Explosion at the Point Pleasant, WV Jail

Harriet Sisk

On Feb 27, 1976, Harriet told police that her infant daughter Davi Calline Sisk, was missing, perhaps kidnapped.

Five hours later the girl was discovered - dead and buried in a four foot deep grave not far from the family's home. Davi was wrapped in a blanket and there was a stuffed toy beside the body.

Harriet later confessed that she'd tripped when her sock got caught on a piece of furniture and she'd fallen on Davi. The two-month-old child started crying and wouldn't stop.

The incessant wailing caused Harriet to snap; the autopsy would reveal that Davi had been strangled and beaten. It was a tragedy.

Harriet's last statement to police, on Feb 29th, revealed that her husband Bruce, aged 19, helped her bury their daughter's body.

Bruce Sisk

On March 2, 1976, at 11 PM, Bruce Sisk walked into the Point Pleasant, WV jail where his wife was being held. He carried a suitcase and a shotgun. Bruce announced that he wanted to spend the evening with his wife and pointed the shotgun at the jailer on duty, Charles Anson, who was unarmed. Anson, a former postal worker who took this job 14 months earlier to relieve the boredom of retirement, recognized Bruce immediately. He'd been at the jail to see his wife only 5 hours earlier and had briefly visited with Harriet, despite it being after hours. Anson, now with the shotgun at his back, took Bruce to the cell where Harriet was being held, he opened the cell door and allowed Bruce to enter but quickly closed and locked the door. Trapped inside was Harriet, another female prisoner and now Bruce with his suitcase and shotgun. Anson ran back upstairs to call Sheriff Wedge. 

At Bruce Sisk's urging, all the other prisoners were removed from the building.

Pete Wedge, with a big assist from Harriet, convinced Bruce to release Harriet's cellmate, Alice Sue Missen.

Moments later an explosion rocked the building and surrounding streets. Bruce didn't have a change of clothes in his suitcase but 30-35 sticks of dynamite. It was initially believed that Bruce fired his shotgun at the suitcase but when investigators sifted through the debris they discovered that a flashlight battery and an electric blasting cap had been used.

Harriet's cellmate would late reveal that Harriet seemed aware of her husband's plans and that they might have agreed up on this suicide pact.

While Alice couldn't hear the conversation that had transpired between the couple 5 hours earlier, Harriet indicated something was planned but assured her she "wouldn't be hurt."

Ultimately five people, including the Sisks, died as a result of the explosion; 11 others were injured, including Alice. The Sisks and Deputy Kenneth Love (who had been the one to find Davi's body) died instantly. Sheriff Wedge died the following day and Jailer Ernie Hesson would linger for a week before succumbing.

The Sisks also had a 19-month-old son named Bruce Michael who became a ward of the state. A suicide note was later found at the Sisk home that outlined events as they'd happened on February 27th. This note was shown to the members of their families but not released to the press.

Memorial outside the Point Pleasant Jail