March 11, 2023

In the early morning hours of November 29, 1988, a thunderous explosion rocked the city of Kansas City, Missouri, sending six brave firefighters to an early grave. The crime would go unsolved for nearly eight years and three months.

Determined to be arson as part of an attempted burglary, “Mystery of the Six Crosses” describes the worst tragedy to ever strike the Kansas City Fire Department and tells the inside story of the longest and most detailed criminal investigation in modern Kansas City history.

Told by ATF Special Agent David True (Ret.), who led the investigation, “Mystery of the Six Crosses” describes how the criminals were identified and the long, frustrating path to bring their case to trial, leading to a final jury verdict that sentenced five conspirators to prison. This is the true, inside story of how local and federal authorities worked together to solve what had become a “cold case” in what would be the final investigation of the author’s career.

You can order directly from the author by contacting David True at 816-914-5930 or emailing [email protected].

David True is holding a book signing from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 22 at Tiff N Jay’s Bar and Grill located at 700 NE Woods Chapel Road in Lee’s Summit.

About the Author
David True began his career as a public servant from 1966 to 1968 as an Explosives Ordnance Disposal Specialist (EOD) in the United States Army. From 1968 to 1971, he was a St. Louis Metropolitan police officer and detective, assigned to the Bomb and Arson Unit in the homicide division. He joined the ATF in 1971, assigned to the St. Louis and Kansas City offices, performing duties in various capacities as an agent and supervisor. He retired from ATF in 1997 after twenty-six years of service, and accepted a position as a corporate security manager and investigator with Yellow/Roadway Corporation (YRC) until retiring in 2013.