Mike Boettcher

Then Karen and a coworker raised some even bigger concerns about wrongdoing at the plant. That important quality control reports were being falsified. Concerns, that if true, meant the health and safety of a lot more people was at risk, well beyond people who worked at the plant.

Then Karen and a coworker raised some even bigger concerns about wrongdoing at the plant. That important quality control reports were being falsified. Concerns, that if true, meant the health and safety of a lot more people was at risk, well beyond people who worked at the plant.

David Burnham passed away in October of 2024, just a few months after this interview. In the late 60s, early 70s, Burnham uncovered police corruption in the NYPD and then reported on Congress and federal agencies, like the one overseeing Karen's job as an atomic worker.

David Burnham passed away in October of 2024, just a few months after this interview. In the late 60s, early 70s, Burnham uncovered police corruption in the NYPD and then reported on Congress and federal agencies, like the one overseeing Karen's job as an atomic worker.

Karen was set to meet Steve and Burnham on November 13, 1974, at 8 o'clock in the evening at the Northwest Holiday Inn in Oklahoma City. The plan was she'd turn over the evidence to Burnham, documents she'd been secretly collecting, and he'd expose Kerr-McGee to the whole country. When Steve asked Karen if she was reluctant or hesitant in any way, she was clear. She said, I'll be ready.

Karen was set to meet Steve and Burnham on November 13, 1974, at 8 o'clock in the evening at the Northwest Holiday Inn in Oklahoma City. The plan was she'd turn over the evidence to Burnham, documents she'd been secretly collecting, and he'd expose Kerr-McGee to the whole country. When Steve asked Karen if she was reluctant or hesitant in any way, she was clear. She said, I'll be ready.

Instead, here's what we know from that night.

Instead, here's what we know from that night.

This is from a 1980 interview for a documentary about Karen. Jean told the filmmakers that she talked with Karen right before she left the Hub Cafe.

This is from a 1980 interview for a documentary about Karen. Jean told the filmmakers that she talked with Karen right before she left the Hub Cafe.

Jean also gave a sworn affidavit about that night, about how Karen had a manila folder with her, about an inch thick, full of papers. She said some of them were typewritten pages, others were heavier, like photographs.

Jean also gave a sworn affidavit about that night, about how Karen had a manila folder with her, about an inch thick, full of papers. She said some of them were typewritten pages, others were heavier, like photographs.

She headed south toward Oklahoma City on State Highway 74, It was a road Karen knew well. She traveled it nearly every day to get to and from work, a narrow two-lane roadway with steep shoulders and prairie on either side. On that night, Highway 74 was dark and empty.

She headed south toward Oklahoma City on State Highway 74, It was a road Karen knew well. She traveled it nearly every day to get to and from work, a narrow two-lane roadway with steep shoulders and prairie on either side. On that night, Highway 74 was dark and empty.

Her car drove into a ditch and smashed head-on into the concrete retaining wall of a culvert, basically a big, wide drainage channel running under the road.

Her car drove into a ditch and smashed head-on into the concrete retaining wall of a culvert, basically a big, wide drainage channel running under the road.

In pictures, the front end of the car looks like a crushed tin can.

In pictures, the front end of the car looks like a crushed tin can.

The highway patrol was notified of the accident at about 8 p.m., and when the trooper arrived at around 8.15, he noted that Karen's legs were broken. She had dried blood on her face, and she appeared to be dead. At around 8.30, an ambulance arrived at the scene. They transferred Karen to Logan County Hospital. She was pronounced dead on arrival around 9 p.m. She was 28 years old.

The highway patrol was notified of the accident at about 8 p.m., and when the trooper arrived at around 8.15, he noted that Karen's legs were broken. She had dried blood on her face, and she appeared to be dead. At around 8.30, an ambulance arrived at the scene. They transferred Karen to Logan County Hospital. She was pronounced dead on arrival around 9 p.m. She was 28 years old.