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Post by Scumhunter on Oct 14, 2020 1:25:32 GMT -5
  (Above photo credits: fbi.gov website) From the fbi.gov website: On October 9, 1995, the Amtrak Sunset Limited passenger train was derailed at around 1:35 a.m. in a remote desert area approximately 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. This incident resulted in the death of one Amtrak employee, serious injuries to 12 others, and minor injuries to approximately 100 additional passengers. At the time of the derailment, the Sunset Limited had 258 passengers onboard. Images of the scene after the derailment are below. “A hallmark of the FBI is that we don’t forget,” said Sean Kaul, special agent in charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “There were children onboard the train as young as 9 months old, an innocent man lost his life, and many others were injured. For 25 years the victims of this crime, their family, and friends have suffered. We will continue to aggressively pursue this investigation, for as long as it takes. We are determined to seek justice for the victims of this senseless crime.” A reward of up to $310,000 is still being offered collectively by multiple entities in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the derailment of the Amtrak passenger train. It should be noted that each entity offering reward money attaches a separate set of criteria that must be met in order for the reward money to be paid. The reward is broken down as follows: FBI - Up to $250,000 Amtrak - Up to $50,000 Maricopa County Attorney’s Office - Up to $10,000 This case is being investigated jointly by the FBI, Amtrak Police Department, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
If you have information about the derailment of the Sunset Limited, please report it to the FBI Phoenix Field Office at 623-466-1999 or tips.fbi.gov.
www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/phoenix/news/press-releases/25-years-since-sunset-limited-train-derailmentfbi.gov seeking information flyer: www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/train-derailmentCNN article from 1995: www.cnn.com/US/9510/amtrak/10-10/Thoughts? I am placing this case in the Unsolved on TV section as opposed to forum-exclusive unsolved because this was for obvious reasons a big national news story in 1995, although the case surprisingly seems to have been somewhat faded in public memory over 25 years. Hopefully the FBI putting some publicity back in will help jolt someone out there to remember key details and solve the case.
Admin Note: If you have any (news-related) updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form |
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Post by тσρтєиhυитєя on Oct 14, 2020 22:18:26 GMT -5
I remember reading about this case, a group claiming to be called “sons of the gestapo” or something like that was said to be responsible but no group with that name exists.
Also it’s one of a few train derailment sabotages out there. The reward of $310,000 is pretty hefty, and keep in mind you’ve had the Ruby Ridge stand off, Waco Siege, and Oklahoma City Bombing within a few years in the American west that perhaps individuals upset because of these events may have been behind the train derailment.
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Post by Scumhunter on Oct 14, 2020 22:29:41 GMT -5
Excellent point about the political climate back then (sorry to make a morbid joke but I already acknowledge the irony of saying "back then").
Also I know this might be a lazy theory and the most obvious- but it in my opinion could have been a disgruntled employee. I guess that theory depends on whether only one person could have done this.
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Post by тσρтєиhυитєя on Oct 15, 2020 6:31:17 GMT -5
Excellent point about the political climate back then (sorry to make a morbid joke but I already acknowledge the irony of saying "back then"). Also I know this might be a lazy theory and the most obvious- but it in my opinion could have been a disgruntled employee. I guess that theory depends on whether only one person could have done this. According to the Wikipedia page (which I reread last night) it said they allegedly found 4 letters claiming it was in retaliation for the Waco Siege which occurred in 1993, and it was signed by the “Sons of the Gestapo” a group that has been confirmed to not exist. This could have been a disgruntled employee who chose to use the Waco Siege as a cover for a more disturbing motive or it was some random person genuinely upset about Waco. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Palo_Verde,_Arizona_derailment |
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Post by Maddog on Oct 15, 2020 11:49:07 GMT -5
I think a former railroad company worker was involved. Reason I reach that conclusion is because the saboteur knew how to keep the track circuit closed, and this prevented any activation of any emergency warning devices. It’s easy to cast blame on Waco being a motive, but this could have just been a red herring.
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Post by Scumhunter on Oct 16, 2020 4:32:15 GMT -5
I guess it depends on when the letter was found but my feeling is it might not have even been a red herring but someone upset about Waco or something using the situation to take advantage for free publicity for their cause. I mean ISIS claimed responsibility for the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting when right now there's nothing to suggest Stephen Paddock had any connection or even inspiration whatsoever. So my feeling is that letter is a fraud one way or the other though.
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Post by тσρтєиhυитєя on Oct 18, 2023 18:34:20 GMT -5
I guess it depends on when the letter was found but my feeling is it might not have even been a red herring but someone upset about Waco or something using the situation to take advantage for free publicity for their cause. I mean ISIS claimed responsibility for the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting when right now there's nothing to suggest Stephen Paddock had any connection or even inspiration whatsoever. So my feeling is that letter is a fraud one way or the other though. For all we know it could have been some random person who knew about trains, never worked on them or was never upset about Waco, but just wanted to cause mayhem because the individual was likely very disturbed. |
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