Posted on 01/19/2006 5:19:45 AM PST by Graybeard58
His last hours in the Coconino County Jail were taken up with writing letters to friends.
Then, he put his last will and testament, written in jail a week earlier, into a manila envelope and scribbled a note to have it delivered to his attorney.
The next day, Dec. 22, 2005, Prescott resident William C. Rodgers, 40, was found dead in his cell, suffocated with plastic bags. Investigators are convinced the death was a suicide.
Why did he do it? He appears to have left no clue.
Coconino County Sheriff's Office detectives seized Rodgers' letters and will for the investigation. None of the letters or will makes any statements of suicide, nor do they make any specific mention of any of the crimes of which the government suspects him, according to sheriff's officials.
They do, however, provide insight into Rodgers' politics, with one letter referring to the U.S. as a "repressive, neo-colonial empire," and one signed "For a healthier planet."
Rodgers was indicted in early December by a federal grand jury on the charge that he and another person set fire to a U.S. Department of Agriculture building in Olympia, Wash., on June 21, 1998. Estimated damage was more than $1 million.
During hearings held in Flagstaff following Rodgers' arrest, federal prosecutors also alleged Rodgers was involved in at least six acts of ecoterrorism associated with the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front. Called a "mastermind" of some of the arsons by prosecutors, Rodgers was alleged to be involved in the 1998 arson of a ski resort in Vail, Colo., that caused more than $12 million in damage. No indictments or formal charges were attached to the allegations.
Rodgers was one of six people arrested throughout the country, including the arrest of one woman in Flagstaff (see related story). A search of his store and residence allegedly turned up explosives and manuals on how to make bombs. He was scheduled to be transported to Washington state to face the charges on the morning his body was found at the county jail.
NO WORD OF SUICIDE
At least two of the inmates told detectives that Rodgers was concerned about being extradited to Washington state.
Several mentioned that Rodgers had read a newspaper report of himself and became quiet and withdrawn.
One inmate told detectives that he asked Rodgers what was wrong. He stated that Rodgers told him, "Things have gotten worse."
Rodgers spent the rest of Dec. 21 writing letters and watching television. The lights in the jail were turned off at 10 p.m.
Detectives seized the letters, and they also seized the envelope addressed to Rodgers' Flagstaff attorney, David Barrow.
Detectives stated that Barrow gave permission for the opening of the envelope. In the envelope were more letters and Rodgers' will, which was dated Dec. 15, 2005.
Lt. Rex Gilliland said the letters were of a personal nature to friends.
"His letters made no specific intentions of suicide, but he did include a last will and testament," Gilliland said.
He added that no specific reference to any of the crimes Rodgers was suspected of was made in the letters.
Of the five letters in evidence, Gilliland said one was a letter from a supporter, who wanted to help raise money for Rodgers' defense. Two were letters from Rodgers to his girlfriend in Prescott. Two more were letters sent from Rodgers to supporters.
Rodgers signed one of the letters, "For a healthier planet," Gilliland said.
Two of the letters mentioned prosecutors attempting to demonize him, and that his stay in jail reminded him that he lived in a "repressive, neo-colonial empire," Gilliland said. Rodgers also mentioned that it was extremely important work for people to refuse to testify in front of federal grand juries and that solidarity will make the government back down.
Rodgers' home was attached to the Catalyst InfoShop bookstore in Prescott. The Catalyst, according to its Web site, "is a volunteer-run space dedicated to environmental action and social justice."
The shop strives to create a sense of community and promote "grassroots activism."
The Catalyst and residence were searched by federal investigators. A federal agent testified in Flagstaff that agents alleged to have found a box of explosive components as well as literature on how to make bombs and other bomb components. The explosive components mentioned included timers, sponges and relighting candles.
Friends of Rodgers, of whom there were many, characterized him as a kind, compassionate man dedicated to social service, community building and non-violence.
Gilliland said the case will remain open pending the final autopsy results and toxicology tests.
Rodgers' attorney, David Barrow, said Rodgers' body was released to his parents and brother. His wishes were to be cremated, Barrow said.
And the parents met with Rodgers' supporters in Prescott.
"They are planning at some point, to have a memorial service in Prescott," Barrow said. No specific date has been set.
NO SIGNS OF STRUGGLE
According to sheriff's office reports of the investigation into Rodgers' death, the detention officer on duty at the jail last observed Rodgers sleeping in his cell bunk between 4:53 a.m. and 4:59 a.m. The jail lights were turned on at 5 a.m. The detention officer went about other work-related duties. At 6 a.m., the detention officer began feeding the inmates in the C-pod, where Rodgers' cell, in which he was housed alone, was located.
When Rodgers did not appear for breakfast, the detention officer called out to Rodgers. One of the inmates in the pod told the detention officer that he thought Rodgers was dead.
The detention officer went to Rodgers' cell to investigate. There he found Rodgers in the bed, under a cover. Rodgers had a plastic bag from the commissary on his head.
Detention staff attempted cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. The inmates in the pod were locked down. After medical staff pronounced Rodgers dead, the room was sealed.
The first detective on the scene noted in his report that the cell did not appear to have any signs of struggle.
The detective later stated, "In looking closer at his body, I did not find any signs of a struggle or injuries."
Inmates in the unit were strip searched. Then, they were isolated from each other and interviewed.
Every time we grimace at liberal representations of conservatives as heartless and without compassion -- think of titles like this, and some of the responses.
Mostly, the critics are full of crap. But stuff like this, taking pleasure in human trainwrecks, give the slanders substance.
Dan
I thought plastic bags were bad for the ecology. Wouldn't a REAL enviromentalist use a paper bag?
I agree....may God rest his soul.
Newbie!
(c;
Every time I hear this sort of rant I wonder, where are our colonies? Where is the tribute?
Ok...you just got me covered on that one. I enjoy being the youngest in the crowd. I have less wrinkles too! :)
Well it sure is a healthier place now that he no longer is stealing oxygen.
I have no wrinkles.
Nor hair.
(c8
He and his fellow Marxist travelers have caused the deaths of millions of people in the Third World, mostly women and children.
Their work to ban DDT and water projects in Africa and India have caused needless suffering, disease and death.
In India a water project was proposed to bring clean water, irrigation and power to millions of poor villagers, but it was killed by so-called environmentalists like him. The local politicians in India called this cancellation of the project a crime against humanity, and I agree.
Sympathy for this piece of garbage is misplaced. I would no more mourn his passing than I would the death of a Nazi functionary.
Why is it that the so-called non-violence peaceniks are the ones who make the bombs and set places on fire? The Weathermen of the 1970's come to mind. The ELF whackos are no different.
Moved and seconded!
I mourn his terrible choices, and the terrible influences that enabled and encouaged them.
I mourn that a person created in the image of God should waste his life, and ruin others', shaking his fist in God's face. God's judgment is just, and I rejoice in His justice -- but if God can say that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (and He does say that, in Ezekiel 18:23), then I am in no position to show glee and mockery at the spectacle of another ruinous and ruined human being who will never repent, and never begin undoing the damage caused by his rebellion.
In fact, if they want to be accepted, they must conform to the non-conformist look.
Oh BOO HOO. He saved a REAL society money and eliminated another terrorist from the earth. Good riddance.
Not to mention their demonizing of the genetically engineered grains that would alleviate vitamin deficiency diseases throughout the third world.
The only hope for the world is to make sure there is not another United States. We can't let other countries have the same number of cars, the amount of industrialization, we have in the U.S. We have to stop these Third World countries right where they are.
--Michael Oppenheimer, Environmental Defense Fund
You are right on every count Dan.
Hey...you forgot to mention this:
It is Bush's fault!
Maybe he killed himself after all those prison rapes that didn't happen according to a study posted recently...
He has made a healtier planet.
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