I had some errands to run during lunch yesterday and caught a syndicated show called Reveal Radio. The segment, "Trial by Fire," focused on the 1988 arson fires at a highway construction site that killed six Kansas City, Missouri, firefighters.

The case was profiled on Unsolved Mysteries (one of the most moving segments they ever did, imho) and there was also an update when five people were arrested and convicted in connection with crime.

The Reveal Radio program focused entirely on the case, which some people believe was poorly handled by the authorities. There was never any physical evidence tying any of the defendants to the crime, and some witnesses said they were coerced into giving false statements. All five defendants were given life sentences without parole. One has since died in prison.

After listening to the program, I'm really not sure what to think. The reporter made some compelling points, but the case is really too complex to make any easy assumptions. The series is syndicated by PRX Radio and can be found online at revealradio.org

This was one of the first episodes I remember watching as a kid. Gave me nightmares for a long time. My dad was the chief of a suburban fire department and I kept on dreaming this was going to happen to him and the other firemen that I knew