Oh The Tangled Web We Weave

I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but if ever there was a story ripe for conspiracy the suicide of Joel Hinrichs is one. Just a few hours after the bombing the theories were flowing freely on the Internet. As of today, I have completely dismissed them. I continue to believe that this was suicide by bombing. However, new details have emerged that cause me to raise at least a few eyebrows. First, as reported by NEWS9, Hinrichs visited a Norman feed store to buy ammonium nitrate (yes, the stuff used to make the Murrah bomb). Apparently there was a plain clothes police officer in the store who overheard the entire conversation (how convenient that he just happened to be in the same store as Hinrichs). 2. Many more explosives and explosive making material was found in his apartment. 3. He roomed with a Pakistani roommate and had reportedly began attending the mosque in Norman (and I’m not saying all Muslims are evil terrorists, they aren’t). 4. An airline ticket to Algeria was found in his apartment. 5. President Boren stated that, to his knowledge, Hinrichs never tried to enter the stadium (of course this could never be known…out of 84,000 people, do you think a ticket attendant would remember one face?).

But, alas, I’m not buying into this conspiracy just yet. In fact, I’m fairly convinced that this was nothing more than a suicide—a reminder that there is a hurting world out there (Philip’s post was particularly convicting). But, if “sources” are to be believed, there’s something more. Time will tell.

Links of interest:
OU Poli-Sci Prof Keith Gaddie has a few observations on this bombing
Conservative commentator Michelle Malkin has a good round-up of other bloggers
NEWSOK video section has a few interesting stories, but the videos are only up for a day or two
KFOR has some good updates (but I can’t link individually…scroll down to the bottom)
ChannelOklahoma.com has this story.

And just to reiterate, while I don’t believe the conspiracy theories, there is evidence that should be looked. I have every reason to trust the FBI’s investigation.