CA CA - Judi Bari, 40, Earth First activist injured by car bomb, Oakland, 24 May 1990

Judi Bari was a "Save the Redwoods" activist in Northern California. In 1990, a bomb exploded in a car she was driving. She was seriously injured in the blast. The FBI Counter-Terrorism unit took control of the investigation based on the assumption that Judi had built the bomb and was transporting it when it exploded. She and her passenger were charged with possession of a bomb.

It later became apparent that the FBI had distorted details of the evidence and all charges were dropped. It appears that Judi was the intended target. Judi publicly expressed the belief that Logging Companies, possibly in cahoots with the FBI were responsible. Privately, she expressed the belief that it was placed there by someone in her inner circle and the motive was strictly personal.

Judi died of cancer in 1997 and the case has never been solved. A Jury awarded her estate and her passenger a $4 Million plus settlement for false arrest. Private investigations have developed some interesting information including the name of a "prime suspect" but the FBI continues to claim that Judi built the bomb herself and no other leads have been pursued.

A complicating factor in this case was the fact that the FBI Counter-Terrorism Unit would lose jurisdiction if they were to determine that it was not a case of Political Terrorism. Furthermore, once the lawsuit was filed, any suggestion that Judi was innocent would weaken their Civil case.

The Statute of Limitations has probably expired in this case. The "prime Suspect" has live a prosperous, normal life since the incident yet he has lived under a cloud of suspicion. Several journalists have assembled a great deal of evidence and information but they do not have access to the FBI file. I think. on several different levels, it would be right and proper for this case to be investigated and resolved once and for all.

Inside the dramatic, short life of environmental activist Judi Bari

30 Years Ago: The Bombing of Earth First! Activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney - Trees Foundation

This case has generated absolutely no interest within the true crime community. Judi Bari was a high profile Environmental activist and generated considerable animosity from the logging industry in Northern California. The FBI jumped to the conclusion that she was involved in the construction of the bomb and was planning to use it in some act of Eco-terrorism. That wouldn’t be the first time some political radical accidentally blew themselves up. The “Save the Redwoods” movement claimed that Lumber interests tried to have her killed and held her up as a martyr for the cause.

The FBI initially charged her with making the bomb but ultimately dropped the charges when the case fell apart. The assumption was that she or cohorts made the bomb and it detonated due to careless handling. Further investigation revealed that it was a very sophisticated bomb designed to detonate in a moving vehicle. Evidence was more consistent with her being the target. It turned out that Judi was never associated with any group engaged in or threatening violence. The FBI continued to name her “ prime suspect”

Judy was seriously injured in the blast and was confined to a wheelchair and continued with her activism. She allowed the movement to claim that the Lumber Industry “did it to her” but privately, she expressed her belief that it had to do with conflicts in her “ private life” and had nothing to do with the Save the Redwoods movement. Insiders knew she was involved in a dispute over some land she was co-owner of and there were rumors that the other co-owner was involved.

There has been speculated that because the sector of the FBI that conducted the investigation was a special “anti-terrorism” unit that would lose control of the investigation if it was determined that the motive for the bombing was not political, the possibility that the motive related to her private life was not pursued. The case was never solved and no charges were ever filed. Judy died of Cancer a few years after the bombing that was presumably unrelated to the bombing.

If it wasn't the logging industry, what is the benefit to the FBI to actually investigate? The civil case is over.