1. John Graham Case
Brian Huynh
P.2

2. Basic Information
John Graham planted a bomb in his mother’s luggage as she was leaving in an airliner. The bomb detonated in midair and plummeted to the ground in a farm area in Colorado. The bomb was set to detonate 25 minutes after takeoff, but instead detonated 11 minutes after takeoff due to delays.
“Other airport witnesses were questioned. They’d seen Graham in the airport café for some time after Flight 629 departed and noticed his extremely nervous state.” (CrimeMagazine.com)
If the plane had taken off on time, the explosion would have taken place over the Rocky Mountains, where salvaging parts of the plane wreck would prove much more of a challenge, allowing Graham to get away with such a feat much easier.

3. Graham’s Childhood
Graham’s father, William Graham, died when he was three years old. He was then put in an orphanage for the rest of his childhood and did not live with his mother until 17 years later. Meanwhile, his mother married another man, John Earl King, who later died of heart disease.

4. Timeline
Nov
Witnesses see a nervous-looking Graham in a café after flight departure
Nov. 14, 1955
Graham is arrested after his confession to the crime
Jan. 11, 1957
Graham is executed by gas chamber
6:52 PM Nov. 1, 1955
United Airlines Flight 629 Takes Off
Nov. 2-7, 1955
FBI investigates plane crash
May 1956
Graham is put on trial. The judge allows the trial to be televised, making it one of the first American trials to be aired on television
7:03 PM Nov. 1, 1955
Bomb in Daisie King’s luggage detonates over a sugarbeet farm in Colorado

5. Investigation
At the wreckage five unidentified sheets of metal were found; they did not belong to the plane or any known cargo brought aboard the plane. These sheets were coated in soot that could be used to identify an explosion. Luggage was identified as well as the passengers through fingerprinting or identified through relatives. Luggage belonging to Mrs. King could hardly be found as only small fragments existed. This information was used to determine the origin of the explosion. Other objects found that belonged to Mrs. King led investigators to believe that John Graham was the prime suspect. Further investigation revealed that Graham had a criminal record and a volatile relationship with his mother.

6. Evidence
Graham had bought bomb supplies from a store in Kremmling consisting of 25 sticks of dynamite, two blasting caps, batteries, and wire. These materials were also found in his home. He also claimed that his mother had brought bullets with her for caribou hunting, however, these bullets were found in his home. His wife said that he had put a gift into his mother’s luggage before she left for the airport. At the airport, Graham bought $40000 worth of insurance if his mother died and him as the only benefactor. If she died, he would also receive inheritance. Under pressure from evidence that was piling up against him, he admitted to the explosion as well as other crimes he committed in the past.The bomb was set to blow up 25 minutes after takeoff in order to make the flight harder to salvage as it would be in the Rocky Mountains, instead the plane detonated over a sugar beet farm near Longmont, Colorado, 11 minutes into the flight. He also admitted he felt no remorse whatsoever.

7. Trial
The judge allowed the trial to be televised, making this trial one of the first American trials to be broadcasted. The defense could not last even two hours under the large amounts of evidence presented by the prosecution. The outcome of the trial was very obvious. However, this trial was more to determine the sanity of John Graham rather than to determine whether he was guilty or not. Graham was sentenced to die by Gas Chamber.

8. Why would Graham want to kill his mother?
Hatred
Left in orphanage
Basically abandoned for 17 years
Described as a bossy mother
Why would Graham want to kill his mother?

9. Bomb supplies could be obtained over the counter at the time
If the plane had actually detonated on time the plane would:
Land in the Rocky Mountains
Be harder to salvage evidence
Plane crash would be in a more isolated area
Less witnesses
Why did Graham decide to kill his mother in this fashion rather than a different method?

10. He would be relieved of her presence
Gain money through:
Insurance gotten from the vending machine at the airport
What did he hope to achieve by killing his mother? How could he benefit?

11. Sources
"1957: Jack Gilbert Graham, Terror of the Skies." ExecutedToday.com. 11 Jan Web. 14 Apr
"America's First Trial by TV: The Bombing of Flight 629." Crime Magazine. Web. 14 Apr
Blanco, Juan Ignacio. John Gilbert Graham | Photos | Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers. Web. 14 Apr
Blanco, Juan Ignacio. John Gilbert Graham | Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers. Web. 14 Apr
Bovsun, Mara. "Justice Story: Son's Bomb in Mom's Luggage Kills 44 during Flight." NY Daily News. 05 May Web. 14 Apr
"Jack Gilbert Graham." FBI. FBI, 18 May Web. 14 Apr
"Police Search John Graham’s Home and Find Bomb-making Materials." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 14 Apr