Karen Pipkin Guerrero

Steve wasn't there, but here's what he's pieced together about that late-night inspection.

Steve wasn't there, but here's what he's pieced together about that late-night inspection.

As Steve sees it, if someone from Kerr-McGee had discovered documents that were damaging to the company, then this would have given them the opportunity to disappear those documents. Poof. Gone.

As Steve sees it, if someone from Kerr-McGee had discovered documents that were damaging to the company, then this would have given them the opportunity to disappear those documents. Poof. Gone.

That same morning, Steve Watko went to see Fagan. Steve says he initially had no reason to doubt Fagan or his investigation, but that feeling didn't last very long.

That same morning, Steve Watko went to see Fagan. Steve says he initially had no reason to doubt Fagan or his investigation, but that feeling didn't last very long.

Steve was suspicious. How could Fagan have reached this conclusion so quickly, less than 24 hours after she died? Why wasn't this being investigated more thoroughly? Steve tried explaining to Fagan that there was more to the story. Karen was on her way to a really important meeting. This idea that she'd fallen asleep, it didn't make any sense to Steve.

Steve was suspicious. How could Fagan have reached this conclusion so quickly, less than 24 hours after she died? Why wasn't this being investigated more thoroughly? Steve tried explaining to Fagan that there was more to the story. Karen was on her way to a really important meeting. This idea that she'd fallen asleep, it didn't make any sense to Steve.

Another thing that didn't quite make sense? The red spiral notebook that both Fagan and Karen's co-worker Gene Young said they'd seen the night Karen died. The only papers in the box of things from Karen's car were notes from a union bargaining session. And there was something about the look of those papers that didn't add up.

Another thing that didn't quite make sense? The red spiral notebook that both Fagan and Karen's co-worker Gene Young said they'd seen the night Karen died. The only papers in the box of things from Karen's car were notes from a union bargaining session. And there was something about the look of those papers that didn't add up.

Steve smelled a rat, and so he told his bosses that the union needed to hire its own investigator to look into the crash. That's where A.O. Pipkin enters the story. He'd analyzed thousands of crashes, including the one that killed Hollywood starlet and model Jane Mansfield. That was in 1967.

Steve smelled a rat, and so he told his bosses that the union needed to hire its own investigator to look into the crash. That's where A.O. Pipkin enters the story. He'd analyzed thousands of crashes, including the one that killed Hollywood starlet and model Jane Mansfield. That was in 1967.

When he put all the puzzle pieces together, there were a few things that really stood out to him.

When he put all the puzzle pieces together, there were a few things that really stood out to him.

Second, Pipkin examined the tire tracks in the muddy grass and noted the direction the car appeared to follow once it left the road. He thought if Karen had been asleep, her car would have drifted down a grassy slope, away from the road, and eventually stopped. She never would have smashed into a concrete wall.

Second, Pipkin examined the tire tracks in the muddy grass and noted the direction the car appeared to follow once it left the road. He thought if Karen had been asleep, her car would have drifted down a grassy slope, away from the road, and eventually stopped. She never would have smashed into a concrete wall.

But the path the car actually took, staying relatively parallel to the highway, suggested to Pipkin that Karen was likely trying to steer the car back onto the road. Here's Steve Watka again.

But the path the car actually took, staying relatively parallel to the highway, suggested to Pipkin that Karen was likely trying to steer the car back onto the road. Here's Steve Watka again.

The third thing that caught Pipkin's eye was damage to the left rear of Karen's car. Two dents, one on the bumper and one just below on the fender.

The third thing that caught Pipkin's eye was damage to the left rear of Karen's car. Two dents, one on the bumper and one just below on the fender.