers newly discovered investigative materials that shed fresh light on the circumstances surrounding Karen’s fatal car crash.

Discovery of the Tapes

The episode opens with Bobby Sands and Mike Boettcher recounting their dramatic discovery of "Silkwood Storage," a crucial finding in their quest to unravel the mystery:

• Bobby Sands (00:06): "Last year, my buddy Mike and I found ourselves inside a giant warehouse with hundreds of big wooden storage containers..."

• Mike Boettcher (00:17): "It felt like a scene from an Indiana Jones movie..."

Amidst ordinary items like old toys and photo albums, they uncover a box labeled "Silkwood Storage" containing cassette tapes from the 1970s and interviews by a private investigator focused on Karen's death. This discovery sets the stage for a deeper investigation into whether Karen's death was purely accidental or if foul play was involved.

Background on Karen Silkwood

Karen Silkwood was a 28-year-old lab analyst at Kerr McGee, a prominent nuclear fuel production plant in Oklahoma. She became increasingly concerned about unsafe working conditions, including:

• Leaks and spills of radioactive materials
• Insufficient training for workers handling plutonium
• Falsification of quality control reports

Karen’s persistent efforts to expose these hazards positioned her as nuclear energy’s first whistleblower. Her activism was unprecedented, especially during a time when blowing the whistle against a large corporation like Kerr McGee was rare and risky.

Karen's Tragic Death

On November 13, 1974, Karen was en route to meet New York Times reporter David Burnham to deliver crucial evidence about the plant’s safety violations. However, she never arrived. Instead, she died in a single-car crash on a dark, isolated Oklahoma highway. The official story attributes her death to falling asleep at the wheel, possibly influenced by drugs, leading to her vehicle veering off the road and crashing into a ditch.

• Bobby Sands (02:07): "But she never made it to that meeting."
• Karen's Boyfriend, Drew Stevens (06:26): "They're killing me. They're trying to kill me."

Despite the official narrative, Bobby and Mike have long doubted its veracity, believing that Karen may have been silenced for the information she was poised to reveal.

Bobby and Mike’s Investigation Journey

Bobby Sands and Mike Boettcher, seasoned journalists with decades of experience, reflect on their initial encounters and their enduring commitment to uncovering the truth behind Karen’s death.

• Bobby Sands (02:36): "We're two old gray guys who've been in this journalism game a very, very long time."

• Mike Boettcher (07:25): "Oklahoma Cityans consider themselves halfway from anywhere this morning. They were right in the middle of hell."

Their careers have been marked by covering significant and often harrowing events, from grisly murders to the Oklahoma City bombing. Now, they channel their investigative prowess into solving the Karen Silkwood mystery, fueled by the belief that justice has yet to be served.

Interviews and Insights

1. Linda Silkwood Vincent (Karen’s Sister): Linda provides a heartfelt portrayal of Karen’s character, emphasizing her intelligence, bravery, and dedication both as a sister and a mother.

• Linda Silkwood Vincent (16:08): "Girls didn't take chemistry class... But she was like, I say, she was the only girl in her chemistry class."

She recounts Karen’s passion for science and her role as a pioneer in a male-dominated field. Linda also sheds light on Karen's tumultuous marriage and her eventual decision to leave her husband to protect her children.

2. Michael Meadows (Karen’s Son): Michael shares his personal struggle with the absence of his mother and his determination to uncover the truth about her death.

• Michael Meadows (13:55): "Was it a single car accident? Did she simply fall asleep at the wheel? Or did she... Was she forced off of the road?"

He expresses the emotional void left by Karen’s early death and his hope to finally understand what truly happened that night.

3. Steve Watka (Former Union Staffer): Steve, a retired attorney and former member of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union (OCAW), has been meticulously collecting FBI documents and preserving crucial evidence related to Karen’s case.

• Steve Watka (24:48): "There was 599 file items. That's just FBI."

He discusses the cassette tapes he holds, containing Karen’s voice and alarming revelations about the plant’s operations, including the lack of proper safeguards for workers handling plutonium.

Critical Evidence and Theories

The hosts delve into the contents of the discovered tapes, which include Karen’s own voice expressing grave concerns about the plant’s safety practices. The tapes reveal:

• Karen’s Worry (26:46): *"She says this plant is essentially being operated by a bunch of kids, 18 and 19 year old kids..."}

• Accumulating Risks (27:13): "She was concerned that she and her co workers didn't get enough information or training at the plant."

These recordings suggest that Karen was deeply aware of the long-term health risks posed by plutonium exposure and the negligent practices at Kerr McGee. Her intent to expose the truth may have made her a target for those wanting to conceal the company's failings.

The Fateful Night

The episode meticulously reconstructs the events of November 13, 1974:

1. Last Activities:

   • Karen attends a union meeting at the Hub Cafe, where she discusses her findings and prepares to deliver the evidence to David Burnham.

2. The Crash:

   • While driving her white Honda Civic with her boyfriend Drew Stevens, Karen veers off Highway 74, crashing into a concrete culvert wall.
   • Bobby Sands (34:18): "Her car drove into a ditch and smashed head on into the concrete retaining wall of a culvert."

3. Aftermath:

   • By the time Bobby, Mike, Steve, and Burnham arrive at the crash site, the evidence Karen intended to deliver is gone, and only her paycheck remains in the mud.

This pivotal moment underscores the mystery surrounding her death—whether it was a tragic accident or a deliberate act to silence her.

Conclusion and Next Steps

As the episode wraps up, Bobby and Mike emphasize the lingering questions about Karen Silkwood’s death and their commitment to uncovering the truth using the newly discovered tapes and evidence.

• Bobby Sands (38:41): "What exactly was Karen uncovering about Kermagee? What secrets could those documents have held? That's next time."

• Mike Boettcher (38:51): "Radioactive The Karen Silkwood Mystery is a production of ABC Audio..."

The episode sets the stage for future installments, promising deeper exploration into the tapes, interviews with new witnesses, and further investigation into the unresolved aspects of Karen Silkwood’s story.

Notable Quotes

• Bobby Sands (00:06): "We were definitely searching for lost treasure, hoping one of these storage containers would hold the key to a 50 year old mystery."

• Steve Watka (26:36): "She was concerned that she and her co workers didn't get enough information or training at the plant."

• Michael Meadows (23:44): "Nobody came forward and said, hey, we did it. Nobody admitted wrongdoing."

Credits

Produced by ABC Audio in collaboration with Standing Bear Entertainment. Acknowledgments to the ABC News Investigative Unit, University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism, and all contributors who facilitated the uncovering of Karen Silkwood’s story.

Stay tuned for Episode 2, where Bobby and Mike will delve deeper into the content of the newly discovered tapes, featuring Karen’s own voice and revealing crucial insights into her final days.