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01/17/98
THE DALLAS MORMNG NEWS
Man says he made up story linking
suspect to bombing
Authorities plan to proceed with
charges in '85 case
Dave Michaels
Staff Writer
of The Dallas Morning News
FORT WORTH - A purported key witness against a man charged last month in the 1985 bombing at a Tarrant County mobile home that killed three people said Friday that he and the suspect made the whole story up.
Charles Ferris said he told federal authorities that career criminal Michael Toney was responsible for the Thanksgiving Day bombing as part of a scheme to get Mr. Ferris out of jail.
Ofllicials with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Tarrant County District Attorney's office said Mr. Ferris' retraction would not stop them from pursuing criminal charges against Mr. Toney.
"He can recant anything he wants. That doesn't change the facts that we know about," said ATF Special Agent Bart McEntire, who led the investigation into the bombing. "There is evidence that can't be explained away that says that Michael Toney is still the bomber."
Said another official, who asked not to be identified; "This is the second time it's happened. Ferris recanted, then he didn't, then he re-recanted. Until it gets closer to the trial, I don't care. 'We can play with or without him."
Mr. Toney, who was arrested Dec. 4 and jailed on capital murder charges, was not available for comment Friday. His attorney, Roger Blair of Fort Worth, did not return calls seeking comment.
Mr Ferris said he told federal authorities that Mr. Toney was responsible for the 1985 bombing. ln return for his cooperation, Mr. Ferris said, he expected to be released from the Parker County Jail.
Mr. Toney agreed to the scheme, Mr. Ferris said, because he was certain no charges would be brought against him.
Michael told me they were going to take me into a room, and I might have to tell them what he said But not to worry, because they can't prove it because he didn't do it, " said Mr. Ferris, who indeed was released Aug.23 from the Parker County Jail afler sharing the information, authorities said.
Ferris, 44, has been in and out of that jail seven times, and was most recently held on a November 1997 burglary charge. He said he met the 32-year-old Mr. Toney while being held last summer.
He also said Mr. Toney insisted that Mr. Ferris tell authorities the bomb was delivered to the wrong residence at the Hilltop Mobile Home Park. The bomb, left in a briefcase outside one trailer, killed Joseph Blount, 44; Angela Jo Blount, 15; and Michael Columbus, 18.
Authorities were stymied from the beginning by the lack of motive or leads in the bombing, which occurred about 9:30 p.m. after a long day of holiday celebration.
Returning home from a brief trip to fetch potato chips and beverages, Angela and her cousin, Mr. Columbus, found a briefcase, which they took into the mobile home, authorities said. When they opened it, the case detonated, killing Angela, Mr. Columbus and Angela's father, Mr. Blount.
Susan Blount, now 54, survived, along with her then-14-year-old son, Robert Blount. Robert sustained serious burns to his face, hands, feet and abdomen, authorities said.
Mr. Toney's criminal record
shows numerous arrests in Tarrant, Dallas and Parker counties. A
burglary conviction in
August 1989 netted him an eight-year sentence, and he received another
five-year sentence for burglary in April 1996.
Mr. Ferris said Mr. Toney
was shocked when authorities believed the bombing story.
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