CURRENT THEORY - SUMMARY SCENARIO
In the Matter of the Murder of Harold Eugene Vest
on 27 Jun 1946 in Gainesville, TX


IMPORTANT NOTE:

This document is strictly confidential.  It is designed to document an independent assessment of the facts and theories surrounding the death of Harold “Buddy” Eugene Vest on June 28, 1946 in order to discover the truth.  This document necessarily includes a significant amount of personal information – some of which may not be accurate – in order to analyze investigative leads.  This document and its information are not designed to impugn anyone.  Readers must understand that many of the statements in this summary are not factual, but rather are opinions, impressions and speculations based on assumptions and interpretations of existing and necessarily incomplete information.  Further, the information contained in this summary is not warranted to be accurate and we assume no responsibility for damages arising from the publication, distribution, use of, or reliance on any such information.  This document is being provided confidentially in order to further the investigation.  It is a living document, and as such remains subject to change without notice. 

SUSPECT: JAMES L. CASEY

Italicized type = Civilian
Black type = Military
Bold type = Overlap with Buddy

April 26, 1926

James L. Casey is born in Portales, NM, to George E. and Nora Casey

1930

He is living in Rockport, TX, near Corpus Christi

Before entering the Navy

He worked for Brown and Root

Summer 1943

He enters the Navy and serves in the Pacific Theater of Operations as a radar technician repairing radar on aircraft

Subsequent  to
Aug. 15, 1945

He is assigned to the Grand Prairie Naval Air Station near Dallas and is then transferred to the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, where he is a radar instructor

June 27-28, 1946

He is in Gainesville, TX

Aug. 15, 1947

He leaves the Navy and, it is believed, goes to work for the Navy as a civilian radar repair technician at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. He also works at a Corpus Christi golf course for a short time.

1948

He marries Mary and stays married the rest of his life.  During their 50 years of marriage, James Casey never mentions the Buddy Vest incident to his wife.

Jan. 15, 1950

He enters Texas A&M

May 30, 1952

He graduates from Texas A&M with a degree in math (engineering, according to his wife)

June 1952

He goes to work for the CIA in the Washington, DC, area. He was involved with the U-2 spy plane and with the Bay of Pigs operation

 

He retires to Rockport

Oct. 21, 2000

He dies in Rockport, TX. He was survived by his wife, Mary; a son, James Casey of Houston; a daughter, Gwen Higgins of Berryville, VA; a sister, Ruby Simmons of Bastrop; and two grandchildren