Bombs found in Montana home linked to bank robberies

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Matt Volz, Associated Press
Updated 4:58 pm, Monday, June 26, 2017

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Federal agents found homemade bombs in the Montana home of a man they suspect is the "AK-47 Bandit," who is wanted for a string of bank robberies and is accused of shooting at a Kansas state trooper, according to authorities and court documents filed Monday.

FBI agents were tipped off when Richard Gathercole, 39, called his mother from a Nebraska jail following his arrest in the attempted shooting of the trooper who was trying to pull him over on Interstate 70 last week, according to a search warrant application to a federal judge. The trooper wasn't injured.

According to a transcript of the call, Gathercole told his mother, who is unnamed, to "get all the guns out" of the house. The woman agrees, then says, "Um, this is recorded. You know that."


FBI agents, along with officers from Chino, California; Rexburg, Idaho; and Montana's Musselshell County searched Gathercole's home in the town of Roundup, about 50 miles north of Billings, on Saturday, according to officials with the Musselshell County Sheriff's Office. Inside, they found "numerous" improvised explosive devices that were removed by a bomb squad, the officials said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Bombs-found-in-Montana-home-after-Kansas-11247477.php

---

Richard Gathercole

[Judi Lynn]

1. The Latest: Suspect told mom to clear the house of guns

The Latest: Suspect told mom to clear the house of guns
Updated 4:06 pm, Monday, June 26, 2017


HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Latest on a fugitive arrested in Kansas and an investigation into a series of bank robberies. (all times local):

2:55 p.m.

A jailhouse phone call transcript shows that a man suspected in a string of bank robberies and of shooting at a police officer asked his mother to clear his Montana home of guns after his arrest.

The transcript of the call between 39-year-old Richard Gathercole and his mother, who is unnamed, was submitted to a judge by federal officials seeking a search warrant for the Roundup, Montana, home.

Authorities found numerous homemade explosives inside the home on Saturday. Gathercole is in jail in Nebraska and is accused of shooting at a Kansas state trooper with an AK-47 rifle a week ago.

More:
http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/The-Latest-Montana-search-may-be-linked-to-bank-11247899.php

[htuttle]

2. This reminded me of an old joke

An old gentleman lived alone in New Jersey . He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

"Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. Love, Papa"

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

"Dear Papa, Don’t dig up that garden. That’s where the bodies are buried. Love, Vinnie"

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

"Dear Papa, Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances."

[Judi Lynn]

3. Outstanding! Thank you, htuttle. n/t