TX - Fertilizer plant explodes in West, Texas

[MsFacetious]

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/...ard-By-West-Blast-207293681.html#.UZGFxcgo7IU

Willie Nelson's donations are almost to $130K, donated to West and Abbott.

We drive by Willie's Utah ranch every week for 6 months out of the year, to go snowmobiling.

http://flindersrealty.com/properties/view/4757944fa956e

We see that W-N every single week and think of his donations to West!
No matter who buys that ranch (if anyone ever does) it will always be Willie's ranch. :seeya:

 

[TGIRecovered]

What did Bryce alledgedly steal from the deceased firefighter? Anyone know?

After reading this article, this guy reminds me of the dude several years ago who had convinced everyone including his wife that he was a med student. He wasn't even enrolled in college. He murdered her, dumped her body and put their mattress in the dumpster outside his apartment. The next day he was seen running naked around a motel courtyard. His story unraveled and he is now in prison. Anyone remember his name?

http://www.capitalbay.com/latest-ne...k-now-he-s-charged-for-possessing-a-bomb.html

"On his LinkedIn profile, Reed said he spent time at the U.S. Biological and Chemical Weapon Depot in Ft McClellan, Alabama.

Reed also lists one year from 2010-2011 as a technician/regional safety officer for Allied International Emergency LLC., where he said response teams dealt with 'Weapons of Mass Destruction Response, Nuclear Event Management, Chemical or Biological Weapons Containment, Large Scale Environmental Loss Mitigation, to DOT/EPA small scale spill cleanup...'
However, in a profile, the Dallas Morning News found other inconsistencies in Reed’s self-portrayal, including degrees listed on his resume that it appears he never actually completed.
Residents began to have more serious questions about Reed after it appeared he had woven different stories to different people about what had happened, and alternately telling people he was a police officer and a government representative."

 

[christee]

After the explosions I watched many videos of the explosion and every time I watch a video I still see a large flash to the left of the screen right before the main explosion. I see it clearly when I pause the video and advance one frame at a time.

Screenshot from the video link posted in post #876 at the 6-7 second mark...

 

[faw720]

Just wanted to toss out a few random thoughts I've had & get everyone's opinion.

I think we probably all agree that Bryce Reed is, to put it kindly, a very strange person. Has he always been know as the weird guy of West?
If not, when did he first become that way?

I do not have links to support my other thoughts because I have read & heard so much on TV, that I cannot remember the sources of this information.

Very shortly after the memorial in Waco, Cyrus Reed's sister issued a statement saying that Bryce Reed was not a brother to Cyrus & was in no way related. Also said that, in no way, did he represent the Cyrus Reed family. I thought at the time that this statement was a little strange. I wondered why a sister was issuing a statement rather than Cyrus Reed's wife or parents. Mrs. Cyrus Reed is probably the only person who knows the exact true nature of the Cyrus/Bryce friendship. Why on earth would the Cyrus Reed family allow Bryce to deliver the memorial video unless they were friends? Or, did Bryce make the video without the knowledge of Cyrus Reed's family?

I also heard or read that the Bryce Reed's home was heavily damanged by the explosion & that he, his wife, & small daughter were staying at the Czech Inn. Bryce Reed has been quoted as saying that he tried to get his wife to move in with her parents in Waco 3 days before she actually left because it would be better for their daughter. Anyone know anything about this? Their damaged home could also be the reason for him to take the explosives elsewhere to store. The big question remains, why on earth did he have the explosives?

 

[spamelope]

TGIRecovered, that was Mark Hacking.

 

[Cherry]

Yep Mark Hacking; after that naked incident then he put himself in a pysch ward. He is a coward. I'm so glad he was convicted. I feel that the suspect having explosives is huge and I think he may have committed this crime. I think his pysch profile reminds me of an arsonist. He puts himself out to the media too much; he has attention seeking personality and has inserted himself into this crime as a hero. I think he is anything but. MOO

 

[TGIRecovered]

You know how you can get a creepy feeling about someone from their expression in the mug shot? I get that with Bryce.

He is not embarrassed ( I would be if I was arrested, guilty or not)

He doesn't look shocked or scared.

He looks smug to me.

MOO


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jjenny]

TGIRecovered, that was Mark Hacking.

And wife was Lori Hacking. Hacking was pretending that he went to medical school. Apparently he claims he confessed to Lori that he wasn't in medical school, then killed her.

 

[MrsWilco]

Just wanted to toss out a few random thoughts I've had & get everyone's opinion.

I think we probably all agree that Bryce Reed is, to put it kindly, a very strange person. Has he always been know as the weird guy of West?
If not, when did he first become that way?

I do not have links to support my other thoughts because I have read & heard so much on TV, that I cannot remember the sources of this information.

Very shortly after the memorial in Waco, Cyrus Reed's sister issued a statement saying that Bryce Reed was not a brother to Cyrus & was in no way related. Also said that, in no way, did he represent the Cyrus Reed family. I thought at the time that this statement was a little strange. I wondered why a sister was issuing a statement rather than Cyrus Reed's wife or parents. Mrs. Cyrus Reed is probably the only person who knows the exact true nature of the Cyrus/Bryce friendship. Why on earth would the Cyrus Reed family allow Bryce to deliver the memorial video unless they were friends? Or, did Bryce make the video without the knowledge of Cyrus Reed's family?

I also heard or read that the Bryce Reed's home was heavily damanged by the explosion & that he, his wife, & small daughter were staying at the Czech Inn. Bryce Reed has been quoted as saying that he tried to get his wife to move in with her parents in Waco 3 days before she actually left because it would be better for their daughter. Anyone know anything about this? Their damaged home could also be the reason for him to take the explosives elsewhere to store. The big question remains, why on earth did he have the explosives?

I can answer some of those but not all. Cyrus Reed was not married so there was no wife to speak for him. The sister was speaking on behalf of all of the family..most of which live in Houston. Some of the family came from as far away as Georgia. They believed BReed when he told them that Cyrus was like a brother to him but from what I understand now believe that the 2 were more casual acquantances. They allowed him to make the video for the memorial as well as allowed Reed to speak at the funeral because they believed the things he told them. Something after the fact, prompted a closer look (whether it was just the fact that time passed and allowed them to see more clearly through their grief or one of the MANY red flags where BReed is concerned got their attention is anyone's guess) As far as the damage to his home being the reason he couldn't keep his explosives there -- I can't say definitively how damaged his house was because I've not been in it. However, most all of the houses on his block were in some way damaged by the blast, there are very few that are not damaged. There are some homes on that block that are deemed a total loss and some that have been deemed repairable, but I know of no homes on that block that have been declared so badly damaged that they should not be entered for any reason (there were some of those in West but just not that particular block). That's what I KNOW. Anything else is speculation and is MOO. I don't think he was widely regarded in West as "the strange guy" before this...he was really and truly a member of EMS for some time before the explosion. I think his well-rehearsed media appearances and inconsistent stories are what made some people in town start to question him. One thing I find interesting....you have heard little to nothing about this man from any of the West EMS volunteers or the West VFD members and I think that is very very telling. I've read several places that they've been told not to discuss him or the situation...but in a town of 2500 people SOMETHING usually gets out and I've heard ZERO gossip attributed to any of them. I truly have no idea whether or not he had anything to do with the explosion, but if nothing else, he has managed to give the impression he is looking for some way to exploit the situation to his advantage. Again :moo:

 

[PassTheMotrin]

Interesting...I just learned that BReed is from Rockwall, and that he and I share a mutual friend on FB who is a commissioner. And when I learned that he saw his fellow FF's truck at the plant and kept going, the red flag started waving immediately. I've never heard of a first responder doing that; it's ingrained in every fiber of our being to stop and render aid immediately.

 

[BeginnersLuck]

911 audio (Texas fertilizer plant explosion): We need every ambulance we can get - YouTube

I think this has an excerpt of the call you're talking about. I've heard Dr. Smith of West EMS give several interviews saying that he gave direction to one of the EMS folks to use the helicopter radio to call in and ask for help but I don't know that I ever heard the name of the actual caller. But I've had a conversation with Bryce Reed within the past 10 days and I can say that the caller on this particular call is not Reed.

Interesting in the 911 calls you can hear one person saying it was an explosion and one person saying a bomb just went off in here.

 

[BeginnersLuck]

What did Bryce alledgedly steal from the deceased firefighter? Anyone know?

After reading this article, this guy reminds me of the dude several years ago who had convinced everyone including his wife that he was a med student. He wasn't even enrolled in college. He murdered her, dumped her body and put their mattress in the dumpster outside his apartment. The next day he was seen running naked around a motel courtyard. His story unraveled and he is now in prison. Anyone remember his name?

http://www.capitalbay.com/latest-ne...k-now-he-s-charged-for-possessing-a-bomb.html

BBM: That would be interesting to know.

Is there any truth to the statement that Bryce made about where Cyrus worked:

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/west...e-blast-for-west-paramedic-facing-charges.ece

Cyrus loved fire,” Bryce Reed said at the service, describing his friend as someone who loved to play practical jokes. “He loved it to a fault, to be honest. His parents and friends can attest to this love of fire, which is evidenced by the burn marks in all of our yards.” (In yet another interview, Reed said Cyrus Reed had worked at a Central Texas company that manufactures explosives for oil and gas companies.)

I find the whole statement above odd.

Also from the same article:

The day after the memorial service, according to the federal affidavit, Bryce Reed took the pipe bomb materials to the home of an unidentified man in nearby Abbott.

Why wouldn't you dispose of these materials in a safe manner instead of asking a friend to hold them for you?

On April 17, the day of the explosion, Reed said he and his wife rushed toward the West Fertilizer Co. after hearing that fire had broken out. They were driving around urging neighbors to evacuate when they felt the explosion. He became separated from his wife, a nurse named Brittany, in the chaos of trying to help survivors, he said. He later assumed radio command for the West emergency team, he said, because his superiors were dead.

I wonder how much of the above is true?

I wonder how common and easily available these chemicals are that were reported to be found with the bomb making materials.

The material is described as a 3.5-inch galvanized metal pipe an inch and a half in diameter. Two galvanized end caps were attached to the pipe. One end cap had a small hole drilled into it.
Canisters containing a fuse, a lighter, six coils of metal ribbon and several pounds of chemical powders were also found.
The powders were described as potassium nitrate, aluminum powder, red iron oxide, ammonium perchlorate, sulfur powder and other materials.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-blast-charged-having-BOMB.html#ixzz2THgqz6AY

Was he/is he going to try and set up Cyrus if anyone questioned him in this matter?

eta: I forgot to mention also the allegations of him stealing and was it Cyrus that he stole from? So was it going to be I took those materials from Cyrus so he wouldn't be implicated in the blast? Just speculation here........

 

[faw720]

I can answer some of those but not all. Cyrus Reed was not married so there was no wife to speak for him. The sister was speaking on behalf of all of the family..most of which live in Houston. Some of the family came from as far away as Georgia. They believed BReed when he told them that Cyrus was like a brother to him but from what I understand now believe that the 2 were more casual acquantances. They allowed him to make the video for the memorial as well as allowed Reed to speak at the funeral because they believed the things he told them. Something after the fact, prompted a closer look (whether it was just the fact that time passed and allowed them to see more clearly through their grief or one of the MANY red flags where BReed is concerned got their attention is anyone's guess) As far as the damage to his home being the reason he couldn't keep his explosives there -- I can't say definitively how damaged his house was because I've not been in it. However, most all of the houses on his block were in some way damaged by the blast, there are very few that are not damaged. There are some homes on that block that are deemed a total loss and some that have been deemed repairable, but I know of no homes on that block that have been declared so badly damaged that they should not be entered for any reason (there were some of those in West but just not that particular block). That's what I KNOW. Anything else is speculation and is MOO. I don't think he was widely regarded in West as "the strange guy" before this...he was really and truly a member of EMS for some time before the explosion. I think his well-rehearsed media appearances and inconsistent stories are what made some people in town start to question him. One thing I find interesting....you have heard little to nothing about this man from any of the West EMS volunteers or the West VFD members and I think that is very very telling. I've read several places that they've been told not to discuss him or the situation...but in a town of 2500 people SOMETHING usually gets out and I've heard ZERO gossip attributed to any of them. I truly have no idea whether or not he had anything to do with the explosion, but if nothing else, he has managed to give the impression he is looking for some way to exploit the situation to his advantage. Again :moo:

Thanks so much for your input!! This helps clear up some of my questions.

 

[HMSHood]

An interesting turn of events.

 

[MrsWilco]

Respectifully snipped by
That would be interesting to know.


Was he/is he going to try and set up Cyrus if anyone questioned him in this matter?

eta: I forgot to mention also the allegations of him stealing and was it Cyrus that he stole from? So was it going to be I took those materials from Cyrus so he wouldn't be implicated in the blast? Just speculation here........

That whole "set up" scenario was EXACTLY my first thought upon hearing about his arrest! I'm not sure what he is alleged to have stolen from Cyrus' apartment (which is in nearby Hillsboro) but I hadn't dropped the "stealing from Cyrus" into the "setting up Cyrus" scenario. Good thought.

 

[mysteriew]

What did Bryce alledgedly steal from the deceased firefighter? Anyone know?

After reading this article, this guy reminds me of the dude several years ago who had convinced everyone including his wife that he was a med student. He wasn't even enrolled in college. He murdered her, dumped her body and put their mattress in the dumpster outside his apartment. The next day he was seen running naked around a motel courtyard. His story unraveled and he is now in prison. Anyone remember his name?

http://www.capitalbay.com/latest-ne...k-now-he-s-charged-for-possessing-a-bomb.html

Yeah I thought of him too. Mark Hacking
Lori Hacking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Then there was the guy who claimed to be related to the Rockefeller's.

But who he reminds me most of? The young kid who was stalking the girl and when it looked like he was going to be prosecuted for sexual assault, he and his parents took off making it look like they had been killed. He had convinced his parents he was being framed for the crime and their lives were in danger.

He had posted himself online being a member of a band (himself, his father and a very young sister or niece.) And a preacher. And he ran for mayor or something. I can't think of this guys name.

 

[faw720]

Just heard breaking news on television at nbcdfw.com that the cause of the West explosion will be announced on Thursday at 4 pm. I'm sure there will be a link to post soon.

 

[MsFacetious]

A news conference is scheduled for late Thursday afternoon in West.

The announcement comes about a week later than originally expected.

Last week State Fire Marshal's Office spokeswoman Rachel Moreno said investigators had determined that ammonium nitrate stored at the plant is what exploded, but not what touched off the ammonium nitrate.

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/...nnounced-Thursday-207429561.html#.UZKzZcrEW3o


The results of the investigation into the fire and explosion at the West Fertilizer Company will be revealed Thursday, officials say.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Re...ation-to-be-Revealed-Wednesday-207430681.html


It just says the "results" which could be "we don't have a cause."
Hopefully a definitive CAUSE will be announced as well.

What did Bryce alledgedly steal from the deceased firefighter? Anyone know?

After reading this article, this guy reminds me of the dude several years ago who had convinced everyone including his wife that he was a med student. He wasn't even enrolled in college. He murdered her, dumped her body and put their mattress in the dumpster outside his apartment. The next day he was seen running naked around a motel courtyard. His story unraveled and he is now in prison. Anyone remember his name?

Mark Hacking... Lori had found out he was lying and Mark had to confess to his family and her family.
Instead he shot her in her sleep and put her body in a dumpster.
I have never understood how he thought killing her would prevent the truth from being found out.

We see his Dad... Dr Hacking about once a month in his Pediatric's office.

 

[faw720]

Thanks for the link. I had just found it & logged back on here to post it.

I am so hopeful that they have a definitive cause. Unless they do, there will always be questions. I'm thinking they know something, otherwise ATF wouldn't give up so soon.

 

[mysteriew]

Why are they waiting until Thurs? If they know something now, why not say it now? If they don't know it now, why do they think they will know it Thurs?

Could they be preparing more charges for someone? And want to get that in first?