Mike Boettcher

Karen Silkwood's son, Michael Meadows, shared what I think a lot of us were feeling, this mix of gratitude, appreciation, but also some disappointment.

Karen Silkwood's son, Michael Meadows, shared what I think a lot of us were feeling, this mix of gratitude, appreciation, but also some disappointment.

There was a chorus of thank yous and goodbyes.

There was a chorus of thank yous and goodbyes.

We were hoping Steve Irwin, with his analysis of the bumper and all the other evidence, would solve the mystery.

We were hoping Steve Irwin, with his analysis of the bumper and all the other evidence, would solve the mystery.

I think it's fair to say that's what Karen's family was hoping for, too. Confirmation of a second car or, at the very least, some definitive answer to why her Honda Civic left the road and crashed into a concrete wall as she was driving to what was arguably one of the most important meetings of her life.

I think it's fair to say that's what Karen's family was hoping for, too. Confirmation of a second car or, at the very least, some definitive answer to why her Honda Civic left the road and crashed into a concrete wall as she was driving to what was arguably one of the most important meetings of her life.

It turns out that while technology can do a lot of remarkable things, at least in this case, firm answers weren't part of the deal. At least, not yet.

It turns out that while technology can do a lot of remarkable things, at least in this case, firm answers weren't part of the deal. At least, not yet.

The day after our session with Steve, one of our producers got a text from Karen Silkwood's older daughter, Christy Riddles. Christy was eight when her mom died. She was the oldest of the three kids and the one with the most memories of her mom. Christy was the one on the Zoom call who asked if Steve could pinpoint why Karen lost control of her car the night she died.

The day after our session with Steve, one of our producers got a text from Karen Silkwood's older daughter, Christy Riddles. Christy was eight when her mom died. She was the oldest of the three kids and the one with the most memories of her mom. Christy was the one on the Zoom call who asked if Steve could pinpoint why Karen lost control of her car the night she died.

Unfortunately, Steve couldn't give her that piece of the puzzle.

Unfortunately, Steve couldn't give her that piece of the puzzle.

Karen Silkwood did play a role in raising awareness about the risks and dangers of nuclear power.

Karen Silkwood did play a role in raising awareness about the risks and dangers of nuclear power.

About a month before she died, Karen told the union leader, Steve Watka, that she was going to be gone from Kermagee, and that she was going to shut things down before she left.

About a month before she died, Karen told the union leader, Steve Watka, that she was going to be gone from Kermagee, and that she was going to shut things down before she left.

One of those workers was Jim Smith. He'd been a manager at the plutonium plant from day one. He told some documentary film producers that before everything closed down, there'd been talk of Kerr-McGee re-upping their fuel rod contract. But that would have required a major cleanup effort.

One of those workers was Jim Smith. He'd been a manager at the plutonium plant from day one. He told some documentary film producers that before everything closed down, there'd been talk of Kerr-McGee re-upping their fuel rod contract. But that would have required a major cleanup effort.