Publication:  Kingman Daily Miner
Date:  Monday, April 24, 1995
Page: 1						
Article Title:  Media groups descend on Kingman
Subtitle:  Bombing suspect's history probed
Author: Willlam Quinn, Miner Staff Writer

A media frenzy descended upon Kingman Friday as a result of an
ongoing FBI investigation concerning Timothy McVeigh's history in
the Kingman area and its connection with the recent Oklahoma City
bombing.

After being questioned Friday by FBI agents about McVeigh, 27, a
suspect in the Oklahoma City bombing, Bob Ragin, owner of the
Canyon West Mobile and RV Park, was bombarded by media from
around the country over the weekend about McVeigh's stay in Kingman.

Ragin said McVeigh lived at the park, and said the problems with
the tenant started almost immediately.

Ragin said he was questioned more than 20 times on Sunday by
various media correspondents from around the country, and
complied with them all by posing for photos, participating in live
interviews and explaining McVeigh's history at the trailer park.

"He said he thought we were singling him out," said Ragin about the
numerous warnings he had given to McVeigh. "That wasn't the case."

Ragin said McVeigh came to the area after serving in the U.S.
Army.

There were problems between Ragin and McVeigh, but Ragin
emphasized there were no indications that would have led him to
believe McVeigh could have ever been involved in a major incident
like the bombing of a federal building.

"This tenant was no more of a problem than the others," said Ragin.
''Something had happened to him that made him distrustful of people."

Ragin said he evicted McVeigh in June for not following park rules.

About a quarter mile away and across a road from the park, new
comer to the Oatman Road area, Tom Snyder entertained questions
from USA Today and NBC reporters, while walking through a field of
what appeared to be blasted car parts.

The NBC reporter stated the FBI had conducted soil samples in the
field to determine whether an explosion in February of 1995 was in
any way connected with the recent Oklahoma City bombing.

Tom Sheahan, Mohave County Sheriff Office chief deputy, said
Sunday he could not confirm any such soil testings.

Sheahan said the department is assisting in the FBI investigation
and confirmed FBI presence in Kingman on Sunday, yet wouldn't
comment further.

Sheahan said, "It's their case and we're just assisting them (FBI)."

According to a Kingman Daily Miner story published in late February, the MCSO was investigating an explosion that took place
near Route 66.

According to an MCSO press release, officials were called to a
home in the 2800 block of West Highway 66 around 5:30 am., because of an explosive blast.

Authorities believe windows in several residences were broken after someone set off an explosive charge with an "improvised explosive device," the press release stated.

No one was injured in the incident and the case is under investigation.
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