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

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. 

INCIDENT OF POSSIBLE RELEVANCE

On 4 Dec 2005, H.D. Vest Investigator Bierman telephoned a man who was known to be in Dad’s unit in Antwerp. The man seemed friendly and helpful; but did not remember Buddy. Investigator Bierman told the man that he was going to be in the Dallas area later in the month and asked if it was all right to stop by the man’s home to show him a picture of Buddy. The man readily agreed.

On 17 Dec, Investigator Bierman – then in Dallas – phoned the man three times; the man hung up on him each time. When Bierman stopped by the man’s home with a picture of Buddy, the man became hysterical and told Bierman something to the effect: “I don’t know him and I don’t know you. For all I know you killed him, and you are here to kill me.” The man slammed the door and Bierman departed the premises.

Later in December, Ruth called the man to reassure him that he was in no danger. She told him she was the widow of a fellow soldier, Buddy Vest, from his unit in Belgium during the war. The man immediately hung up.

On 31 Jan 2006, as a courtesy to the man and to reassure him that our investigation was legitimate, I sent a copy of the then-current Briefing Document to him. It was left on his doorstep by the delivery service on 1 Feb. On 2 Feb, the man was found by his wife on the floor of their kitchen, dead of an apparent massive heart attack. Apparently, no autopsy was performed.

His sons stated that their father was in good physical and mental health at the time of his death. They deny that he suffered from paranoia or other mental maladies. They also denied any knowledge of previous heart problems.

The sons report that their father had not discussed the Bierman inquiry with them. They also state that they did not find the Briefing Document among their father’s belongings.

In late July, an investigator called the man’s brother. The brother said “my brother wasn’t in the Army.” Then he hung up. His brother has declined to talk with us.

The man was born on 12 May 1922 in Bokhoma, OK. He entered the Army on 14 Oct 1943 while living in Arkinda, AR. He arrived in the ETO on 20 Apr 1944.  In Belgium, he supervised French civilians in the unloading and storage of materials in warehouses. The man arrived back in the U.S. on 3 Dec 1945 and was separated on 8 Dec as a PFC at Jefferson Barracks (St Louis), MO.