I labeled this letter - “ATTENTION” - first, to get yours, and second, to address the fact that some people seek public attention in order to elevate their lack of self-esteem. These people will often say or do almost anything in order to fulfill an emotional void or personal need. This brings me to the main topic of this letter.

                                       The Allen Wrench Hoax

I dealt with this issue in the Cobain Case Study manual years ago under the section labeled, “Hoaxes”.  

You can download the Cobain Case Study Manual in PDF format FREE of charge at:  www.cobaincase.com/manual.htm

I’m going to repeat what I wrote in regards to the demented character named  “Allen Wrench.”  Wrench is determined to convince the young and the naïve that he is the person who killed Kurt Cobain. He does this through subtle hints in e-mails and web posts, deliberate slips of the tongue and terrible acting during videotaped interviews.

Before I repost excerpts of what I wrote years ago, (and paraphrasing some of what I said back then), I should mention first that I realize there are many good people and sincere supporters who have taken this joker’s plastic bait.., hook, line and sinker. Whether you agree or disagree, I don’t mean to intentionally offend anyone here except those who deliberately spread false information about the facts of this case.  

That being said, here is what I’ve been writing about “A.W.” since he and I first exchanged e-mails many years ago;

When dealing with attention starved individuals, non-disclosed information helps investigators separate the "nuts" from the "bolts." This is the primary reason investigators do not publicly disclose every fact or detail of a particular case.

Police detectives and investigators are familiar with this “confession” syndrome. Whenever a murder case gets national media attention, police anticipate the actions of sick individuals who turn themselves in and confess to the highly publicized crime.

[Remember the guy who recently claimed he was the murderer of Jon Bonet Ramsey? He was willing to go to prison by falsely confessing that he killed a defenseless little girl, simply for the media attention he received. Of course it was later proven he did not commit that crime and he was released. But can you imagine how sick a person’s mind must be to be that desperate for attention?]

As it was getting off the ground, this “Wrench” guy tried to draw me into his sick fantasy world as we exchanged e-mails for a period of time. The undisclosed details of the case make it nearly impossible to play head games with me. When he realized I could see through his scam, he began posting in chat rooms and news groups and e-mailing our supporters. Over the years, he has managed to mislead and confuse thousands of nice but somewhat naïve young people.

Every time someone writes to tell me, "I know who killed Kurt Cobain! It’s a guy named Allen Wrench," this character gets has a good laugh--at the expense of those who only care about the truth regarding this case. By confusing others and wasting the time of those who take this investigation seriously, he has also managed to waste many, many hours of my time.

I realize Ian Halperin and Max Wallace included a chapter in their book, “Love and Death,” about this clown. I advised them they were only playing into his sick scheme for attention. They agreed that he wasn’t really credible and they doubted his story, but they are writers, not investigators. They told me their publisher wanted that chapter in the book because, “It makes the story more interesting.”

 And there you have it. Media people care about “interesting.” That helps sell books or increase record or video sales. Investigators should care more about facts and truth, whether it’s “interesting” or not.

I’d be willing to bet any investigator in the U.S. with a criminal investigation background, would easily see through the antics of this emotionally disturbed individual.

To those who are innocently helping him spread confusion by giving him the attention he craves on YouTube, websites, chat rooms etc., I can only advise you to do  whatever you believe to be the right thing for you to do. I’m more concerned about you’re pending embarrassment in the end than I am about your good intentions right now.

As for me, I cannot waste any more of my time responding to questions or comments about an issue I resolved so many years ago. We need to keep moving forward, not backward.

Tom         

I spoke recently at a prestigious law school in Sacramento California. The audience consisted of several Superior Court Judges, attorneys, Professors of law, law students and other interested parties.

This came about as the result of Law Professor Joe Taylor's year long, thorough research into the details of the Cobain Case prior to its use as the foundation for this spring's Trial Advocacy program.

The Trial Advocacy case was written as a wrongful death, civil lawsuit. These mock trials are designed to teach, train and prepare law students for the various aspects of actual courtroom trials. The jury verdicts came back 4 and 4 with one hung jury. This was an indication to me that Professor Taylor's script was very well written for the purpose it was designed to serve.

Professor Taylor sent me a copy of the "Gilbert VS. O'Neil" script far in advance of April 2009, when these mock trials began. It was acknowledged from the outset that this fictional case was clearly based on the real Cobain case. The names and many of the circumstances and details were deliberately changed. This would enable the law students assigned to represent either the plaintiff or the defendant an opportunity to present their case to the jury from a more balanced perspective. The various outside volunteer jurists used for each of the nine mock trials could then potentially reach an honest finding for either side. This helped test and critique the skills of each participating law student on an individual basis.

I was extremely honored to have been invited to present my opinions of the Cobain Case after the last mock trial, to an audience which included such distinguished attendees.

At the conclusion of my 70 minute presentation, many of those in the audience gathered at the side of the "Courtroom Auditorium" where I spoke with them individually and answered additional questions for another 30 minutes or so.

What did I learn?

As I watched the students present their case and listened to a currently sitting Superior Court Judge who volunteered his time to critique each of the participating students after the last mock trial, I realized that if I would have attended law school when I was younger, I would be a much better public speaker! Law school is a great place to prepare for nearly any career.

Thank you to Pacific's McGeorge School of Law and especially to Professor Taylor for your respect, your kindness and your gracious hospitality.

Thank you also to each of the law students and others who demonstrated courtesy and true professionalism. You all helped make this one of the most gratifying experiences of my professional career!

An update with a graphic of the advertisement used by McGeorge School Of Law regarding this event was posted today at:          http://www.cobaincase.com/Update%205_09.htm

Tom Grant

KURT COBAIN MURDER INVESTIGATION

     For more information concerning the events surrounding Cobain's death and the investigation that coninues 15 years later, please see:

                               www.cobaincase.com
 

BESSIE'S STORY

Written by

Tom Grant

(Accurately based on a true life story)

The baby girl was born in relative good health but with the probability of short term withdrawal symptoms from the drugs her mother had been using. The mother's name was Cleo.  She was a crack addict. This was her fifth child.

With an overwhelming addiction, no money and no known father to help out, Cleo did what she had done with her four other children--she walked out of the hospital leaving her baby in the care of county social service workers.

The case worker later appeared somewhat nervous as she knocked on an apartment door inside a dilapidated old building.  An unattractive, heavy set woman with no front teeth opened the door and welcomed her in. The woman was Cleo's older sister.  Her name was Bessie.

Upon learning her sister had recently given birth to a baby girl, Bessie was heartsick.  After all, she had already adopted Cleo's other four children and was barely making ends meet!

The other kids were inside the apartment playing in the tiny, cluttered living room.  

"I sho dunno waz gonna happen,"  Bessie told the social worker.   "I dunno how I kin take anuda kid a hers."

 "Why did you agree to take care of Cleo's other children?" the social worker asked.

 "I taken em all cause I diden wan em to be seprated."  Bessie answered and paused as her eyes began to glisten. 

"Dey's all great kids. I loves em all," Bessie said proudly.  "Dey gonna make sometin outa demselves. Dey gonna go ta collich.  Maybe one a dem'll be a dawkor or somepin like dat.

"But we always vote bout tings here," Bessie added. "Deese kids has a say bout evertin."

The children appeared to be happy, well mannered, full of energy, but most of all, full of love. 

"We voted to keep the baby here because we want to all stay together,"  the oldest brother finally announced with a big toothy grin.

The next day, Bessie went to the hospital to visit the baby.  With her hand gently caressing the tiny girl's forehead, she stood next to the crib and prayed:

"Dear fada in heavn. We tanks you fo dis child. We dunno how we gonna take care a dis little one but we gonna do az bes we can and we gonna trus you to hep us . . .  In Jesuses name we prays, amen."

In a world where a personal worth is most often measured by appearance, physical condition, intelligence, wealth and power, many would say Bessie is a "loser."

They would say Bessie is a, "poor, ugly, stupid old fat person with no real life." 

But I have to wonder; when I come face to face with my maker, who would I rather be? 

A college professor with the intellect of Einstein?  

A billionaire with all the "stuff" I could ever want? 

A powerful and popular U.S. President?

A famous celebrity with millions of adoring fans?

      Or a "poor, ugly, stupid old fat person" . . .

with the heart of Bessie?