Records showed the boiler operated for 34 hours during September 17 and September 18, two days before the body was found.
Does anyone know why that 'inactive' boiler was run during that time? Who operated it during that time? Is it stated on the record? MOO
The records are attached regarding the boiler firings from the Bellingham police file.
My thoughts are he was an urban explorer who entered the grounds soon after the closing before Labor day, As there was a long weekend from Friday, (4 Sept 87) to Tue (8 Sept 87).
Friday Sept 4. Facility shuts down for long labor day weekend
Sept 4-5. He enters closed facility and falls into boiler stack
Tuesday Sept 8. Work resumes at facility
Sept 17 Boiler fired for 20 hours
Sept 18 Boiler fired for 14 hours
Sept 20 Body found due to alarm
It seems likely that he entered the property on the evening of the 4th or 5th of September The boiler was fired on Sept 17 for 20 hours, and 14 hours on Sept 18. Later his skeletonized remains were found on Sunday, Sept 20, 1987, Some 16 days after the plant closed for the holiday.
He likely fell the 17 feet into the stack and onto the pipes, that evening and he broke a femur and ankle or both. As a result, he died of blood loss and exposure before the boilers were ever fired, several days later.
As the yellow diagrams show, the fall was
17'5" from the rim to the pipes. There was a cross pipe 10 feet above the pipes.
With a broken femur and ankle(s) there was no way he could escape. If anyone was with him, they took off and left him to his fate. If someone from the factory allowed him into the facility, he would have engendered criminal liability for the man's death. A very good reason to keep one's mouth shut.
Attached Files: 2 pages, regarding firing dates and and length of boiler filing
4 pages diagrams showing position of where body found.
Source: Bellingham police file.