Dealing with the Devil (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
Digest
This episode of the Mr. Ballen Podcast delves into the chilling true story of the Salt Lake City bombings of 1985. The narrative begins with the tragic death of Steve Christensen, a financial consultant, who was killed by a bomb planted in his office. The investigation quickly expands as a second bomb explodes at the home of Gary Sheetz, Steve's former business partner, killing his wife, Kathleen. Prosecutor Jerry DeLia, an arson and bombing expert, takes charge of the case, suspecting a connection between the two incidents. As the investigation unfolds, detectives uncover a web of deceit and intrigue involving the Mormon Church and the lucrative trade of rare historical documents. The focus shifts to Mark Hoffman, a charismatic antiques dealer known for his expertise in finding valuable artifacts. Hoffman, who had a troubled relationship with the Mormon Church, had been forging documents for years, including the controversial "Salamander Letter," which challenged the church's founding narrative. The investigation reveals that Hoffman had forged the Oath of a Freeman, a significant historical document, and was attempting to sell it to the Library of Congress for a million dollars. When his scheme began to unravel, Hoffman resorted to violence, killing Steve Christensen and planting a bomb at Gary Sheetz's house to divert suspicion. The episode culminates with Hoffman's arrest and confession, exposing his elaborate web of lies and the devastating consequences of his actions.
Outlines
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Introduction
This Chapter introduces the podcast and its focus on strange, dark, and mysterious stories. It also mentions the podcast's upload schedule and encourages listeners to follow the podcast.
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The Bombings Begin
This Chapter details the first bombing incident, which occurred in the lobby of a high-rise building in Salt Lake City. Steve Christensen, a financial consultant, was killed by a bomb planted in his office. The investigation begins, and detectives quickly realize the bomb was sophisticated and likely the work of a professional.
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The Second Bombing
This Chapter describes the second bombing, which occurred at the home of Gary Sheetz, Steve Christensen's former business partner. The bomb killed Sheetz's wife, Kathleen, and investigators begin to suspect a connection between the two bombings.
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Investigating the Victims
This Chapter focuses on the interviews conducted by detectives with Gary Sheetz and Steve Christensen's widow, Terry. Gary reveals that he and Steve had a falling out after their business failed, and Terry mentions Steve's generous donations to the Mormon Church, including a controversial document called the "Salamander Letter."
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The Third Bombing
This Chapter details the third bombing, which occurred in downtown Salt Lake City. The victim was Mark Hoffman, a skilled antiques dealer who had discovered the "Salamander Letter" and sold it to Steve Christensen. Hoffman's car was destroyed in the explosion, and he was seriously injured.
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The Suspect Emerges
This Chapter describes the interview with Mark Hoffman, who is recovering in the hospital. Hoffman claims to have no memory of the events leading up to the explosion, but he mentions seeing a brown pickup truck following him. The investigation focuses on Hoffman's involvement in the rare document trade and his financial troubles.
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The Truth Unfolds
This Chapter presents a reconstruction of the events leading up to the bombings, based on the evidence gathered by investigators. It reveals that Mark Hoffman was the perpetrator, and he orchestrated the attacks to cover up his fraudulent activities and undermine the Mormon Church's history.
Keywords
Salt Lake City Bombings
A series of bombings that occurred in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1985, targeting individuals connected to the Mormon Church and the rare document trade. The bombings resulted in the deaths of Steve Christensen, Kathleen Sheetz, and the serious injury of Mark Hoffman.
Mark Hoffman
A skilled antiques dealer and forger who orchestrated the Salt Lake City bombings of 1985. Hoffman was known for his expertise in finding valuable artifacts, but he was also a troubled individual with a history of forging documents to undermine the Mormon Church's history. He was convicted of the bombings and sentenced to life in prison.
Salamander Letter
A controversial document that challenged the Mormon Church's founding narrative. The letter claimed that Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was led to the Book of Mormon by a white salamander rather than an angel. The letter was later revealed to be a forgery created by Mark Hoffman.
Mormon Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a religious denomination founded by Joseph Smith in the 19th century. The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has a significant presence in the state. The Salt Lake City bombings targeted individuals connected to the Mormon Church, and the investigation revealed that the perpetrator, Mark Hoffman, had a troubled relationship with the church.
Oath of a Freeman
A significant historical document that was the first document ever printed in Colonial America. The document was forged by Mark Hoffman, who attempted to sell it to the Library of Congress for a million dollars. The forgery was discovered during the investigation into the Salt Lake City bombings.
Forgery
The act of creating a fake copy of a document, artwork, or other object with the intent to deceive. Mark Hoffman was a skilled forger who created numerous fake documents, including the "Salamander Letter" and the "Oath of a Freeman." His forgeries were a key element in the Salt Lake City bombings case.
True Crime
A genre of storytelling that focuses on real-life crimes and their investigations. The Mr. Ballen Podcast is a true crime podcast that explores strange, dark, and mysterious stories, including the Salt Lake City bombings.
Podcast
A digital audio file that is distributed online and can be downloaded or streamed. Podcasts cover a wide range of topics, including true crime, news, comedy, and entertainment. The Mr. Ballen Podcast is a true crime podcast that explores strange, dark, and mysterious stories.
Q&A
What were the motives behind the Salt Lake City bombings?
Mark Hoffman, the perpetrator of the bombings, had two primary motives: to cover up his fraudulent activities and to undermine the Mormon Church's history. He had been forging documents for years, including the controversial "Salamander Letter," and was attempting to sell a forged copy of the "Oath of a Freeman" to the Library of Congress for a million dollars. When his schemes began to unravel, he resorted to violence to protect himself and to further his vendetta against the church.
How did investigators uncover Mark Hoffman's involvement in the bombings?
The investigation began with the deaths of Steve Christensen and Kathleen Sheetz, both of whom were connected to the Mormon Church and the rare document trade. As detectives interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence, they focused on Mark Hoffman, a skilled antiques dealer who had a troubled relationship with the church. Hoffman's involvement in the document trade, his financial troubles, and his possession of a green letterman jacket, similar to the one worn by the bomber, led investigators to suspect him. The discovery of forged documents, including the "Oath of a Freeman," and the evidence found during searches of Hoffman's home and storage unit ultimately confirmed his guilt.
What was the significance of the "Salamander Letter" in the Salt Lake City bombings case?
The "Salamander Letter" was a controversial document that challenged the Mormon Church's founding narrative. It was later revealed to be a forgery created by Mark Hoffman. The letter's discovery caused a stir within the Mormon community, and Hoffman's involvement in its creation and sale played a significant role in the investigation into the bombings. The letter served as a symbol of Hoffman's vendetta against the church and his desire to undermine its history.
What were the consequences of Mark Hoffman's actions?
Mark Hoffman's actions had devastating consequences for himself and those around him. He was convicted of the bombings and sentenced to life in prison. His wife divorced him, and he was excommunicated from the Mormon Church. Hoffman's crimes also had a lasting impact on the Mormon community, shaking the faith of many members and raising questions about the church's history and teachings.
Show Notes
At 6:45 AM on an ordinary Tuesday in Salt Lake City, Utah, a father and son lugged a heavy jewelry case into the lobby of a high-rise building. They ran a jewelry store together on the third floor, and had come in early to set up their new display. They heard the lobby door open behind them and turned to see a man holding a cardboard box. The man said he was making a delivery and asked where the elevator was. The father and his son were heading that way, too — so, all three got on the elevator together. As they stood, the father looked at the box the man was carrying. There was a name written on the top in black marker, but no return address, which seemed odd. And the man didn’t really look like a delivery driver, either. He was wearing a green letterman jacket, like a high school athlete would wear. But the father kept his thoughts to himself. When the elevator doors opened to the third floor, he and his son carried their jewelry case out and went on with their day. Later that morning, a firefighter pounded on the jewelry shop door and said that the building was being evacuated. The father and son rushed outside, where they saw fire trucks, police cars, and a crowd of other people who worked inside the building. As a woman in the crowd filled them in about what had just happened, a horrible realization dawned on the jewelry shop owner: That delivery man was not who he claimed to be — and the cardboard box contained something more sinister than anything the shop owner could have imagined.
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