A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR “STORMY MC DONALD’S DEATH

Eugene “Stormy” McDonald died February 3, 1965 in a rented home in Arizona. The information that I obtained is third hand and should be read with caution. I did not write this earlier, because I had the fear that I could get involved in inadvertent and unnecessary trouble if the case should reopened some day. Further, my information was not written on paper or computer at the time. Additionally, this information is quite distant from the original source. Therefore with these caveats, I re-tell what I believe that I heard. I hope that it is a solace to all parties involved.

Stormy McDonald did not commit suicide. My source is the late Charles Bercaw (9/11/43) He died a few years back (1/15/ 2008). I believed him to be a good friend and honest about this story. Bercaw in earlier years of his life worked as an agent to get Corporations and related to have conventions in the Omaha area. Further, they could have use of portions of the University of Nebraska-Omaha facilities. UN-O  paid his salary. Mr. Bercaw traveled all over the  United States.

West of Omaha, many miles from there, Mr. Bercaw  stopped at a motor hotel. He was heading back to Omaha and felt that he should stop and begin again in the morning.  To pass time in the evening, he went to the bar within the motor hotel. It was nearly empty save for one gentlemen. It was Roger Dunbier (1934-98.) They got together and discovered that they had some similarities. They both lived in Omaha and attended the Municipal University of Omaha. This was the name of the school up to about 1970. Further Dunbier had worked as a professor there years earlier.

Bercaw remembered hearing the semester before he came to Omaha University that Peter Fonda and friend Stormy McDonald attended the school and were good friends. Another friend of mine, sat next to them in a large lecture hall in which the subject was Introduction to the Humanities.  They rarely attended class.

Both were sent to Omaha to punish them for youthful misdeeds. Additionally, Peter had an aunt, a sister to Henry who lived near the UN-O campus and was vital in the start of community theater in Omaha. At the end of the Fall semester of 1961, they moved on and Charles and myself came to the campus. The story should end there. However, Bearcaw was at this motor hotel (sometime in the 70’s) and the other drinking colleague Dunbier indicated that he knew McDonald and Fonda. Dunbier grew up in Omaha, attended Omaha Central High, later earned a PhD at Oxford University in the UK. From there, he spent much of his life in Arizona. By the middle of 60’s, he lived near McDonald in Arizona.

Here I am not clear, because I thought to myself at the time of the first hearing that this is not something I want to remember for fear some kind of untoward action taken against me at a future time. Bercaw told me this on a long distant phone call that had gone on for hours. This is what I believe he said. Stormy on the night of his demise was accidentally shot by Roger Dunbier or a third party. After the shooting, the two made haste to make it appear as if the shooting was suicidal and that Stormy was alone. I believe more strongly that Person #2 accidentally killed Stormy and  Dunbier was contacted to help make the situation credible to all parties. As this is being written, Dunbier has died. He did something that was morally and socially right, but legally wrong. The overwhelming actions  of Dr. Dunbier indicate that he was an extremely talented and Stormy’s family appointed Dunbier to look after this rich young who would inherit a great deal of money.

Dunbier said to Bercaw, I feel like I shot him even though the third party did or I feel that I shot him if it was an accident. I feel badly. The point is, shooting someone is something one needs a catharsis( or tell someone.) Bercaw heard this after many, many drinks. I tell the reader now on the basis that I am getting old and I would like to give my effort to clear this up.

Charles Bercaw’s second wife knew nothing about this and both Charles and I tried to figure out a way to get a message to Peter Fonda or his daughter Jane. However, every scenario that we could think of ended with either or both of us being discovered. Charles felt that he had a portion of the correct account of what had happened that night. After he died, I have a feeling that I may be the holder of this information and that it is flawed, but I do  want it known. With my death, that should close my part of the McDonald episode.

 So here is what I feel happened, but that I do not know with certainty. STORMY MCDONALD DIED OF AN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING. THE SCENARIO DESCRIBED BY THE POLICE WAS NOT ACCURATE. I BELIEVE THAT GUN “PLAY” WAS INVOLVED AND MCDONALD DIED. DUNBIER OR A THIRD PARTY ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HIM WITHOUT MALICE. EFFORTS WERE MADE TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT A SUICIDE HAD HAPPENED. BOTH PARTIES HASTILY LEFT AND MCDONALD’S BODY WAS DISCOVERED AND THE REST BECAME OFFICIAL HISTORY. AT THIS TIME, THE STORMY MCDONALD STORY IS STILL ON THE INTERNET AS IS A PROFILE  OF ROGER DUNBIER.

To sum up, the distant account told to me and my imperfect memory suggest that a suicide did not occur and that a non-malicious accidental shooting did happen. Dunbier and another party panicked  and created a scene where suicide looked possible.

I write this in what  I believe sound mind and a great deal of doubt that all of the above happened. I would hope that friends and relatives may reflect on a number of young males who may have been drinking and have a loaded gun. It is a bad combination. If this account is inaccurate, I want to say that I am deeply sorry. This is to be released after my death, because I feel that many statements made above are not on a strong foundation. I do not want to appear foolish or related. I do hope to exhonorate  McDonald and Dunbier. All events appear to this author to have been accidental.

Prof. Joel Charles Snell

Kirkwood College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

52402-3315

2012/6/ 24

2016/3/9

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