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By Luke Nozicka Kansas City Star Feb. 2nd, 2022

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver on Wednesday urged anyone with information about the 1988 explosion that killed six Kansas City firefighters to come forward following reports that two other suspects may have been involved. In a statement, Cleaver, who was mayor pro tem at the time of the explosion, also said he prays that the loved ones of the firefighters are “able to find peace of mind.”

“In this case, every disclosure seems to point to the reality that we may never have complete closure — which breaks my heart for the families of the six firefighters who tragically lost their lives on that awful day in 1988,” he said.

Cleaver’s comments followed reports this week that Justice Department records, which were recently released through court order, show investigators a decade ago found new information to suggest that two security guards, Debbie Riggs and Donna Costanza, “may have been involved in the arsons” as part of an attempted insurance fraud.

Jackson Hicks, Angie Ricono  Posted on Feb 2, 2022

• KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Local leaders are reacting to new information that was released about the 1988 explosion that killed six Kansas City firefighters.

Earlier this week, a previously-redacted DOJ report on a construction site fire near 71 Highway and 87th Street in Kansas City was released. The government document originally blacked out names, paragraphs, and even full pages from public view.

U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, who served as mayor during the investigation, released a statement calling for more information in the investigation. 

“In this case, every disclosure seems to point to the reality that we may never have complete closure—which breaks my heart for the families of the six firefighters who tragically lost their lives on that awful day in 1988," Rep. Cleaver said. "I would urge anyone with pertinent information to come forward, and I pray that the friends and family of each hero who gave their life to protect our community are able to find peace of mind.”

Jean Peters Baker, the prosecutor for Jackson County, is calling for a review of the case. Her office released a statement on Tuesday:

"Our office was asked to review this new evidence for possible charges against two additional suspects. We believe a review is warranted given that no statute of limitations exists for murder."

Even though there were convictions in the case, speculation around the fire never went away. 

The “Marlborough 5,” who were originally convicted, always maintained their innocence and turned down plea deals. Those offered lie detector tests passed. Critics point out prosecution witnesses were offered deals and even cash for testimony.

To read the full report, click here.

 

KSHB 41 By: Andres Gutierrez , Casey Murray Posted at 2:34 PM, Feb 01, 2022 and last updated 11:38 PM, Feb 01, 2022

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A report released by the U.S. Department of Justice after a records request lawsuit indicated that there may be more suspects in the 1988 explosion that killed six Kansas City firefighters than the five individuals who were ultimately convicted.

The lawsuit was brought by Bryan Sheppard, one of those convicted for the explosion who has maintained his innocence.

Over the years, the case against Sheppard and the four others convicted for the explosion has brought scrutiny. Some witnesses alleged that police pressured them to name those convicted in the crime and have recanted their testimony. There was no physical evidence in the case, so the five individuals were convicted on testimony from others. However, other witnesses have maintained their testimony.

The report, based on the DOJ's investigation into the case, appeared to indicate that two security guards could have been implicated in the crime.

However, U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore said that does not exonerate the former five defendants.

For Immediate Release Jackson County Prosecutor's Office
Feb. 1, 2022

In response to news reports today regarding information related to the Kansas City firefighters' case, the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office is issuing this statement:

"Our office was asked to review this new evidence for possible charges against two additional suspects. We believe a review is warranted given that no statute of limitations exists for murder. "

Kansas City Star By Luke Nozicka and Bill Lukitsch Updated February 01, 2022 3:02 PM

A look back at the explosion that killed six firefighters in 1988 This is a file video from 2008 that gives an overview of the events that led to the deaths of six firefighters, and the convictions of five people in the case. The youngest defendant in the case, Bryan Sheppard, who was 17 at the time of the explo By Todd Feeback, Mike McGraw and David Helling

Jackson County prosecutors believe a review of new evidence in the 1988 explosion that killed six Kansas City firefighters is “warranted” following reports that two additional suspects may have been involved.

In a two-sentence statement Tuesday, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said it was asked to review recently released evidence in the case for charges against other potential suspects.

“We believe a review is warranted given that no statute of limitations exists for murder,” the office said.

Kansas City Star By Bill Lukitsch and Luke Nozicka Updated February 01, 2022 12:20 PM

Records recently released by the Justice Department through court order show investigators found new information more than 10 years ago to suggest that two security guards may have been involved in a 1988 arson-fueled explosion at a construction site that killed six Kansas City firefighters.

In its report, finalized in 2011 but never publicly disclosed in its entirety, Justice Department investigators tasked with reviewing the case concluded that security guards Debbie Riggs and Donna Costanza “may have been involved in the arsons” as part of an attempted insurance fraud. However, the DOJ found that the new information did not exonerate the five Kansas Citians who had been sentenced to life in prison.

The DOJ’s identification of Riggs and Costanza as additional suspects comes more than 10 years after the department released a two-and-a-half page summary of its findings at the close of its investigation. In the earlier release, Justice officials redacted their names and those of the witnesses interviewed.

The conclusion by the DOJ bolsters long standing suspicions about Riggs and Costanza that were raised by the defendants at trial. It also complicates the theory presented by investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and federal prosecutors that the five convicted — all small-time criminals from Kansas City’s Marlborough neighborhood — were the sole perpetrators and set the Nov. 29, 1988 fires to divert the attention of those security guards and to cover up a burglary gone wrong.