DeepSummary
In December 1989, federal judge Robert Vance and his wife Helen were preparing for Christmas when a package arrived containing a powerful pipe bomb that killed Robert instantly. Two days later, a similar pipe bomb was discovered at the 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta. Both bombs had unique characteristics, including being covered in black enamel paint and having square end caps that increased the blast force. They were linked to a previous tear gas bomb sent to the NAACP office.
Attorney Robert Robinson was killed by another identical pipe bomb two days after Robert Vance's murder. Willie Dennis, president of the NAACP in Jacksonville, received a similar package but did not open it. The bomber left letters taking responsibility for the killings and threatening more attacks against the 11th Circuit Court. Investigators found the bombs were meticulously constructed with no trace evidence left behind.
After an exhaustive investigation, the bomber was identified as Walter Leroy Moody, who had a previous conviction related to bomb possession. His wife Susan provided key testimony about purchasing materials for the bombs and Moody's obsession with overturning his conviction. Forensic evidence, including a fingerprint, corroborated her account. Moody was found guilty and sentenced to death for murdering Vance and Robinson.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- In late 1989, a series of powerful pipe bomb attacks targeted legal officials associated with the 11th Circuit Court, killing a federal judge and a civil rights attorney.
- The bombs were meticulously constructed with unique characteristics like black enamel paint and square end caps, and left no forensic evidence behind.
- An exhaustive multi-agency investigation ultimately identified Walter Leroy Moody as the bomber based on similarities to a previous bomb case involving him.
- Key evidence came from Moody's wife Susan, who testified about purchasing bomb-making materials and Moody's obsession with overturning a prior conviction.
- Moody harbored a grudge against the 11th Circuit Court's decisions and threatened more attacks until his demands for impartiality were met.
- The sophistication of the bombs suggested Moody would not have stopped the attacks if he had not been identified and convicted.
- The case highlighted the challenges of investigating bombings without leaving forensic evidence as well as the importance of pursuing all leads exhaustively.
- Moody's meticulous efforts to avoid evidence ultimately led to his identification through the similarities of the unique bomb design.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “These were very meticulously built bombs, so meticulous that some of the finest forensic machinery in the world failed to find one speck of DNA, one fingerprint, so much as a trace of powder under a fingernail.“ by Unknown
- “The attacks will continue until widespread terror forces the court to adopt the impartial and equitable treatment of all as its highest priority.“ by The Bomber
- “I'm not concerned about anybody finding any connections regarding those or any other bombings ever.“ by Robert Lloyd Irwin
- “The evidence suggests that the bomber's obsession with making his devices just that much deadlier, that much more vicious and destructive, is ultimately what became Roy Moody's undoing.“ by Unknown
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Episode Information
Forensic Files
HLN
10/5/20