Michael Tombs

Diary of the Warden's Daughters Michael Tombs

September 29, 2005, was a great day for Warden Edgar J. Kassel. He was known as one of the elite federal wardens in the United States Bureau of Prisons. That day was a bitter-sweet challenge as he arrived at the brand-new federal penitentiary in Jamesburg, New Jersey, as the chief administrator of the prison. The funeral of his best friend, Reverend Ronald F. Barfield, was on that day, and Warden Kassel is completing last-minute staff reports before leaving his prison office to attend his best friend's funeral. One month ago, in August 2005, Warden Kassel received an anonymous e-mail, calling Reverend Ronald F. Barfield "the most dangerous political enemy of the Black Youth Organization in America and in the world." The e-mail read, "He is either a stooge or a traitor." Warden Edgar J. Kassel feared that Reverend Barfield's enemies were threatened because Reverend Barfield requested that the United States Justice Department should open an FBI investigation into the Black Youth Organization in reference to federal mail fraud. As Warden Kassel left his office on his way to the prison parking lot, he passed several low-level security prison inmates as he approached his car. As he entered his car and placed the key in the ignition, his car immediately exploded, killing three low-level security prison inmates and seriously wounding several low-level security prison inmates. However, Warden Kassel's body was completely pulverized and burned beyond recognition. The only evidence recovered was Reverend Barfield's obituary, identified as part of Warden Kassel's burned suit jacket.