Post by salTy on Jun 17, 2007 18:18:56 GMT -5
Federal authorities have seized control of the heap of incinerated metal that was once Mr. McMahon’s limousine. To determine whether foul play was responsible for the vehicular blast that presumably killed WWE’s Chairman Monday night, the tiresome task of recovering and sifting through useable evidence is now under the utmost scrutiny of the nation’s most well-funded investigation unit.
If it’s confirmed that a criminal party engineered the explosion, the next question to answer is how the nefarious scheme was carried out. To fill in the blanks regarding the specifics of the explosion, WWE.com contacted Patrick C. Riggs, a veteran explosives expert from a Brooklyn, N.Y.,-based operation.
Watching video of the blast, Riggs was able to determine that it was a professionally structured, calculated blast. However, since most – if not all – usable evidence seems to have been destroyed, Riggs claims that not everything he says can be guaranteed.
“Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing. No amateur would have had the knowledge to create an explosion of that intensity,” he said. “Without prior experience or knowledge of explosives, such a blast could not have been constructed so precisely.”
Another point of interest was the timing of how the scene unfolded.
“Watch for the origin of the spark,” Riggs explained, using a laser pointer to indicate under the right rear axle. “As soon as the door shuts – boom! That’s exactly how it was supposed to work. It was perfectly engineered and executed.”
Could the door have been on a trigger, and if so, what served as the figurative striking of the match?
“A radio-controlled device was definitely used as the ignition,” Riggs stated. “The detonator could have been as small as a cell phone and attached to the limo’s gas line. It was most likely sourced underneath the passenger compartment. Once it was ignited, the gasoline from the vehicle became the accelerant.”
Riggs, a 23-year explosives expert, who has both consulted on feature films and been an expert witness in courtrooms, isn’t surprised that federal investigators are currently unable to find eyewitnesses who would have seen someone attaching the explosives to the limousine.
”It doesn’t take long to accomplish,“ he said. “The whole thing could have been completed in a matter of seconds. All they needed was to find out where the gas tank was located.”
And since a pocket-sized piece of equipment was used, no visible signs of tampering would have been evident to anyone – including the former WWE Chairman. Not that his apparent state of mind (or lack thereof) at the time would have allowed him to see such a red flag, even if it was in plain view.
“Mr. McMahon would not have been able to tell something was wrong with the limo by sight or smell,” Riggs assured. “In fact, a full tank of gas would have easily been capable of creating that type of combustion. As far as Mr. McMahon knew, that limo was no different than the type he used to drive in every day and night.”
According to Riggs, the fact that a remote device was used raises another concern.
“Theoretically, there could have been multiple assailants,” he said. “Someone could have been at the scene to notify someone up to half a mile away to press the red button. It’s certainly something to think about.”
At press time, there have not been any discoveries to prove – or disprove – any of the ideas that Riggs has put forward. As federal authorities work around the clock in search of answers regarding this matter, one can only wonder if these questions, or any others, will be revealed in the coming weeks.
He's come a long way since having his fingers broken by Raven.
