3/31/15 12:30 PMAn Independent Investigation Is Needed on Mysterious "Suicides" in Alabama

Page 1 of 5http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/18/977127/-An-Independent-Investigation-Is-Needed-on-Mysterious-Suicides-in-Alabama

Profile Diaries (list) Stream

RogerShuler Follow RSSDaily Kos member

WED MAY 18, 2011 AT 09:15 AM PDT

An Independent Investigation Is Neededon Mysterious "Suicides" in Alabama

RogerShuler

Tweet 6 Comments / 6 New

Cross Posted at Legal Schnauzer

Editor's Note: This post is a joint reporting effort by Lori Alexander Moore and RogerShuler.

Roughly 14 months have passed since the body of Alabama attorney Major Bashinsky was foundfloating in a golf-course water hazard. The official finding of suicide sounded suspect to our earswhen it was announced on March 24, 2010--and it seems even more suspect now that we'vefully examined the autopsy report in the case.

The mainstream press has ignored signs that the Bashinsky death was not a suicide, but thepublic should not ignore them. And it should demand an independent investigation, especiallybecause the issue of mysterious "suicides" in Alabama does not end with Major Bashinsky.

We have reported on the suicides of four prominent Alabamians, all of whom had possibleconnections to financial matters involving former Governor Bob Riley, the Alabama RepublicanParty, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce--and perhaps GOP strategist Karl Rove and confessedfelon Jack Abramoff. We have reported that the Bashinsky autopsy report presents no forensicevidenceto support a finding of suicide; the finding is based on the non-scientific investigationof police officers. We also have reported that a gun linked to the Bashinsky death is from amodel that dates to World War II and now is considered a collector's item--seemingly an oddchoice for a man planning to shoot himself, especially since we've seen no reports that MajorBashinsky was a gun collector.

After reviewing the full Bashinsky autopsy report, we are convinced that Alabama lawenforcement cannot be trusted to examine these deaths objectively. Why is that? During BobRiley's last year in office, the Alabama Supreme Court overturned years of judicial precedent andessentially declared that Riley was the chief law-enforcement officer in the state. That meansany police agency in Alabama had a conflict of interest investigating deaths that might have tiesto the Riley administration.

Should Alabamians trust that conflicted agencies got it right on these four deaths--and possiblyothers? No, they should not. And the stakes grow higher as the death toll mounts.

by KevinNYC 56/56 New 14 Recs

by Greg Dworkin 91/91 New 35 Recs

by nogo postal 2/2 New 2 Recs

by Horace Boothroyd III469/469 New 438 Recs

by splintersawry 532/532 New 552 Recs

by MichiganChet 7/7 New 8 Recs

by Something the Dog Said111/111 New 196 Recs

by laserhaas 12/12 New 8 Recs

by xaxnar 41/41 New 14 Recs

by alpolitics 3/3 New 3 Recs

DIARY RECOMMENDED BYDIARY RECOMMENDED BY

RECOMMENDED BY ROGERSHULERRECOMMENDED BY ROGERSHULER

Sex, Drugs and Sarah Palin Updated

On Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann andthe HPV vaccine

Glik v. Cuniffe

Yet Another Homophobe Gets Caughtwith Rent Boy ie: Tried to Have Gay Sex

As a Former Repub, I Can Tell You ThatThey Are Now Unelectable

In Memorium: The death of a realcompassionate conservative

Bigoted Ex-Bush Official Sues HRC AndKarl Rove Under RICO

Monica Goodling, Bushie's "Scott Free"d- Political corruption is a high crime!

Updated Twice: Hey Tornado Victims -Quit Sucking on the Public Teat

Book Review: The Courting of MarcusDupree by Willie Morris

SubscribeSubscribe or or DonateDonate to support Daily Kos. to support Daily Kos.

Log In | Sign Up | Join the Action Alert list! | Help

PEOPLE GROUPS DIARIES TAGS LABOR COMICS ELECTIONS ECON RADIO Search

3/31/15 12:30 PMAn Independent Investigation Is Needed on Mysterious "Suicides" in Alabama

Page 2 of 5http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/18/977127/-An-Independent-Investigation-Is-Needed-on-Mysterious-Suicides-in-Alabama

Less than two months ago, Major Bashinsky's first cousin, Charles "Bubba" Major, died froman apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. In between those two deaths, BusinessCouncil of Alabama (BCA) executive Ralph Stacy died at work from a gunshot wound that wasreportedly self inflicted. And Robert "Bob" Caviness, an investigator in the Alabama attorneygeneral's office who reportedly knew Ralph Stacy, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

How could these four deaths be tied to Republican Party politics? Major Bashinsky and BubbaMajor were part of a family that was embroiled in a lawsuit with an investment firm that has tiesto the Riley family. Here is how we reported it in a previous post:

Both Major Bashinsky and Bubba Major had roundabout ties to a lawsuit brought by theestate of Sloan Bashinsky Sr. against the Birmingham firm W and H Investments. The "H"stands for William Cobb "Chip" Hazelrig, an entrepreneur with ties to the Alabama gamingcommunity. Hazelrig is a partner in Paragon Gaming, a company headed by Robert Sigler,of Tuscaloosa. Paragon is pursuing a major gambling resort in Canada, and Rob Riley, theson of former Alabama Republican Governor Bob Riley, used to be involved in Paragon.

Bubba Major was known as one of the finest golfers in Alabama and was a long-timemember of the prestigious Country Club of Birmingham. And how is this for irony? AnInternet search reveals that Bubba Major worked in sales at Southline Steel, a companybased in Bessemer, Alabama. Who has a prominent interest in Southline Steel? None otherthan Chip Hazelrig.

Chip Hazelrig's ties to the Rileys get pretty darned close. And his actions since Major Bashinskywas reported missing have been, well, unusual:

People with ties to the lawsuit styled Estate of Sloan Bashinsky v. W and H Investmentshave a curious way of turning up as suicide victims. Is that because Chip Hazelrig has tiesto Alabama's Republican machine, built largely by Karl Rove in the 1990s and run by theRiley family in the 2000s? And is this ugliness driven partly because of the GOP's under-the-table ties to the gambling industry?

We know for sure that Chip Hazelrig took some curious actions last March, while MajorBashinsky was missing. Why would he show up for a visit with Sloan Bashinsky Jr. in KeyWest, Florida?

What about Hazelrig's ties to the Alabama GOP? Rob Riley distanced himself from ParagonGaming only after a contribution from Hazelrig to Bob Riley's gubernatorial campaign wasrevealed to have come from someone with ties to gambling. Bob Riley returned thecontribution, claiming that he was staunchly anti-gambling, and he went on to launch acrusade against electronic bingo in the last year of his reign as governor.

How do Ralph Stacy and Bob Caviness fit into all of this? Stacy worked at the BCA with BillCanary, a long-time Rove ally and the husband of Bush-era U.S. Attorney Leura Canary (famedfor her role in the Don Siegelman prosecution). Caviness worked for former Alabama AttorneyGeneral Troy King, who went from being a Bob Riley ally to an enemy because of their opposingstances on gambling. Sources tell Legal Schnauzer that Stacy and Caviness knew each other wellfrom their activities as lay ministers.

The Major Bashinsky autopsy report is a classic example of the incestuous nature of Alabamapolitics--of politics in all states, for that matter. The medical examiner who signed off on thereport works at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), which is one of three campusesin the University of Alabama System. By virtue of his role as governor, Bob Riley served as exoficio president of the University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

One does not have to wear a tin-foil hat to ask: In such a conflict-riddled environment, couldpressure have been brought to make sure the Major Bashinsky death was neatly tied up with thelabel of "suicide''--even though there is precious little evidence to support that finding?

That thought truly resonates when you read the autopsy report and realize it raises far morequestions than it answers. We will turn our attention to the full report soon.

by feduphoosier 3176 123

by Laura Clawson 27 80

by Joan McCarter 32 30

by Jen Sorensen 29 13

by Laura Clawson 1 1

Custom Stickers$2.99up to 50% offVistaprint

ROGERSHULER'S TAGSROGERSHULER'S TAGS

No current results.

ROGERSHULER'S BLOGROLLROGERSHULER'S BLOGROLL

No current results.

MOST SHAREDMOST SHARED

Pence and the Indiana Legislature werewarned by 30 expert law professors

GOP presidential candidates get behindIndiana's license-to-discriminate law

Liveblog: Indiana Gov. Mike Pencedefends new hate law

Cartoon: The submerged state

Fight for $15 bringing strikes andprotests to 200 cities on April 15

3/31/15 12:30 PMAn Independent Investigation Is Needed on Mysterious "Suicides" in Alabama

Page 3 of 5http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/18/977127/-An-Independent-Investigation-Is-Needed-on-Mysterious-Suicides-in-Alabama

Bob Riley Chip Hazelrig Crime Karl Rove Major Bashinsky Suicide

COMMENT PREFERENCES EXPAND SHRINK HIDE AUTO REFRESH?

(To be continued)

6 COMMENTS | PERMALINK

* [new] Tip Jar

Legal Schnauzer

by RogerShuler on Wed May 18, 2011 at 09:15:02 AM PDT

* [new] Not buying it.

I have read with interest your posts on the selective prosecution of Don. I agreethat there is much more to that story.

However, I knew Major. I worked for him off and on for years. I totally believethe suicide version of events. It is totally consistent with everything I know aboutthe man. Roger, I love your writing and what you have done to bring to light thecorruption in AL. This time I think you are off the mark.

by chap on Wed May 18, 2011 at 09:25:36 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

FROM THE WEB by TaboolaSponsored Links

The Motley Fool

3 Companies Poised toExplode When Cable Dies

The Cut

Most Outrageous Gowns at theMet Gala

NewRetirement

Little Known Truths aboutReverse Mortgages

Answers

24 Wrestlers Who CommittedShocking Crimes

VentureCapital News

And the Best Stock for 2015 is.....

Rant Pets

Surreal Photos Of Feral CatsTaking Over Aoshima Island

(12+ / 0-)

(3+ / 0-)

3/31/15 12:30 PMAn Independent Investigation Is Needed on Mysterious "Suicides" in Alabama

Page 4 of 5http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/18/977127/-An-Independent-Investigation-Is-Needed-on-Mysterious-Suicides-in-Alabama

* [new] Chap

I didn't know Major, so I don't have a personal angle on this. I do know that theautopsy report provides very little evidence that points to suicide. It also provideslittle evidence, for that matter, pointing toward murder, but my layman's opinionis that this should have been classified as an undetermined cause of death,followed with a serious investigation.

The three subsequent suicides, including one of Bashinsky's first cousin, also raisea lot of questions. Perhaps the most disturbing case is the one involving formerBCA executive Ralph Stacy.

Legal Schnauzer

by RogerShuler on Wed May 18, 2011 at 09:50:58 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

* [new] This is very creepy.

Nice reporting!

OBAMA got Osama, bitchez.

by OleHippieChick on Wed May 18, 2011 at 09:23:00 AM PDT

* [new] I wish this had been posted ALONG WITH the

analysis of the autopsy report. I think it would have gotten more attention. As itstands, there are accusations but no solid basis for feeling further investigation isneeded. If you publish a further diary on the autopsy report, many readers willnot have seen this diary.

Lord knows I believe in the corruption of Karl ROve, and don't put much beyondhim. I look forward to seeing further information you may have. But I don't thinkthis is a convincing or helpful presentation.

by Fiona West on Wed May 18, 2011 at 11:11:18 AM PDT

* [new] Fiona

I hear you, and I had similar thoughts. As you know, however, blog posts and Kosdiaries usually need to be fairly short. To put all of this into one post, I felt, wouldbe too much. That's why I thought it best to address this in a series of posts, andI will link back to this introductory post for those who missed it. Hopefully, thatwill help folks follow a story that needs attention.

Legal Schnauzer

by RogerShuler on Wed May 18, 2011 at 09:05:28 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

PERMALINK

CIVIL RIGHTS COMMUNITY CONGRESS CULTURE ECONOMY EDUCATION ELECTIONS ENERGY

ENVIRONMENT HEALTH CARE INTERNATIONAL LABOR LAW MEDIA META NATIONAL SECURITY

(1+ / 0-)

(0+ / 0-)

(1+ / 0-)

(0+ / 0-)

3/31/15 12:30 PMAn Independent Investigation Is Needed on Mysterious "Suicides" in Alabama

Page 5 of 5http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/18/977127/-An-Independent-Investigation-Is-Needed-on-Mysterious-Suicides-in-Alabama

© Kos Media, LLCSite content may be used for any

purpose without explicit permission

unless otherwise specified

“Kos” and “Daily Kos” are registered

trademarks of Kos Media, LLC

Privacy Policy

Daily Kos Comics Elections DKTV RSS Mother Talkers Street Prophets Congress Matters

Masthead History Writers Frequently Asked Questions Endorsements

Advertising Overview Visits and Other Stats for Advertisers

Shirts

Media Inquiries General Inquiries Jobs

SCIENCE TRANSPORTATION WHITE HOUSE