MASON COUNTY, W.Va. –The Mason County community gathered Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of the courthouse bombing and honor the three law enforcement officers who were killed.
On March 2, 1976, 19-year-old Bruce Sisk forced his way into the basement of the Mason County Courthouse, where the jail was located at the time, carrying a suitcase filled with dynamite and a sawed-off shotgun.
Sisk went into the cell of his 18-year-old wife, Harriet Sisk, who was awaiting trial after confessing to strangling her 2-month-old child, Davi Calline Sisk, just days before the bombing.
He detonated the suitcase, which contained approximately 15 pounds of dynamite, killing himself; Harriet; Deputies Kenneth Love, 33, and Ernest Hesson, 71; and Sheriff Elvin “Pete” Wedge, 48. The explosion also injured 11 others.
Police said the bombing was part of a suicide pact between the married couple.
The community including those who worked at the courthouse at the time of the bombing and some of the victims’ families, held a small ceremony inside the current courthouse.
Thomas Hatfield, who worked with the Mason County Sheriff’s Department at the time of the bombing, spoke with WMOV Radio in Ravenswood during the ceremony.
He said it was a tragic event to witness.
“It was terrible you know, it’s like being in a war, you still remember those things, still have dreams, losing best friends, partners,” Hatfield said.
The explosion completely destroyed the courthouse, and windows in surrounding buildings were blown out.
Current Mason County Sheriff Corey Miller hosted the event Monday.
He said it is always important to remember those who sacrificed their lives to protect others.
“I think it kind of goes without saying, any first responder that lays their life down in the line of duty in service of others I think it’s our moral duty to remember them, keep remembrance, we want to support those folks that go out and do this on a daily basis,” Miller also told WMOV Radio.
Mason County Commission President Rick Handley said the ceremony on the anniversary was their way of showing appreciation for the three law enforcement officers killed in the tragedy.
“It’s just a small token of our appreciation for the ultimate sacrifice that they gave up for their life for the citizens of Mason County when the jail exploded,” Handley said.
He said that much like Monday’s ceremony, the community came together after the explosion to honor those who were killed.
“We all gathered around each other and supported each other,” Handley said. “I think we gained more respect for our law enforcement.”
Miller said it was nice to see such a strong turnout for the event.
“We’re blessed to live in Mason County, and just to have the turnout in this kind of weather, have a lot of the victims’ families and some of the guys that were there and survived, very blessed to be able to honor these men and women,” he said.
About 11 months after the explosion, the Mason County commissioners at the time signed a contract to rebuild the jail. A memorial honoring the victims now stands outside the facility.