Bob Sands

But a claim like that, they'd need evidence, company documents.

But a claim like that, they'd need evidence, company documents.

No one should know. So Karen went back to Oklahoma and started quietly looking for evidence. She told Steve over the phone that things were coming together and she'd be able to prove it. So he began looking for an investigative reporter. That's where legendary New York Times reporter David Burnham came in.

No one should know. So Karen went back to Oklahoma and started quietly looking for evidence. She told Steve over the phone that things were coming together and she'd be able to prove it. So he began looking for an investigative reporter. That's where legendary New York Times reporter David Burnham came in.

When the union tried to get Burnham interested in the story, at first, he didn't bite.

When the union tried to get Burnham interested in the story, at first, he didn't bite.

Karen was going to blow the whistle on this energy giant. Her life was going to change, and everything around her was going to change. But none of that happened.

Karen was going to blow the whistle on this energy giant. Her life was going to change, and everything around her was going to change. But none of that happened.

From around 5.30 to 7 o'clock p.m., Karen was at a union meeting at the Hub Cafe, a greasy spoon in Crescent, not far from the plant. She drank an iced tea, and aside from making a brief presentation to her fellow plant workers, she didn't say much. That night, a friend and fellow Kermagee plant worker, Jean Young, spotted Karen at the meeting, leafing through a stack of documents.

From around 5.30 to 7 o'clock p.m., Karen was at a union meeting at the Hub Cafe, a greasy spoon in Crescent, not far from the plant. She drank an iced tea, and aside from making a brief presentation to her fellow plant workers, she didn't say much. That night, a friend and fellow Kermagee plant worker, Jean Young, spotted Karen at the meeting, leafing through a stack of documents.

Then Karen left and got into her 1973 white Honda Civic to drive the 30 miles to meet Steve and Burnham, who were waiting for her at the hotel with her boyfriend, Drew Stevens.

Then Karen left and got into her 1973 white Honda Civic to drive the 30 miles to meet Steve and Burnham, who were waiting for her at the hotel with her boyfriend, Drew Stevens.

Karen was seven miles from Crescent when her Honda Civic went from the right lane of the highway across to the left and off the road onto the grass along the road's shoulder.

Karen was seven miles from Crescent when her Honda Civic went from the right lane of the highway across to the left and off the road onto the grass along the road's shoulder.

Law enforcement estimated that the moment of impact happened around 7.30 that night. The collision crumpled the front end of Karen's small two-door Honda, making the windshield fly out and leaving the vehicle sitting on its left side in the red mud of the ditch.

Law enforcement estimated that the moment of impact happened around 7.30 that night. The collision crumpled the front end of Karen's small two-door Honda, making the windshield fly out and leaving the vehicle sitting on its left side in the red mud of the ditch.

Karen Silkwood didn't have a chance.

Karen Silkwood didn't have a chance.

When Karen didn't show up for the meeting in Oklahoma City, Steve Wodka, David Burnham, the New York Times reporter, Andrew Stevens, Karen's boyfriend, started to get nervous.

When Karen didn't show up for the meeting in Oklahoma City, Steve Wodka, David Burnham, the New York Times reporter, Andrew Stevens, Karen's boyfriend, started to get nervous.