RADFORD -- Students enrolled in the Investigating the Kennedy Assassination class this fall semester at Radford University have researched numerous books and articles, examined expert witnesses and watched every frame of the Zapruder film in order to thoroughly examine and critically analyze the murder of the United States’ 35th president as it relates to criminal investigative theory and forensic science.

Wednesday night, four groups from the class presented their semester-long research to an audience and a panel of inquisitive experts led by RU President Penelope W. Kyle.

The students’ research delved into facets of the John F. Kennedy assassination, the murder suspect Lee Harvey Oswald, and Dallas police officer J.D. Tippit that previously had not been investigated or had been under-investigated. That was the assignment given by professors Tod Burke and Steve Owen, criminal justice professors who are co-teaching the interdisciplinary class for both undergraduate and graduate students.

“We were very impressed with the research and the amount of time the students put into their work,” Burke said following the presentations. “They did a fantastic job of using contemporary forensic science to provide a modern interpretation of original evidence from the assassination.”

The groups investigated and sought to answer numerous JFK assassination-related questions, such as the possible effects of wind and temperature on the trajectory of the fired bullets, how acoustics at Dealey Plaza may have manipulated the number of shots heard by ear witnesses, the possibility of Lee Harvey Oswald not acting alone, and if Oswald, given his physical condition based upon his medical records, could have traveled from the Texas School Book Depository to the theater in the time suggested in the Warren Commission Report.

(IN THE PHOTO: RU student Deana Cox makes a presentation to the panel.)

Following each report, the presenters fielded tough questions from the panel of experts that, in addition to Kyle, included RU criminal justice professor Emil Moldovan, Dennie Templeton from the RU Office of Emergency Preparedness, City of Radford Police Chief Don Goodman, Radford Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Rehak and Virginia Tech communication professor Edward Sewell. The panel conducted the session as if it were an appellate court.

“The panel had wonderful questions for each group, and our students handled each question remarkably and intelligently,” Burke said.

Each group gave PowerPoint presentations about their research, and some offered videoed testimony from experts.

The group that examined the weather effects on the bullets fired presented a video from a forensic meteorologist, who delivered the weather forecast for Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, the day of the assassination. Another group reconstructed Oswald’s path from the Book Depository to the theater using modern photos. The first presenting group examined the possibility of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy being involved in an assassination plot, and found no evidence of her involvement.

“The research into a possible conspiracy connection by Jacqueline Kennedy was enlightening and informative,” said Moldovan. “Who could have remembered she wore the same outfit all day long to make a point about the assassination? The research into the weather and potential effects on the fired bullets was terrific and is worthy of further study and publication in a scientific publication.”

Burke and Owen developed and structured the team-taught JFK class to be an interactive learning experience, encouraging students to engage in their own learning.

“Through Dr. Owen’s and Dr. Burke’s in-depth portrayal of the events surrounding and leading up to President Kennedy's assassination, I understand why this event impacted people and history as much as it did and how it spawned conspiracy theories,” said Jennifer Eaton, a student from Richmond who worked with the group that investigated weather conditions.  

“We hope that students will leave the class with an understanding of investigative processes and how they were applied to what is arguably the highest-profile case of the twentieth century,” Owen said.