Little Bighorn |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2023. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Tuesday, February 4, 1992 Some time during the morning of February 2nd, a display case in the park's visitor center was pried open and the journal of a 7th Cavalry soldier was taken. The value of the journal has been placed at approximately $70,000. FBI and BIA investigators were notified and have been conducting an investigation into the theft. The display case has been sent to an FBI laboratory for processing. The case was not alarmed. [Telephone report from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 2/3]
The notebook stolen from the park's visitor center has been identified as a three inch by six inch black leather notebook which belonged to Lt. Donald McIntosh, who was killed in the battle. The notebook has a hole from the bullet that may have killed McIntosh. The visitor center was open at the time of the theft, but the ranger on duty was occupied with an orientation movie shown to visitors. A reassessment of exhibit security is being made, and some objects have already been temporarily removed from display. [Associated Press, 2/5/92]
On the afternoon of Thursday, June 11th, the park road between the main battlefield and the Reno-Benteen battlefield was blocked without permission by participants in a sun dance which was sponsored by Indian rights activist Russell Means on privately-owned land immediately adjacent to the park's boundary. Following discussions between the park and the sun dance participants, the superintendent agreed to cooperate with their request for privacy by keeping the area closed until the dance was completed. The sun dance arbor and site had been opened to tourists from Monday until just before sunrise on Thursday, when the dance began. The ceremony was reportedly being held to pray for peace on behalf of Native Americans. The road was to have reopened yesterday. [Telefaxed reports from Barbara Booher, SUPT, LIBI, 6/13]
A Virginia man has entered guilty pleas in federal court to Archeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA) and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) violations stemming from thefts from the park. The man sold artifacts and human remains to a BLM undercover agent, including buckles, cartridges, and Native American funerary objects purported to have come from the battlefield. He also offered to sell agents human bones and other sacred objects. Sentencing is pending; the man has also agreed to forfeit many other illegally taken artifacts. BLM agents, who lead the investigation, worked cooperatively with NPS rangers and agents, FBI agents, and Park Police officers in this investigation. [Pat Buccello, SA, RMRO, 1/27]
On February 2, 1992, the journal of a cavalry soldier killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn was stolen from the visitor center museum during operating hours. The journal, which had a bullet hole in it because it had been carried in the soldier's breast pocket when he was shot, had a commercial value estimated at between $75,000 and $120,000. FBI and NPS agents have been tracking various leads for the past three years, and culminated the lengthy investigation with the arrest of R.C. in February. R.C., a self-professed radical with membership in several activist environmental groups, confessed to stealing the artifact on a whim. He has also been charged with bombings and arson to whaling ships and animal experiment laboratories throughout the United States. In a plea agreement, R.C. admitted to stealing and burning the journal and pled guilty to an unrelated count of arson. Sentencing is pending. [Pat Buccello, SA, RMRO, 3/27]
R.M., who earlier this year pled guilty in federal court to Archeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA) and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) violations stemming from thefts from the park, has been sentenced in federal magistrate's court in Alexandria, Virginia. He was sentenced to a $500 fine and a year's probation on the charge of selling artifacts, and to a $1,500 fine and a year's probation on the charge of trafficking in Native American remains. As a condition of his probation, R.M. must also reimburse the U.S. probation office for the expenses of administering his case (about $2,100) and pay the NPS $1,500 for repatriation of the remains, which will be transferred to the custody of the Cheyenne nation. Meanwhile, in a related case, C.S. of Bowie, Maryland, has been indicted on three counts of attempting to sell artifacts taken from the battlefield and possession of stolen government property. Snyder purchased an artifact frame from R.M. which contained about 50 artifacts from the park, including a cavalry button, several fired bullets and casings, and a commercially-primed 50-70 caliber cartridge. Both of the arrests stem from a BLM sting operation which snared G.S., a former seasonal ranger (two seasons) at Little Bighorn and a local school teacher, who had taken many of the artifacts and sold them to R.M.. Although the initial case was made by BLM investigators, R.M. and G.S. were tracked down and arrested by NPS special agents. [Clark Guy, SA, MARO, 4/5]
C.S. of Covington, Kentucky, was sentenced on August 14th for his part in the interstate purchase, sale and trade of artifacts taken from the park. C.S. had pled guilty to the charges. In return, the judge sentenced him to a year's probation and a $5,000 fine and ordered him to forfeit all artifacts to the park, including a large display frame containing about 60 items. Last April, Richard Maniscalco was sentenced to a $500 fine and a year's probation on the charge of selling artifacts taken from the park, and to a $1,500 fine and a year's probation on the charge of trafficking in Native American remains. The two convictions stemmed from an 18-month-long investigation called "Operation Custer's Folly" which was undertaken jointly by the NPS, BLM, FBI, Park Police, US attorney's offices in Kentucky and Virginia, and the Crow tribe. [Clark Guy, SA, NEFO]
On June 25th, the park hosted a three-day program to mark the 120th anniversary of the battle in which Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer and the 7th Cavalry were defeated by several thousand Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho. The theme of the event was "Peace, Unity and Friendship." The program highlighted the major participants in the battle; there were representatives from the Crow, Arikara, Cheyenne and Lakota nations and 7th Cavalry reenactors. Activities included prayers, a victory march, pipe ceremonies, dancing and other observances. An article in the New York Times on the controversy over the soon-to-be built memorial to the Native Americans who died at the Little Bighorn created considerable national as well as international media attention. The second day ended with a Lakota-sponsored ceremony involving a prayer and handshake symbolizing unity for all nations. About 4,000 people attended the event. Assisting the park's staff were personnel from Bighorn Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, Knife River, Badlands, Canyon de Chelly, and the Intermountain Field Area field director's office. [Gerard Baker, Superintendent, LIBI]
A six-week-long investigation into an archeological theft from the park concluded last week with an undercover purchase, service of a search warrant, and the filing of charges against an Illinois man. While visiting the park in 1991, J.A. discovered and excavated a set of binoculars from immediately below and to the east of "Last Stand Hill." J.A. took the binoculars, leaving behind a fragment chipped from an eyepiece which was broken off when he kicked them free from the cement-like sandy soil. An anonymous phone call from a person who knew of the theft led to the development of an informant who agreed to call J.A. to determine if he still had the binoculars. During the taped telephone conversation, the informant determined that J.A. might be willing to sell them. The informant visited J.A.'s home in Champagne, Illinois, and purchased the binoculars for $5,000. J.A. also provided a sketch map confirming the location of the site, and offered to provide a statement about the discovery for the informant's possible use in an out-of-state resale. J.A. was served with the search warrant and the binoculars and money were seized. Charges are pending an indictment on three counts of 16 and 18 USC violations. Rangers working this case included historian John Doerner and chief ranger Michael Stops (LIBI), special agent Guy Whitmer (INDU), and criminal investigator John Weddle (JEFF). [Erny Kuncl, SA, IMFA]
Clifford Nelson, a veteran seasonal ranger/interpreter who has worked at the park since 1968, was found shot to death in his home in Seeley Lake, Montana, on Monday, September 30th. The homicide is under investigation; no arrests have yet been reported. Cliff was very proud to represent the National Park Service during the many years he worked at the park, and had just completed another season. He was an outstanding story teller and loved to share his knowledge of the battle with visitors. Cliff personified the image of the ranger/interpreter, and touched the lives of all who knew him. A memorial service was held Monday evening at Seeley-Swan High School, where he taught when not working in the park. A special scholarship fund has been established in his honor. Contributions may be sent in care of the Cliff Nelson Scholarship Fund, First Valley Bank, PO Box 720, Seeley Lake, MT 59868. [Gerard Baker, Superintendent, LIBI]
Detectives investigating the murder of career seasonal ranger Cliff Nelson have determined that he was killed by birdshot from a 12-gauge shotgun, and that two 12-gauge shotgun blasts were also fired at the high school where he taught on the same evening. Two local residents in their late teens or early twenties, both of whom had had problems with Nelson when in junior high, are suspects in the case. The two had been drinking heavily on the night of the murder and were seen in the area of his home. At this point, authorities have only a circumstantial case, with no good physical evidence to tie the two to the scene. The memorial service for Nelson was attended by 1200 people. [Information from Missoula newspapers, via Phil Young, SA, IMFA]
Sheriff's deputies have arrested R.H., 19, and M.L., 21, of Seely Lake, Montana, for the shotgun slaying of career seasonal ranger Cliff Nelson. They have been charged with the homicide and with shooting at the high school where Nelson taught and are being held on $500,000 bond. A 12 gauge shotgun was seized from R.H.'s vehicle. An informant has told investigators that R.H. had threatened to kill Nelson. R.H., a logger, had been expelled from Seely Lake elementary school years ago after a conflict with Nelson and subsequently failed to graduate from high school. [Phil Young, SA, IMFA]
On May 30th, the jury in the trial of 20-year-old R.H., accused of the murder of Clifford Nelson, a veteran seasonal ranger/interpreter who had worked at Little Bighorn NHP since 1968, found R.H. not guilty. The jury foreman, according to the Missoula, Montana, "Missoulian," felt [the case against R.H.] wasn't proved beyond a reasonable doubt. We felt that there were a number of people who could have done it...We just had far too many doubts for a conviction." The trial of Matt Livingston, 21, who was with R.H. that night, has not yet been held, but the county attorney has moved for dismissal based on the outcome of the R.H. trial. [From newspaper reports submitted by Phil Young, SA, IMFA]
Chief ranger Michael Stops was making a final patrol of the
Reno-Benteen Battlefield site around 4 p.m. on April 2nd when a visitor
contacted him and reported that someone was lying out on the
battlefield. Stops found a man's body and his vehicle at the site. He
was subsequently identified as a resident of the state of Minnesota and
determined to have died at his own hand. The FBI was notified. A joint
investigation by the park, FBI, BIA and Big Horn County Sheriff's Office
is underway. August 24, 2022 On August 10, a wildfire started off Route 212 to the east of the park boundary. Fire crews from Bighorn County Fire, Crow Agency BIA, Padlock Ranch, Rocky Mountain Region BIA helicopter team, Michigan Agency BIA, Minnesota Agency BIA, Midwest Region BIA, and the BIA Police responded to the incident. They were able to contain it at 39 acres, all just outside the park boundary. The cause of the fire has not yet been identified. Source: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument | |