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Rest In Peace, brothers. 6 members of KCFD’s Pumper 30 and Pumper 41 gave their lives in service to the citizens of Kansas City, MO on this day, 33 years ago. We have not forgotten your sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/A3AkgVUBWC — KC Fire Fighters (@IAFFLocal42) November 29, 2021

On November 29, 1988, six Kansas City Fire Fighters from KCFD Pumper 30 and KCFD Pumper 41 started their shift and would never return home. Overnight before the end of their shift they would perish from a tragic explosion. #NeverForgotten

— KCFD (@KCMOFireDept) November 29, 2020

Dear Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas,

Last Friday, I read your Facebook message praising the decision by Judge Fernando Gaitan of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri not to release my codefendant Darlene Edwards from her life sentence for the 1988 explosion that killed six Kansas City firefighters. Five people were convicted of setting the fires that caused the deadly blast, but I remain the only one who has been released early from prison.

I want to respond to your comment that “our current times shouldn’t be a get out of jail free card for those inflicting historic pain on families in our community.” I know you are a man committed to truth and justice. I know you are passionate about innocence and unjust sentencing practices. So I trust you will be open to considering the perspectives of people such as Darlene and me.

On my release day four years ago, four people greeted me — two I had thought of daily during my 20 years in prison, and two others who were a complete surprise.

The first two were my elderly mother, who had supported me throughout my life, and my daughter, now a grown woman. She knew me for most of her life only through bulletproof glass or collect call. I prayed for this day for so long: hugging my mother and my daughter without being told by a prison guard to let go.

The third and fourth people greeting me came in the form of a letter that was waiting for me. The letter was from James Kilventon, the son of one of the six firefighters who were killed in the blast, and his wife Tracey. They wrote to say that they had spent the past several years reading The Kansas City Star’s investigative reporting that had shed so much light on this miscarriage of justice. They wanted to meet me.

By Katie Bernard and Luke Nozicka KC Star September 05, 2020

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 Hellin

Despite health concerns, one of five people convicted and sentenced to life in prison for a 1988 explosion that killed six Kansas City firefighters will not be granted early release due to the coronavirus.

In May Darlene Edwards, 65, petitioned for compassionate release from prison. Her attorneys argued that because of health issues — including diabetes, breathing difficulties and high blood pressure — she was at high risk if she contracted COVID-19.

Edwards was convicted alongside four others in the Nov. 29, 1988, explosion at a construction site along U.S. Route 71 near 87th Street.

Prosecutors at the time argued that the five planned to steal tools to sell for drug money and set fire to a tractor-trailer in the early hours of the morning. It blew up, killing all of the arriving firefighters. Edwards has said she is innocent.

Darlene Edwards, now 66, has been in prison for 23 years. She says she is obese, diabetic and requires assistance walking.

One of five co-defendants sentenced to life in prison without parole for the deaths of six Kansas City firefighters 32 years ago has lost her bid for compassionate release from prison.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. on Friday denied the request of Darlene Edwards, who argued that her age, underlying health conditions and risk of contracting COVID-19 were reasons to reduce her sentence to time served.

Edwards, now 66, has been in prison for 23 years. She says she is obese, diabetic and requires assistance walking.

Although Gaitan agreed that Edwards has serious health conditions and does not pose a danger to the community, he said the severity of her crime weighed against her early release.

 KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Fox4 Aug. 24, 2020 — Nearly 32 years ago, six Kansas City firefighters were killed in a south Kansas City construction site explosion.