It's a Disaster, Y'all - The Benton Fireworks Disaster

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It's Murder, Y'all

53 episodes

2 days ago

Each week on the It's Murder, Y'all podcast, we're going to bring you lesser-known true crime cases from the Deep South. And if you like your southern true crime with a side of millennial pop culture references, ADHD-induced tangents, and a tasteful amount of spicy language, then this podcast is for you!

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It's a Disaster, Y'all - The Benton Fireworks Disaster

It's Murder, Y'all

27 minutes 51 seconds

1 year ago

It's a Disaster, Y'all - The Benton Fireworks Disaster

This episode discusses the 1983 Benton Fireworks Disaster in Benton, TN, that killed 11 people.

WARNING: If you don’t like gruesome/gory details, here is a time stamp for which part to skip: 5:35 – 10:38.

Come follow us on IG: @Itsmurderyall

Sources

Bass, B., & Jefferson, J. (2009). Beyond the Body Farm: A legendary bone detective explores murders, mysteries, and revolution in forensic science. HarperCollins.

Staff. (1983, May 27). 9 people killed in blast at Polk fireworks plant. The Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Press Services. (1983, May 28). Bomb-like blast levels illegal fireworks plant. The Commercial Appeal.

Woods, J. (1983, May 28). Sheriff says evidence from blast indicates some criminal intent. The Memphis Press-Scimitar.

Staff, Wire Reports. (1983, May 30). Charges filed in fireworks blast deaths. The Tennessean.

Staff and Wire Reports. (1983, May 31). Fireworks plant owner termed uncooperative. The Tennessean.

Staff and Wire Reports. (1983, June 3). Polk man charged in fireworks seizure. The Tennessean.

AP. (1983, June 28). Witness: Owner of illegal factor ‘paying in cash’. Bristol Herald Courier.

O’Brien, J. (1983, July 3). Agents track big shots behind fireworks trade. Chicago Tribune.

George, D. (1985, August 28). Illegal fireworks plant blast deaths spur 20 indictments. The Tennessean.

AP. (1986, June 21). Lone survivor testifies in trial for 1983 fireworks plant blast. The Tennessean.

Stafford, G. (1997, June 6). ET was site of another fatal fireworks blast 14 years ago. The Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Speaks, D.A. (2019). Historic disasters of East Tennessee. The History Press.

UPI. (1983, June 27). An employee of an illegal fireworks that blew… UPI Archives.

Wikipedia – Benton Fireworks Disaster

Haberman, M. (1986, June 19). Fireworks factor owner cites beginning. The Tennessean.

United States of America v. Weigelt, Bramblett, and Schroeder. 825 F.2nd 412 (6th Cir. 1987)

O'Brien, John (July 4, 1986). ⁠"Trials Muffling Thunder Of 4th"⁠. Chicago Tribune.

Woods, Jeff (May 27, 1983). ⁠"An unlicensed fireworks factory exploded on a farm today"⁠. United Press International.