Bob Sands

In congressional testimony, the FBI's lead agent on the case said his agency was satisfied with the thoroughness of its investigation. But a congressional attorney criticized the FBI's handling of their investigation, saying it was, quote, in essence, a character assassination of Silkwood, unquote.

In congressional testimony, the FBI's lead agent on the case said his agency was satisfied with the thoroughness of its investigation. But a congressional attorney criticized the FBI's handling of their investigation, saying it was, quote, in essence, a character assassination of Silkwood, unquote.

And that the agency was blatantly taking the word of Kerr-McGee and government officials instead of doing their own independent work.

And that the agency was blatantly taking the word of Kerr-McGee and government officials instead of doing their own independent work.

Pipkin was convinced that Karen Silkwood hadn't been asleep at the wheel, but not much happened with his findings. And his daughter said he never forgot this case. And remember, this was a guy who'd investigated thousands of car wrecks. There was something about this investigation that got under his skin.

Pipkin was convinced that Karen Silkwood hadn't been asleep at the wheel, but not much happened with his findings. And his daughter said he never forgot this case. And remember, this was a guy who'd investigated thousands of car wrecks. There was something about this investigation that got under his skin.

Not this one?

Not this one?

Here's some of what we've been able to put together about Joe's investigation into the Silkwood case. In the fall of 1977, we know that Joe was hired by lawyers who were working on the Silkwood civil trial that you heard about in the last episode. As far as we can tell, he had a specific task to investigate whether Karen had been surveilled before she died.

Here's some of what we've been able to put together about Joe's investigation into the Silkwood case. In the fall of 1977, we know that Joe was hired by lawyers who were working on the Silkwood civil trial that you heard about in the last episode. As far as we can tell, he had a specific task to investigate whether Karen had been surveilled before she died.

So Joe wanted to get to the bottom of who might have been listening in on Karen. If Joe could find evidence that Kerr-McGee had been involved in the alleged surveilling of Karen before she died, then the Silkwood lawyers would try to use it in court. If someone had been following Karen, could they have been involved in her death?

So Joe wanted to get to the bottom of who might have been listening in on Karen. If Joe could find evidence that Kerr-McGee had been involved in the alleged surveilling of Karen before she died, then the Silkwood lawyers would try to use it in court. If someone had been following Karen, could they have been involved in her death?

So, just like Karen had done at the Kerr-McGee plutonium plant, Joe started snooping around, looking for proof. And he secretly recorded his conversations on these little cassette tapes.

So, just like Karen had done at the Kerr-McGee plutonium plant, Joe started snooping around, looking for proof. And he secretly recorded his conversations on these little cassette tapes.

Right here, Bobby. What'd you find? Silkwood investigation tapes.

Right here, Bobby. What'd you find? Silkwood investigation tapes.

We don't know why, but most of Joe's investigation focused on one subject. A group of people who were more often doing the investigating rather than being investigated. The Oklahoma City Police Department. Joe spent most of his time looking at whether the OKCPD had been involved in surveilling Karen. We know that the head of security at the Kermagee plant where Karen worked had ties to the police.

We don't know why, but most of Joe's investigation focused on one subject. A group of people who were more often doing the investigating rather than being investigated. The Oklahoma City Police Department. Joe spent most of his time looking at whether the OKCPD had been involved in surveilling Karen. We know that the head of security at the Kermagee plant where Karen worked had ties to the police.

In the 1960s, Jim Reading worked as a detective for the Oklahoma City Police Department and led the department's intelligence unit. When Kerr-McGee did its own investigation into Karen's death, reading led the charge.

In the 1960s, Jim Reading worked as a detective for the Oklahoma City Police Department and led the department's intelligence unit. When Kerr-McGee did its own investigation into Karen's death, reading led the charge.