After examining the newspaper article and the Coroner’s office last week, I’m stepping deeper into the paperwork that defined Mike Brickley’s final hours. Two signatures appear on his death certificate, each representing authority — yet as far as we know, no one from Sumter ever contacted the Brickley family. Their names sit there in neat typewritten lines, but the silence behind them is striking. This week, I’m exploring who they were, what their roles meant, and why their d

When I first began digging into the records surrounding Mike’s death, I expected the newspaper coverage to tell part of the story. In 1968 Sumter, fatal accidents were routinely reported. Automobile collisions appeared in the paper with details, witness statements, coroner comments, and follow‑ups. Coroner Guignard R. DuBose conducted inquests for other accidents, and Sheriff’s deputies were often quoted. But when I searched the archives, I found something unexpected. There w

A Surprise I’ll Never Forget Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any more special, my family revealed a surprise they had been keeping for an entire month: my brother flew in from California just to be there. I had no idea. My daughters and my husband planned it quietly, and when he walked through the door, I was completely overwhelmed. Having him there — at my very first signing — made the day feel even more meaningful. It was a moment of pure joy, and one I’ll carry wi

What happened after I found the CREST document? When I uncovered the CREST file linking Chicago Aerial Industries (CAI) to CIA reconnaissance work, I realized I wasn’t just holding another piece of the puzzle — I was holding what many investigators would call a smoking gun. For decades, CAI was described as a simple camera manufacturer. But the CREST document proved something very different: The CIA was tracking CAI’s reconnaissance technology at the highest levels of the i

1968 era Reconnaissance Jet A Case Buried in Silance For decades, my investigation into the death of Francis Michael Brickley — my former father‑in‑law — has been a maze of contradictions, missing records, and unanswered questions. Mike died in 1968 under circumstances that never aligned with the official story. Every document I uncovered raised more questions than answers. This year, something changed. I found CREST. What CREST Is - and Why It Matters CREST, the CIA Records

What I Learned from Taking the First Steps Starting the investigation taught me valuable lessons: Patience is key: Answers don’t come overnight. Document everything: Keeping detailed notes helped me track progress and avoid forgetting details. Trust instincts but verify: If something felt wrong, I followed up until I had proof. Using AI as a research tool: It help me clarify my suspicions, spot patterns I couldn't see on my own, and turn those insights into the reenactments I

How and why, I came up with the two scenarios in Shadows Over Sumter I had the memoir portion finished, but the ending refused to reveal itself. I wasn’t in Sumter, and the only people who truly knew what happened were Mike — and whoever else might have been involved. Government. Employer. Family. Someone was keeping the real story buried. My research opened doors I didn’t expect. At first, I could only see two possibilities. The official version: a careless moment, a fast ca

Challenges I Faced at the Start The beginning of this journey was not easy. I encountered several obstacles: Missing or incomplete records - Key details absent, inconsistent, or "unavailable." Contradictory information - Different versions of the same event depending on who you ask. Silence instead of clarity - long stretches where no one would confirm or deny anything. Intimidation tactics - Subtle pressure, warnings, or behavior that made it clear someone didn't want questi

Talking to People in Sumter: What 1968 Was Really Like I reached out to family members, friends, and colleagues who may have known him. I asked open-ended questions, encouraging them to share anything unusual they noticed. Sometimes, small details can reveal big clues. I leaned on the community to help me reconstruct what life in Sumter felt like in the late 1960s—because if you want the truth, you don’t start with the official story. You start with the people who lived it. S

Researching Similar Cases Mike’s case sits in that uncomfortable middle ground—between what’s officially documented, what our family remembers, and what the Cold War taught people to keep buried. I can’t claim there’s a clear public record proving Mike Brickley was extracted, hidden, killed or even working as a CIA operative. What I can say is this: there are real, documented cases where intelligence-connected men slipped out of ordinary life, and the people who loved them we

What happened next — and how this first attempt nearly turned tragic-is where the investigation first started. As you’ll discover in Shadows Over Sumter, something far more unsettling was unfolding beneath the surface. We realized we were being followed — a black sedan shadowing us from stop to stop, never more than a few car lengths behind. It trailed us through Sumter, then out of town, matching every turn. I finally began changing directions — south, then north, then loopi

How my first attempt failed My First Idea on How to Investigate — and How It Fell Apart I went into this investigation with naïve confidence. The plan seemed simple: drive to Sumter, pull the local records, and start piecing together the truth. A newspaper clipping here, a police report there — maybe even a quick stop in Columbia to grab the death certificate. Straightforward. Sensible. But I hadn’t yet learned the most important rule of this story: we were stepping into a hi

Why I Decided to Investigate After Jim and I divorced I decided it was time to investigate what really happened to his father. I know how strange that sounds—an ex-wife determined to untangle a story that, on paper, was no longer “hers.” But the truth is, it never left me. When we were together, we talked about his dad’s death often. Over time, it became a kind of legend Jim would share at parties or with new friends—part grief, part disbelief, part theory. And every time we

The sudden loss of a loved one shakes the foundation of your world. When my father-in-law passed away under unclear circumstances, I found myself thrust into a situation that demanded more than grief. I needed answers. This is the story of how I became involved in uncovering the truth behind his death and the first steps I took to investigate what really happened. Beginning the investigation with notes and documents The Moment Everything Changed It first started in 1968 when

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As a passionate reader who has always been captivated by mystery and intrigue, I have spent countless hours delving into the lives of sleuths throughout history. Now, at the age of 75 and enjoying my retirement, I have channeled that lifelong fascination into writing a hybrid narrative story centered around a real-life Cold War mystery. In my upcoming blogs, I will share the process I undertook to craft this new book, detailing how I navigated the challenges of unanswered FOI

Are you a book lover looking for an engaging experience? Join Suzanne Haley for her upcoming book signings and readings! This is not just an opportunity to meet the author but also a chance to dive deep into the world of her stories, connect with fellow readers, and gain insights into her writing process. About Suzanne Haley Introducing a New Voice in Literature I am thrilled to share that I am an author set to release my second book, "Shadows Over Sumter - The Mike Brickley