As the Saturday meeting continued, Chuck Miller was increasingly struck that the on-shore investigation was a disappointment. More to the point, it had been less than methodical, like it had taken wrong turn after wrong turn. They had a description of the suspect, but no suspect. The closest they got was a former Coulthurst crewman. None of the witnesses were able to identify him. So maybe is was a crewman. Maybe not.
With seven bodies allegedly found — emphasis on allegedly — their prospects on that front seemed increasingly slim. Of course, Miller also knew the state of that evidence. Toward the end they’d found nothing more than bones and bone fragments.
Col. Mike Kolivosky (retired)
Worse yet, Kolivosky and McCoy had only recently begun inquiring about the possible suspect at the marinas in the area. Their checks with the airlines and ferry terminal had turned up nothing, but there were other things to be done. What about ferry terminal receipts? Phone records? What about composite drawings of the suspect? What about getting more line-up photos? None of that had been done. Too many crucial tasks, it seemed, had been overlooked.
Townspeople in Craig, meanwhile, had gotten very nervous. Rumors were flying in every direction. What they needed more than anything, Miller knew, was a quick arrest. Then maybe the people in Craig would be more willing to talk.
The longer the meeting went on, the more Miller’s frustration grew. He had sensed that this case was screwy from the moment he got to Craig, but had kept his mouth shut. He sensed that they’d lost momentum early, but had contented himself with doing the best possible scene investigation he could. They had all been hampered by the difficult conditions under which they were working, but he couldn’t help thinking that things on shore had gone haywire. And now, at this meeting, he stopped hiding his feelings.
CIB Investigator Chuck Miller
From where Trooper Anderson sat, trooper egos were beginning to get in the way. Tensions were building between Miller and Kolivosky. Anderson was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, but he was low man on the totem pole. He couldn’t just tell everyone to quit it and shut up, even though it was his house.
Before the meeting ended, Miller exploded. His target was Kolivosky. “Either I’m going to be in charge, or you’re going to be in charge,” he told the Captain. “And if you’re going to be in charge, then I’m gonna pack my bags and go home.”
Miller’s demonstration of emotion made for some tense moments, but Kolivosky was not about to hand this case over to the CIB on the spot. That decision had to be made by a higher court. This was one for Anchorage to decide. Either way, it was a bad turn of events.
Excerpts from the unpublished original manuscript, “Sailor Take Warning,” by Leland E. Hale. That manuscript, started in 1992 and based on court records from the Alaska State Archive, served as the basis for “What Happened in Craig.”
Copyright Leland E. Hale (2018). All rights reserved.
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