89: The Boys on the Tracks: The Unsolved Murders of Don Henry and Kevin Ives

In August 1987, teenagers Don Henry and Kevin Ives were killed when a freight train struck them as they lay on railroad tracks near Alexander, Arkansas. Authorities initially ruled the deaths an accident, claiming the boys had fallen asleep on the tracks. But their families challenged that conclusion, leading to a second autopsy and a grand jury ruling the case a probable homicide.

As the investigation unfolded, witnesses died under suspicious circumstances, allegations of corruption surfaced, and theories emerged suggesting the teens may have witnessed criminal activity. Despite decades of scrutiny, media attention, and persistent efforts by the victims’ families, the case remains unsolved, leaving lingering questions about what truly happened on the tracks that night.

SOURCES:

Book:

The Boys on the Tracks by Mara Leveritt

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Don_Henry_and_Kevin_Ives

https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/kevin-ives-and-don-henry-12289/

https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/former-wrestler-claims-he-witnessed-murders-of-don-henry-and-kevin-ives/91-518352443#:~:text=February%2013%2C%202018-,Over%2030%20years%20after%20the%20murder%20of%20Kevin%20Ives%20and,Clinton%20Body%20Count%22%20conspiracy%20theory.

https://www.facebook.com/ARJusticeProject/posts/saline-county%EF%B8%8F-cold-case-%EF%B8%8Fthe-cold-case-of-kevin-ives-and-don-henrysummary-on-au/757755813630339/

https://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/clinton-body-count/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOIYPVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFBODltRE5WVkw3d1Z4RnNCc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MghjYWxsc2l0ZQEyAAEeRaQU1MRZBGiW6KIfohsLx-7VDI9cXurBSIh5qXcyAM8-NDiy5vPxLPbt8b0_aem_NpzIh7Wy7peMSpzXFCm9sQ

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/sep/23/ex-saline-county-prosecutor-dan-harmon-convicted-of-corruption-charges-in-1990s-dies-at-78/

https://unsolved.com/gallery/don-henry-kevin-ives/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB831418392332495500?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqfBuAVBvo0b3gGJQT3lsVDSZfj8bKgty9_pqlsNMs6O5bx0TvW5Z2o8pW703ac%3D&gaa_ts=691b8a29&gaa_sig=AtWTm0FnNeO9ikDeAp3GO9PdvM_yLrGn_CDv-ep9r-wZed9xaYH32rZE_uVibr1LDMnJC3tXfkojYW5h8SrSLA%3D%3D

https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/1230916177/?match=1&terms=%22kevin%20ives%22

https://katv.com/news/local/fbi-memo-reveals-drug-smuggling-at-mena-airport-in-1980

https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/1104211770/?match=1&terms=%22kevin%20ives%22

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2021/jun/05/mom-of-cold-case-victim-dies/

https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/1220820691/?match=1&terms=Don%20Henry%20and%20Kevin%20Ives

https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/562539412/?match=1&terms=Don%20Henry%20and%20Kevin%20Ives

Misc.

https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F3/255/255.F3d.560.00-1411.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/1ji8njx/atrocities_in_arkansas_don_henry_kevin_ives/