Tucson-based Joe Bonanno clearly was the Mafia boss in Arizona back in June 1976 when Phoenix reporter Don Bolles was the victim of a fatal car-bombing. Since Bonanno in that capacity oversaw the mob’s silent partnerships in all six Emprise/Funk greyhound racetracks in the state at that time, he wouldn’t have been pleased with Bolles’ … Continue reading
Category Archives: Don Bolles Murder
Investigation into the car bombing murder of newspaper reporter Don Bolles.
Sanford Affidavits
Back in the early months of 2012, I arranged for formal affidavits on the subject of the strange death in January 1977 of ARIZONA REPUBLIC editor Tom Sanford to be completed by (1) his widow Janet Sanford, recently deceased, (2) his daughter Susan Sanford, (3) former journalist and his close friend Bill Meek, (4) Kathy … Continue reading
Sanford Addendum: Another Question On His Death
Some years ago I wrote a piece which ended up on my website concerning the strange January 1977 death of Tom Sanford. He had been reporter Don Bolles’ editor and close confidante at the ARIZONA REPUBLIC in the years leading up to the fatal car-bombing of Bolles in June 1976. In that earlier piece I … Continue reading
Bruce Babbitt: Questions Needing Answers
In late December 2018 and again in early January 2019 I sent an email query to former Arizona Attorney General Bruce Babbitt (click below to read that email in its entirety). Since there still has been no word back from him, it now seems safe to assume that Babbitt does not intend to respond. Over … Continue reading
Photo Addendum to “Don Bolles and Farm Labor”
In the course of digging through old records stashed in large filing cabinets, I recently discovered a forgotten bunch of black and white photos assembled by the Investigative Reporters & Editors Arizona Project of 1976-77 following the fatal car-bombing of Phoenix journalist Don Bolles. Some of them have relevance to my website commentary on “Don … Continue reading
Bonanno’s Dark Money And Phone Book
In a recent phone conversation with California filmmaker John Church, he asked me an interesting question, one touching on the 1976 Don Bolles homicide. In answering it, I realized that I was in possession of both some information and a related document which ought to be memorialized on my website. I should note as a … Continue reading
Addendum to “Don Bolles and Farm Labor”
For more on the unfortunate efforts by Cesar Chavez and the UFW to sabotage the field organizing work of MCOP and the AFW beginning in 1978, I recommend a 2014 book by Pasadena author Miriam Pawel entitled THE CRUSADES OF CESAR CHAVEZ to which I contributed an extensive interview and related documents. Pawel is a … Continue reading
Don Bolles, the Funks, and The Executive Towers
This is an new and original entry appearing here for the first time. —DD, September 12, 2015 Almost a year ago, when I noticed the obituary of an aging acquaintance named Ralph Feffer — he was in his late 80s — in the ARIZONA REPUBLIC of October 4, 2014, it triggered memories which I’m only now committing … Continue reading
Don Bolles and Farm Labor
This is an new and original entry appearing here for the first time. —DD, July 21, 2015 There are three published versions of which I’m presently aware regarding Arrowhead Ranch and journalists from the Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) Arizona Project following the fatal June 1976 car-bombing of Phoenix reporter Don Bolles. And none of these … Continue reading
John Adamson and Company: Brad Funk and Neal Roberts
[Originally published in Devereux Newsletter No. 52, November 19, 2010] “Now the plot thickens very much upon us.” – George Villiers, Second Duke of Buckingham, 1628-1687 Preface Soon after the murder of Don Bolles, John Adamson revealingly told an acquaintance, “My people don’t give immunity.” It meant, he felt, that he couldn’t risk telling the truth. … Continue reading