Ryan Reeder
History 490
William Hamblin
February 20, 2001
Periodicals:
Utah Papers:
Deseret News
Published by: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Dates: 1989-1992
Region: Utah
Background: Church-owned newspaper published in Utah since 1850.
Strengths: Periodical, contains accounts of contemporary events; affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints promotes wide coverage of Church-related events. Online archives available from 1988.
Weaknesses: Journalists working to meet deadlines results in frequent inaccuracies because of lack of information or ignorant proofreaders. Perceived conservative bias.
LDS Church News
Published by: The Deseret News under The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Dates: 1989-1992
Region: Worldwide, centered in Utah
Background: Weekly newspaper containing coverage of Church events and other articles.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Published weekly, less rigid schedule, time to check facts. Covers many stories of Church interest. Online archives available from 1988.
Weaknesses: Pro-Church bias, inaccuracies crop up from time to time, covers many topics other than news articles.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Dates:1989-1992
Region: Utah
Background: Utah daily newspaper, published since the nineteenth century. More liberal than the Deseret News.
Strengths: Utah daily newspaper, covers stories of interests to Utahns, many of whom are Church members. Professional organization
Weaknesses: Journalists working to meet deadlines results in frequent inaccuracies because of lack of information or ignorant proofreaders. Perceived liberal bias.
Bolivian Papers:
La Razon
Dates: 1989-1992
Region: La Paz, Bolivia
Background: Bolivian Newspaper originating from La Paz, Bolivia.
Strengths: Local paper originating from the city where Elders Ball and Wilson were shot.
Weaknesses: No online archives, difficult accessibility, Bolivian standards of journalism.
Los Tiempos
Dates: 1989-1992
Region: Cochabamba, Bolivia
Background: Bolivian daily newspaper from Cochabamba, Bolivia
Strengths: Local paper from one of Bolivia's three major cities
Weaknesses: Online archives with limited functionality to 1996, difficult accessibility, Bolivian standards of journalism
El Deber
Dates: 1989-1992
Region: Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Background: Bolivian daily newspaper from Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Strengths: Local paper from one of Bolivia's three major cities
Weaknesses: Not online, difficult accessibility, Bolivian standards of journalism
Individuals:
Steven R. Wright
Dates: 1988-1991
Region: La Paz, Bolivia
Background: Mission President of Bolivia La Paz Mission at the time of the assassination
Strengths: Mature individual, closely involved with the missionaries at the time, probable knowledge of situation and potential source for additional sources
Weaknesses: Bias with The Church, memory problems after twelve years
Alfred Brent and Lois Joyce Ball and Arvil and Elaine Bunderson Wilson and families
Dates: May-July 1989
Regions: Coalville and Wellington, Utah
Background: Parents of Elders Ball and Wilson
Strengths: Close association with their sons, love and concern for what happened, potential for additional sources, including other children
Weaknesses: Not present in Bolivia at the time, bias toward their sons
Myron Richins, Rodger Branch, and Larry J. Vernon
Dates: May-July 1989
Regions: Coalville and Wellington Utah
Background: Stake Presidents and a bishop of Elders Wilson and Ball
Strengths: Ecclesiastical Leaders, concerned with funeral arrangements, associated with family, but less biased than immediate family members, potential for other sources
Weaknesses: Were not in Bolivia at the time of the assassinations, limited knowledge
Brad Giles, Mark Huffaker, and others
Dates: 1988-1989
Regions: La Paz and western Bolivia
Background: Earlier companions of Elders Ball and Wilson
Strengths: Close knowledge of Elders Ball and Wilson during the mission, probable concern for what happened, potential sources for sources, in Bolivia at the time
Weaknesses: Were not there when the assassination occurred, missionary bias.
Michael and Shad McPheters
Dates: 1989
Regions: Bolivia and United States
Background: Shad was a missionary in the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission at the time. His father, Michael was an FBI agent and former missionary who volunteered to investigate the case of the murders.
Strengths: Perspective from neighboring mission, official professional thorough investigation of the incident, actual concern as members of the Church, family members, source for sources
Weaknesses: Church bias, not present at assassination, US bias
Carlos Aquero, Kenna Anderson, David Ballard, Joseph Ballstaedt, Quinn Bastian, Ellen Berrett, Dirk Bigler, Chris Blackburn, Carmen Bonilla, Stan Brown, Bill Bryner, Nate Call, Tracy Claycomb, Paul Colton, Jason Davis (mother interviewed in a newspaper article),Sheri Dimter, David Dodson, Chris Dowdy, Lon Egbert, Darin Engler, John Erickson, Geoffrey Facer, Edward Gonzalez, Cindy Gordon, Glen Guymon, Marilee Hatch, Tim Hudson, Mark Huffaker (companion previously mentioned), Karl F. Humiston, Keith Jackson, Reino Kingdon, Justin Knapp, Spencer Kuhn, Harry Lazarte, James Leavitt, Julio Cesar Lopez, Kirt McNeil, William Menacho, Iber Mendoza, Aaron Merrill, Hugo Meza, Michael Meza, Sonia Montecinos, Victor Shane Mylroie, Todd Ogden, Richard Padilla, Bryce Payne, Reynaldo Peņaranda Salazar, Kimberly Reynolds, Kaye Lyn Ricks, Herman Rocha, Luis Antonio Rodriguez Suarez, Franz Rojas, Shawn Sabir, Kiry Schimbeck, Ignacio Severiche, Lynn Skie, Mark Smith, Lyle Tiemann, Howard Tolley, Marco Antonio Ugarte, Daniel Weisler, Terry Wengert, Lorena Whetten, Ryan Young
Dates: 1987-1990
Regions: Western Bolivia
Background: These are missionaries who have registered with the Bolivia LDS Mission Page (http://www.inconnect.com/), and whose terms of service were contemporaneous in the Bolivia La Paz Mission with the assassinations of Elders Ball and Wilson
Strengths: Peer group relationship, incidents of the murders directly affected them, some may be former companions, two were in the apartment at the time of the murders, sources for sources, e-mail addresses available for all, a few Bolivians can give a Bolivian perspective on the situation
Weaknesses: Some knowledge may be based on rumor, missionary bias
Trial records:
II. Relacion de los Hechos: 1. Caso "Fal-Zarate-Willka" (http://www.derechos.org/)
Dates: posted online since 1995
Region: La Paz, Bolivia
Background: A human rights groups document on the trial of the accused of the murders of Elders Wilson and Ball
Strengths: Documents sources, one of few sources I currently have on the trial, Spanish-locality
Weaknesses: Human rights interest group bias, not really a primary source
Government Trial Records
Dates: 1989, 1992
Region: La Paz, Bolivia
Background: The records and/or transcript of the trial of the accused of the murders of Elders Wilson and Ball
Strengths: Primary source, judicial, methodical information on proceedings and investigation of the murders
Weaknesses: Currently its existence is only speculative
Back to Papers