Mike Boettcher

Karen's sisters also remember highs and lows.

Karen's sisters also remember highs and lows.

We reached out to Bill Meadows through his daughter Dawn, who is his caretaker. He didn't dispute going to get Karen when she left, and he said he did bring his father with him the second time.

We reached out to Bill Meadows through his daughter Dawn, who is his caretaker. He didn't dispute going to get Karen when she left, and he said he did bring his father with him the second time.

After that, Karen decided she had to leave, and she decided to leave the kids with Bill.

After that, Karen decided she had to leave, and she decided to leave the kids with Bill.

In August 1972, Karen moved out. She gave Bill an uncontested divorce. Her children were five, three, and almost two years old.

In August 1972, Karen moved out. She gave Bill an uncontested divorce. Her children were five, three, and almost two years old.

Michael says he doesn't hold his mother's leaving against her. He only saw her a few times in the 18 months after the divorce and before she died, but he feels like she fought for him and his sisters. For him, what's hard has been missing the chance to know his mom for himself, not someone else's version of her.

Michael says he doesn't hold his mother's leaving against her. He only saw her a few times in the 18 months after the divorce and before she died, but he feels like she fought for him and his sisters. For him, what's hard has been missing the chance to know his mom for himself, not someone else's version of her.

So we're returning to the people who have the best chance of knowing. The ones still alive who still hold part of Karen Silkwood's story.

So we're returning to the people who have the best chance of knowing. The ones still alive who still hold part of Karen Silkwood's story.

Just like Karen's son, Michael, Steve Watka has been gathering pieces of the Silkwood Puzzle, too.

Just like Karen's son, Michael, Steve Watka has been gathering pieces of the Silkwood Puzzle, too.

Steve met Karen in the early 1970s. He was a young staffer working for the labor union that represented Karen and other workers at the plant, the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Union, or the OCAW. Back then, his hair was black and wavy, and he had a thick, walrus-style mustache.

Steve met Karen in the early 1970s. He was a young staffer working for the labor union that represented Karen and other workers at the plant, the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Union, or the OCAW. Back then, his hair was black and wavy, and he had a thick, walrus-style mustache.

Steve held on to these recordings for 50 years. And at this point, he's replayed the calls so many times, he basically has it memorized.

Steve held on to these recordings for 50 years. And at this point, he's replayed the calls so many times, he basically has it memorized.

Karen actually only knew Steve for seven weeks, the last seven weeks of her life. She was in Oklahoma, he was in D.C., working at the OCAW's office there. But they got to know each other pretty well.

Karen actually only knew Steve for seven weeks, the last seven weeks of her life. She was in Oklahoma, he was in D.C., working at the OCAW's office there. But they got to know each other pretty well.