Monday’s Diggings

Have you ever stumbled across a story that sounds like it came straight from a crime novel? That’s exactly what I found in an account titled “A Lifetime in One Day.” The story begins in Sublette, Kansas, about thirty miles north of Liberal, where three people—a woman and two men—were being held in jail. Somehow, the jailer’s gun, or another weapon, was used to kill the jailer, and the trio made their escape. They fled into Colorado by stealing a pickup in Sublette, and in a twist of fate, one of the men was even a cousin to the jailer.

Elmer Briles later told the story of the night the fugitives showed up at his mother-in-law’s home on March 17, 1995. At the time, the escapees were being held in Colorado for kidnapping and were expected to be tried in Kansas for murder.

A Lifetime in One Day

Lena and I were down at Pritchett, staying with Lena’s mom Jessie Thyfault. It was about 6:15 a.m. when awakened by someone knocking on the door upstairs, as we were sleeping in the basement. After the knocking we heard voices, and Lena got up and tried to look out the basement window to see what she could see. She could not see anything as she didn’t have her glasses on. She then put her house coat on and went upstairs. I got up and looked out the window and could see a pickup parked in the driveway. I put my clothes on and went upstairs.

The basement steps lead to an area by the back door. Going by the door I observed a man in coveralls doing something with a jack at the rear of the pickup. I continued on in to the kitchen and saw another man in coveralls and a woman. The man was dialing the phone and saying something about making an 800 call, to find out about a funeral in Pueblo. They indicated that they were from Kansas and were trying to get to Pueblo. I then went outside to see if I could help them get their tire fixed. When I got to the rear of the pickup I could see that they had a jack that would raise the pickup, but it didn’t appear that they had a jack handle.

There was some conversation about how they got there, it appeared that they had gotten lost looking for Colorado 101. They wanted to know the directions to Pueblo. I said that there were two ways. One way was west to highway 109, the other way was north on highway 101.

The man that appeared to be trying to change the tire didn’t seem to know what to do with the jack. I knelt down sliding the jack under the axle. While I was doing that the other man came out of the house and joined the man who was already there. They told me that there was a more serious problem. I stood up and they both opened their coveralls showing me that each of them had a pistol. At that point, I felt as if everything just drained out of me. There were many things went through my mind. First being, why me, then what can I do, is there anyway to get away, then a feeling of helplessness. They told me that they wanted my car that was parked just in front of their pickup. I reached into my pocket and got my keys. I held them out and said here are the keys. Then they said that I had to go with them. I said that I wanted my coat. They told me that I couldn’t go into the house. They wanted to know how many phones were in the house, I said just one. They said that if I wasn’t telling the truth they would take it out on my mother. I don’t know but somehow Lena knew I wanted my coat and the woman brought my coat to me. He told me to get in the car on the passenger side front. I did hoping that we could hurry and leave, so that it would only be me with them. The red headed man told the woman to bring them back some breakfast, and that he would get in the driver’s side of the car. The other two got in back and we drove off.

The next thing that they wanted to know was that it seemed funny to my wife that someone else was driving my car. I told them that she would not think anything of it. That seemed to satisfy them about that for the moment. Then they said clothes, I said that the women noticed the girls orange clothes, I said that they wouldn’t think anything of it. We were driving south from the house and there was a thin coat of frost on the windshield, but could see through it. We came to the county road and turned east, into the sun, which made it so nothing could be seen through the windshield. The driver did not slow down even after going off the road into the ditch.

Many questions were asked about directions to Las Animas, without asked about directions to gave them directions going to the closest town? I to Highway 101. Then they back way from the farm had any money, I said a little and reached into my pocket and produced a money clip with twenty-three dollars. The woman took the money and said that I shouldn’t be broke so she gave back three dollars. They said that if I didn’t do what they said or lied to them that they would have someone come and take care of my mother. They also told me that they were going to let me out as soon as we got to town, and wanted to know if I believed them I said no. That seemed to upset the red headed man. They were passing the two pistols around in the car with them cocked.

While driving about 85 mph on gravel roads. We were off the road several times and just barely able to keep from turning over. We almost hit an antelope just north of Butte Creek. The driver was very careless; if something in the car got his attention he would ignore driving.

The younger man said that if he found I wasn’t being straight with him he would rattle a .22 slug around in my head. They seemed concerned that the police would be after us and that I wasn’t telling them the truth about where we were going. They found a map in the rear seat and wanted to know where we were? The girl held the map over in front of me and asked for me to show her where we were. The map she had was of Wyoming. I told her that we are not in Wyoming, and if you turn the map over I might be able to show her where we are. She did and I was able to show her we were about 30 miles from Las Animas.

During this time they were at one time talking about letting me go and then about what they would do to my family and me if I didn’t do as they said.

The girl found a container of hair spray in the back seat area. She sprayed it all over her nose and told me to tell my wife she sure liked her hair spray. The red head told the ones in the back to remember the buildings that we were passing on the left. I think that he thought that I was directing him in circles.

Finally we could see Las Animas, they instructed me to put on my seat belt, and wanted to know which side the gas cap was on. The red head told me that when we got to the gas station I was to look at the radio and nothing else. They wanted to know where there was a liquor store, I told them that I didn’t know. The red head gave his gun to the man in the back seat. We then came to the Loaf-n-Jug and he pulled up to the gas pump, got out and went into the store. He returned with a 12 pack of beer and a pack of cigarettes, he put gas in the car and someone said that the right rear tire was going down. When he finished pumping in the gas he got in the car and pulled over to the air station.

There was some concern as to who had 25¢ for air. One of them found the money. The young man put air in the tire, he had much trouble doing it and the red head was getting very nervous, he said get in and let’s get going. He wanted to know which way to Pueblo, I told him and he pulled out of the station and almost hit a car. He repeatedly asks how long the tire was going to stay up and the men in back keep telling him not more than ten minutes.

Just a little way west of Las Animas he pulled off the highway onto a gravel road. The girl said that she couldn’t change a tire on the dirt road. Just about that time a paved road appeared in front of us, he turned west on the pavement and pulled over to where the tire that needed changed was off the pavement. He took the guns from the ones in the back and told them to change the tire. The girl opened my door and opened the glove box and released the trunk latch. They messed around in the trunk for some time and then wanted to know where the jack and lug wrench was. I told them that it was in the trunk. They then took my two cameras out of the trunk and put them in the back seat. Messed around some more and found the jack. They tried jacking up the car and couldn’t, it slipped off the jack twice, then they decided that they must get the car back on the pavement. There was much yelling about who was not doing things right. The girl yelled at the driver for not parking on the pavement. He then drove off and over the jack to get the car on the pavement. They were then able to get the car jacked up but couldn’t get the hub cap off. The red head told me to get out and take the hub cap off. I got out and he followed, standing behind me while I removed the hub cap, then told me to get back in the car, which I did. During all this they were drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. The red head got back in the driver’s seat and started playing with the pistols. He kept telling me that he was going to let me go, and he was fixing the pistol he was going to give to the other man so it wouldn’t work. I didn’t believe him but did not argue with him. He then showed me some tattoos on his arms and told me that one of them meant white supremacy. He noticed the cellular phone and wanted to know if someone could call us? I told him no, it must be plugged in. He sat there a while and told me to plug it in. I did and he looked at it and asked how to turn it off? So I turned it off. They finished changing the tire and put the doughnut on. He drove west until we came to a “T” intersection. He took a left and we headed south toward highway 50. The road curved a little to the left and he drove off the edge, then jerked it back on the road. When we reached the highway he turned west heading to La Junta. For the first ten miles or so he didn’t drive over about 60 mph. They offered me a beer. I told them I didn’t want one. I didn’t tell them, but I wanted a clear head so I could try to get out of this mess.

They keep drinking and smoking and the speeds keep getting faster. We went through La Junta doing as much as 60 mph at times, and no police. Just about ran into the median at Swink and somehow missed hitting the curb. It was about this time when the girl decided to get in front. Driving was getting worse. The road and his wheels lost control on a curve west of Fowler and got sideways in the road before corrected. During most of this time the speedometer was flashing 85, it apparently will only indicate 85 and flashes when more than that. He would come up behind a vehicle and not slow down until the very last minute. Several times we almost ran under the back of a flat bed trailer. He would attempt to pass when there was not enough room, causing the other drivers to correct for his driving.

Meanwhile I made a decision that the first time I was where there were people around I was going to make a run for it. By this time I am sure that I am going to die, so I have decided that I would rather be shot than be in a car wreck. The driver kept getting tractor just barely making the curve south of Boone, had to slow down for a car, and made the curve at the Boone road easier. Rear ended a car that was only going about 60 mph between highway 50 bypass and the Arkansas River. Just after that he slowed down and turned off the highway at Avondale road.

He said that he had to pee and stopped the car. When the car stopped I released my seat belt, the two men got out on the driver’s side of the car and started to the back of the car. I heard them say that the police were coming, I opened my door and got out as they were getting back in. I saw a police car with emergency lights on, but it was on the south side of the highway 50. I though oh my god he is going to turn onto the highway. Just about that time the girl yelled for me to get back in the car. I looked back at her and saw she had a pistol pointed at me. I looked back toward the police car and saw that it had crossed the highway. I never looked back just went toward the police.

The police car slowed and one of the officers asked if I was all right. I said yes. He said for me to stay there, and they sped off after the escapee’s in my car. I watched the cars go out of sight.

I looked around and there was nothing to see, but it sure felt good, just to be alive! I sat down on the ground for a moment, but could not be still so I got up. I saw a police car with siren and lights going east on highway 50. Then I noticed a pickup pull off the highway, and the driver rolled down the passenger side window and asked if I was Bill Bradburn’s Uncle? I said that I was. He said that he was the Fire Chief and that he had gone to school with Bill. He asked me to get in the truck and have a seat, that he was listening to all of this in his scanner. A fire truck pulled up alongside and stopped. The fireman wanted to know if I wanted to go to the hospital, as the ambulance was on the way. I said that I didn’t want to go to the hospital. The fireman said let me take your vitals. I said okay and he took my blood pressure and heart rate. He said that my blood pressure was a little high, I said that if it wasn’t I would have been extremely surprised.

By this time an officer in an unmarked car arrived and asked if I would go with him to where they had stopped my car. I went with him and we went north to highway 96, turned east and drove several miles. There appeared to be a half mile of cars behind my car. He drove around part of the cars then stopped. We got out and started toward the car, when I saw a most welcome sight. Bill was there and came toward me, we hugged. I was then introduced to the Sheriff and several other people. The TV reporters were there and wanted an interview, but I declined. I separated the coats that were left in the car, giving the officers the ones that the escapees were wearing. Then was introduced to the detective who was going to take my statement. He wanted to know if I was ready to get out of there, I said that I was and he directed me to his car. On the way to town he asked if I wanted to call my wife. I said that would be nice but I could not remember my mother-in-law’s phone number.

We stopped at the first fast food store. The detective bought me a Pepsi boy did it ever taste good. We then drove on to the sheriff’s office. When I went through the door into the waiting room I got another very pleasant surprise, Loretta and Glenn were standing there. We visited for a while then the receptionist said that I could use the phone. So by Loretta telling me what the number was I was able to call to Lena for the first time in what seemed an eternity.

I wrote a four page statement and talked to several reporters. They brought me some jail house lunch. The only thing that I can remember about it is that it was very salty. I talked to Bill several times and also to Loretta and Glenn. About 1:30 they released my car to me. Glenn and Loretta took me to his house so I could use the phone to call Allstate. I called and got the okay to fix the car so it would be operable. Glenn loaded his floor jack into his pickup and we went to the lot where my car was. We removed the left front wheel from the car and got the wheel from the trunk. We then went to Discount Tire and I purchased two new tires. We then installed the two new tires on the car. I removed a group of beer cans from the car and put them in the back of Glenn’s truck. I thanked Glenn and headed for Pritchett.

Stories like “A Lifetime in One Day” remind us that history is not only found in dusty records and old courthouse ledgers but also in the lived experiences of the people in our communities. Whether passed down in family memories or recorded in first-hand accounts, these moments connect us to the past in vivid and sometimes unexpected ways. By preserving and sharing them, we ensure that future generations will not only know the facts but also feel the human side of history.