The 737s hit the brakes pretty hard.

I ran a previously non-legible document from the FBI report through powerful thinking AI and it took me this regarding a page from Richard Russell's notebook.

Wow, this image is incredibly dithered and low-resolution (it looks like a heavily compressed scan or a copy of a fax), which makes it tough to read perfectly. However, looking at the sentence structures and distinct letter shapes, it appears to be a handwritten essay or study guide comparing historical governance to modern American politics.

Here is the best breakdown and transcript of the text based on readable fragments:

Part 1: Historical Context (Russia vs. US)

The top half contrasts the history of Russia with a freer nation (likely the US).

• Line 1-2: [Unclear fragments]... much different...
• Line 3: "...Russia didn't have the history..."
• Line 4: "...land of the free, with its..."
• Line 5: "...representation..."
• Line 6: "...agriculture, after all..."
• Line 7: [Scribbled out words]
• Line 8: "...a history of serfdom & subordination."

Part 2: Transition to Modern Politics

The middle section contains several crossed-out words and shifts to US political policy.

• Line 9-11: [Heavily obscured] "...Americans... policy was not..."
• Line 12: "...took office."

Part 3: The Modern Era (Donald Trump Reference)

The bottom half shifts directly to modern events, specifically mentioning Donald Trump, policy goals, and global standing.

• Line 13: "Then came Donald..." (or "When Donald...") * Line 14: "...ideas..."
• Line 15-16: "...long wall..." [crossed out words] "...along the..."
• Line 17: "On day one, of course..."
• Line 18: "...show the world..."
• Line 19: "...military and economic power..."
• Line 20: "...the leader of the world."

Summary of the Document's Theme

The writer is making a point about how a country's deep history shapes its modern reality. They contrast Russia's long history of "serfdom and subordination" against a country defined as the "land of the free," before transitioning into a critique or analysis of Donald Trump's presidency—specifically noting his "day one" focus on building a "long wall" and asserting "military and economic power" to remain the "leader of the world."

https://preview.redd.it/0oz4v7no0m2h1.jpg?width=229&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59771c7582d9a252443d5190e9de7007eb8f789c

This was at a school carnival. The teacher looked like she was not having a good time as water kept being dumped on her head as students with good aim kept causing the bucket to be dumped on her head as part of a game. Do teachers get goaded into this stuff?

​

TLDR: Sky King was heavily into his faith which puts a lot of pressure on men to provide for their families. His specific church believed this and those around him did and this apparent fact has never been deeply explored, especially by the FBI. By not exploring it, we leave many stones unturned and potentially don’t understand the source of his pain, which could hurt other familes.

Most people think they know the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell. I have been following this sad tale ever since it happened, since it is at the intersection of aviation and faith, two topics that I have long been interested in. In case anyone is wondering, my interest preceded the recent Hulu documentary, which I did watch with great interest.

I often find in life, like the late and highly controversial Donald Rumsfeld said, that sometimes you have to look at what is not said, what questions are not asked, and consider what you do not know. 

“As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know,” Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, 2002. Now I’m not a fan of Rumsfeld, but he is on to something here. Sometimes there are hidden truths in the unknown. Things that are important to understand, but are missing. The worst offenders are those things we need to know but do not know. 

The story of Beebo goes like this. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air (Alaska Air owned) ground service employee named Richard “Beebo” Russell, stole a Bombardier Q400 commuter turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport. For 75 minutes, he flew around the Seattle area, before intentionally crashing into a remote island. The FBI issued a 567 page report into the matter, which was very serious, because while he was in the air, nobody knew his intentions, beyond what he was verbally saying, which was to not harm anyone. The FBI concluded that there was no single reason for his actions - but bear in mind, this was the 2018 FBI, and it is known that this was an FBI very reluctant to look at certain things, particularly Christianity. 

During the flight, Beebo complained about the hard life of a ramp service worker briefly, had fun at times, but also said he was just a broken guy with a few screws loose. He also reportedly texted his wife that she deserves families. He spoke about letting a lot of people down, which given his faith,likely included his church community. 

We know that Beebo had owned a bakery with his wife Hannah Russell before selling it to be closer to Hannah’s family. We also know that he attended Gateway Chapel in Sumner, Washington, headed by Pastor David Odell, who was asked in the aftermath not to speak about Richard Russell.

So why should we care? There are approximately 80 million Christian men in the United States. In my own personal dealings with these men, many are somewhat reserved, and it is clear to me, since some have been my friends, that more lies beneath. As the economy continues to crush men (and women) it will be harder and harder for these men to make the grade as called upon by their faith and those around them. Traditional families were often built under economic conditions that were possible in the past, but due to the relentless desire of the 1 percent to extract as much value out of us peons as possible, success is not always possible at the same level as it was for those men’s role models.

I now need to back up my theory, which to be clear is just that, a theory. Had the FBI done the type of job they would have done if Beebo was Muslim, for example, or even Sheik, we would not be here right now. 

David Odell was, according to the Seattle Times, Beebo’s pastor. So what does David believe? What was he filling Beebo and Hannah’s head with? Fortunately, dear reader, we can get a good sense of this from Calvary Church in The Dalles, Oregon, where he is the head pastor today.

“We believe the Bible is God’s absolute, objective truth for all people for all times. It is without error in concept or detail in the original writings. It is breathed out in its entirety by God, divinely preserved, and, therefore, trustworthy,” reads the church’s website. Message me for links if you like, Reddit does not play nice with links so I don’t include them here. What Odell’s church is saying, is that everything in the Bible should be taken literally. This means when 1st Timorthy told Beebo that he was a worse than a non-believer for not providing enough, that was absolute truth. This might be why Beebo messaged Hannah mid-flight that she “deserved better.”

A sermon at Odell’s church where he is head pastor stated a year ago that men have a “responsibility to lead protect and provide for his wife.” There really is no daylight here in faiths that practice biblical literalness. The man MUST provide and that is a primary way in which he is judged. Beebo likely felt judged and that here was a test, from on high, that he was failing. 

The church where Beebo’s funeral was held in August 2018, also believes in the same things. Lighthouse Christian Center recommends Stu Weber’s book, Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart, which pushes men hard to be “kings” of their own domain, which is their family and home. Loading bags onto planes does not accomplish this. Beebo was working at Horizon primarily for free flights to Alaska, where his family was. 

What is the point of this? To suggest that Beebo’s story is not just about low pay, but about how faith often fails those who are mentally ill. You can’t pray away depression, at least not in a lasting way. Beebo needed help, and those who were around him may not have been ready to provide. Or I could be totally one hundred percent wrong here. This is also possible. But I doubt I’m not at least somewhat right. There should be a reckoning in the Christian community based on this and other incidents. But that cannot happen if people can’t talk freely, if they can’t question the bible there is no room for debate and no relief of that crushing pressure. Saying he was just a guy who snapped is likely leaving out the very important nuance of the environment that created his mindset. It deserves exploration. I'll close with 3 bible verses that are relevant:

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” 1 Timothy 5:8

“"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children." Proverbs 13:22

Proverbs 28:19: "Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty." 

Note: Hannah and her family has never spoken out aside from a joint statement in August 2018 that factually spent more time mentioning Jesus than offering any empathy towards his specific mental situation. They were approached by a documentary crew for the Hulu SkyKing documentary and refused to participate. They have apparently, according to Beebo’s mother, cut off contact with her. 

I am not saying that all women would behave as Hannah has. (Required by sub rules to state)

​

TLDR: Sky King was heavily into his faith which puts a lot of pressure on men to provide for their families. His specific church believed this and those around him did and this apparent fact has never been deeply explored, especially by the FBI. By not exploring it, we leave many stones unturned and potentially don’t understand the source of his pain, which could hurt other familes.

Most people think they know the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell. I have been following this sad tale ever since it happened, since it is at the intersection of aviation and faith, two topics that I have long been interested in. In case anyone is wondering, my interest preceded the recent Hulu documentary, which I did watch with great interest.

I often find in life, like the late and highly controversial Donald Rumsfeld said, that sometimes you have to look at what is not said, what questions are not asked, and consider what you do not know. 

“As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know,” Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, 2002. Now I’m not a fan of Rumsfeld, but he is on to something here. Sometimes there are hidden truths in the unknown. Things that are important to understand, but are missing. The worst offenders are those things we need to know but do not know. 

The story of Beebo goes like this. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air (Alaska Air owned) ground service employee named Richard “Beebo” Russell, stole a Bombardier Q400 commuter turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport. For 75 minutes, he flew around the Seattle area, before intentionally crashing into a remote island. The FBI issued a 567 page report into the matter, which was very serious, because while he was in the air, nobody knew his intentions, beyond what he was verbally saying, which was to not harm anyone. The FBI concluded that there was no single reason for his actions - but bear in mind, this was the 2018 FBI, and it is known that this was an FBI very reluctant to look at certain things, particularly Christianity. 

During the flight, Beebo complained about the hard life of a ramp service worker briefly, had fun at times, but also said he was just a broken guy with a few screws loose. He also reportedly texted his wife that she deserves families. He spoke about letting a lot of people down, which given his faith,likely included his church community. 

We know that Beebo had owned a bakery with his wife Hannah Russell before selling it to be closer to Hannah’s family. We also know that he attended Gateway Chapel in Sumner, Washington, headed by Pastor David Odell, who was asked in the aftermath not to speak about Richard Russell.

So why should we care? There are approximately 80 million Christian men in the United States. In my own personal dealings with these men, many are somewhat reserved, and it is clear to me, since some have been my friends, that more lies beneath. As the economy continues to crush men (and women) it will be harder and harder for these men to make the grade as called upon by their faith and those around them. Traditional families were often built under economic conditions that were possible in the past, but due to the relentless desire of the 1 percent to extract as much value out of us peons as possible, success is not always possible at the same level as it was for those men’s role models.

I now need to back up my theory, which to be clear is just that, a theory. Had the FBI done the type of job they would have done if Beebo was Muslim, for example, or even Sheik, we would not be here right now. 

David Odell was, according to the Seattle Times, Beebo’s pastor. So what does David believe? What was he filling Beebo and Hannah’s head with? Fortunately, dear reader, we can get a good sense of this from Calvary Church in The Dalles, Oregon, where he is the head pastor today.

“We believe the Bible is God’s absolute, objective truth for all people for all times. It is without error in concept or detail in the original writings. It is breathed out in its entirety by God, divinely preserved, and, therefore, trustworthy,” reads the church’s website. Message me for links if you like, Reddit does not play nice with links so I don’t include them here. What Odell’s church is saying, is that everything in the Bible should be taken literally. This means when 1st Timorthy told Beebo that he was a worse than a non-believer for not providing enough, that was absolute truth. This might be why Beebo messaged Hannah mid-flight that she “deserved better.”

A sermon at Odell’s church where he is head pastor stated a year ago that men have a “responsibility to lead protect and provide for his wife.” There really is no daylight here in faiths that practice biblical literalness. The man MUST provide and that is a primary way in which he is judged. Beebo likely felt judged and that here was a test, from on high, that he was failing. 

The church where Beebo’s funeral was held in August 2018, also believes in the same things. Lighthouse Christian Center recommends Stu Weber’s book, Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart, which pushes men hard to be “kings” of their own domain, which is their family and home. Loading bags onto planes does not accomplish this. Beebo was working at Horizon primarily for free flights to Alaska, where his family was. 

What is the point of this? To suggest that Beebo’s story is not just about low pay, but about how faith often fails those who are mentally ill. You can’t pray away depression, at least not in a lasting way. Beebo needed help, and those who were around him may not have been ready to provide. Or I could be totally one hundred percent wrong here. This is also possible. But I doubt I’m not at least somewhat right. There should be a reckoning in the Christian community based on this and other incidents. But that cannot happen if people can’t talk freely, if they can’t question the bible there is no room for debate and no relief of that crushing pressure. Saying he was just a guy who snapped is likely leaving out the very important nuance of the environment that created his mindset. It deserves exploration. I'll close with 3 bible verses that are relevant:

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” 1 Timothy 5:8

“"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children." Proverbs 13:22

Proverbs 28:19: "Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty." 

Note: Hannah and her family has never spoken out aside from a joint statement in August 2018 that factually spent more time mentioning Jesus than offering any empathy towards his specific mental situation. They were approached by a documentary crew for the Hulu SkyKing documentary and refused to participate. They have apparently, according to Beebo’s mother, cut off contact with her. 

​

TLDR: Sky King was heavily into his faith which puts a lot of pressure on men to provide for their families. His specific church believed this and those around him did and this apparent fact has never been deeply explored, especially by the FBI. By not exploring it, we leave many stones unturned and potentially don’t understand the source of his pain, which could hurt other familes.

Most people think they know the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell. I have been following this sad tale ever since it happened, since it is at the intersection of aviation and faith, two topics that I have long been interested in. In case anyone is wondering, my interest preceded the recent Hulu documentary, which I did watch with great interest.

I often find in life, like the late and highly controversial Donald Rumsfeld said, that sometimes you have to look at what is not said, what questions are not asked, and consider what you do not know. 

“As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know,” Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, 2002. Now I’m not a fan of Rumsfeld, but he is on to something here. Sometimes there are hidden truths in the unknown. Things that are important to understand, but are missing. The worst offenders are those things we need to know but do not know. 

The story of Beebo goes like this. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air (Alaska Air owned) ground service employee named Richard “Beebo” Russell, stole a Bombardier Q400 commuter turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport. For 75 minutes, he flew around the Seattle area, before intentionally crashing into a remote island. The FBI issued a 567 page report into the matter, which was very serious, because while he was in the air, nobody knew his intentions, beyond what he was verbally saying, which was to not harm anyone. The FBI concluded that there was no single reason for his actions - but bear in mind, this was the 2018 FBI, and it is known that this was an FBI very reluctant to look at certain things, particularly Christianity. 

During the flight, Beebo complained about the hard life of a ramp service worker briefly, had fun at times, but also said he was just a broken guy with a few screws loose. He also reportedly texted his wife that she deserves families. He spoke about letting a lot of people down, which given his faith,likely included his church community. 

We know that Beebo had owned a bakery with his wife Hannah Russell before selling it to be closer to Hannah’s family. We also know that he attended Gateway Chapel in Sumner, Washington, headed by Pastor David Odell, who was asked in the aftermath not to speak about Richard Russell.

So why should we care? There are approximately 80 million Christian men in the United States. In my own personal dealings with these men, many are somewhat reserved, and it is clear to me, since some have been my friends, that more lies beneath. As the economy continues to crush men (and women) it will be harder and harder for these men to make the grade as called upon by their faith and those around them. Traditional families were often built under economic conditions that were possible in the past, but due to the relentless desire of the 1 percent to extract as much value out of us peons as possible, success is not always possible at the same level as it was for those men’s role models.

I now need to back up my theory, which to be clear is just that, a theory. Had the FBI done the type of job they would have done if Beebo was Muslim, for example, or even Sheik, we would not be here right now. 

David Odell was, according to the Seattle Times, Beebo’s pastor. So what does David believe? What was he filling Beebo and Hannah’s head with? Fortunately, dear reader, we can get a good sense of this from Calvary Church in The Dalles, Oregon, where he is the head pastor today.

“We believe the Bible is God’s absolute, objective truth for all people for all times. It is without error in concept or detail in the original writings. It is breathed out in its entirety by God, divinely preserved, and, therefore, trustworthy,” reads the church’s website. Message me for links if you like, Reddit does not play nice with links so I don’t include them here. What Odell’s church is saying, is that everything in the Bible should be taken literally. This means when 1st Timorthy told Beebo that he was a worse than a non-believer for not providing enough, that was absolute truth. This might be why Beebo messaged Hannah mid-flight that she “deserved better.”

A sermon at Odell’s church where he is head pastor stated a year ago that men have a “responsibility to lead protect and provide for his wife.” There really is no daylight here in faiths that practice biblical literalness. The man MUST provide and that is a primary way in which he is judged. Beebo likely felt judged and that here was a test, from on high, that he was failing. 

The church where Beebo’s funeral was held in August 2018, also believes in the same things. Lighthouse Christian Center recommends Stu Weber’s book, Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart, which pushes men hard to be “kings” of their own domain, which is their family and home. Loading bags onto planes does not accomplish this. Beebo was working at Horizon primarily for free flights to Alaska, where his family was. 

What is the point of this? To suggest that Beebo’s story is not just about low pay, but about how faith often fails those who are mentally ill. You can’t pray away depression, at least not in a lasting way. Beebo needed help, and those who were around him may not have been ready to provide. Or I could be totally one hundred percent wrong here. This is also possible. But I doubt I’m not at least somewhat right. There should be a reckoning in the Christian community based on this and other incidents. But that cannot happen if people can’t talk freely, if they can’t question the bible there is no room for debate and no relief of that crushing pressure. Saying he was just a guy who snapped is likely leaving out the very important nuance of the environment that created his mindset. It deserves exploration. I'll close with 3 bible verses that are relevant:

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” 1 Timothy 5:8

“"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children." Proverbs 13:22

Proverbs 28:19: "Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty." 

Note: Hannah and her family has never spoken out aside from a joint statement in August 2018 that factually spent more time mentioning Jesus than offering any empathy towards his specific mental situation. They were approached by a documentary crew for the Hulu SkyKing documentary and refused to participate. They have apparently, according to Beebo’s mother, cut off contact with her. 

What is your take on Hannah Russell, wife of Sky King Richard Beebo Russell, allegedly cutting off his family and refusing to speak publicly?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018\\\_Horizon\\\_Air\\\_Bombardier\\\_Q400\\\_incident

I went way down a rabbit hole regarding a famous event. I found information out that made me question the impact of faith on this person's headspace. Some really connected with it, some were repulsed.

I spent alot of time on it, but pulled it back in the end because too much pain could be caused.

I'll just say this: if someone is in crisis, please say anything but "pray on it."

Thanks.

He was a devout Christian. Where might have the relentless pressure to provide come from?

See comments for screenshot with his mom's comments!

Beebo goes from being a respected business owner, to being a low paid ground service agent for Horizon, making literally less than a McDonald’s worker.. As I will lay out as you read on, this created stress for Beebo, because his faith calls him to be a provider. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” 1 Timothy 5:8

The couple met in Coos Bay.

TLDR: Sky King was heavily into his faith which puts a lot of pressure on men to provide for their families. His specific church believed this and those around him did and this apparent fact has never been deeply explored, especially by the FBI. By not exploring it, we leave many stones unturned and potentially don’t understand the source of his pain, which could hurt other men.

Most people think they know the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell. I have been following this sad tale ever since it happened, since it is at the intersection of aviation and faith, two topics that I have long been interested in. In case anyone is wondering, my interest preceded the recent Hulu documentary, which I did watch with great interest.

I often find in life, like the late and highly controversial Donald Rumsfeld, that sometimes you have to look at what is not said, what questions are not asked, and consider what you do not know.

“As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know,” Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, 2002. Now I’m not a fan of Rumsfeld, but he is on to something here. Sometimes there are hidden truths in the unknown. Things that are important to understand, but are missing. The worst offenders are those things we need to know but do not know.

The story of Beebo goes like this. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air (Alaska Air owned) employee ground service employee named Richard “Beebo” Russell, stole a Bombardier Q400 commuter turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport. For 75 minutes, he flew around the Seattle area, before intentionally crashing into a remote island. The FBI issued a 567 page report into the matter, which was very serious, because while he was in the air, nobody knew his intentions, beyond what he was verbally saying, which was to not harm anyone. The FBI concluded that there was no single reason for his actions - but bear in mind, this was the 2018 FBI, and it is known that this was an FBI very reluctant to look at certain things, particularly Christianity.

During the flight, Beebo complained about the hard life of a ramp service worker briefly, had fun at times, but also said he was just a broken guy with a few screws loose. He also reportedly texted his wife that she deserves better.

We know that Beebo had owned a bakery with his wife Hannah Russell before selling it to be closer to Hannah’s family, the Stracener family of Sumner, Washington. We also know that he attended Gateway Chapel in Sumner, Washington, headed by Pastor David Odell, who was asked in the aftermath not to speak about Richard Russell. This is just one of many instances of the Hannah’s family, the Straceners, being secretive. They also declined to participate in the recent Hulu documentary and Hannah herself cut off contact with Beebo’s family, or so it has been reported. The Straceners are very quiet and Hannah has never given a direct interview, which is strange in cases like this.

“David Odell, pastor at Russell’s Auburn church, also declined to discuss Russell, citing the family’s wishes. “In the statement where it says it’s a complete shock, it’s just 100 percent true,” Odell said, as reported in the Seattle Times.

So everyone thinks that Beebo simply snapped and took a plan for a joyride. However, I propose this theory, based on the evidence:

Beebo and Hannah meet at a church function in Oregon when they are both going to school.

They get married.

They are both heavily involved in evangelical christianity, including CRU, Young Life and later Gateway Church, a small church that bounces around Washington before settling in Sumner, Washington, where Hannah’s family lives. The pastor at the time that Beebo and Hannah are attending is David Odell.

Beebo and Hannah are running a bakery in North Bend, Oregon. Eventually, they sell to be closer to Hannah’s family in Sumner, Washington. Beebo had wanted to move to Alaska, but Hannah was not on board.

Beebo goes from being a respected business owner, to being a low paid ground service agent for Horizon, making literally less than a McDonald’s worker.. As I will lay out as you read on, this created stress for Beebo, because his faith calls him to be a provider. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” 1 Timothy 5:8

Hannah’s family and the church and perhaps Hannah herself, pressure Beebo to be more than he is, and this pressure, along with working like an absolute dog at the airport, drive him to end it all. He was a bit of a goofy guy, married to a perfectionist (this was reported in interviews about their bakery in Oregon) and was crushed by the weight of the church’s expectations and perhaps the Stracener family.

So why should we care? There are approximately 80 million Christian men in the United States. In my own personal dealings with these men, many are somewhat reserved, and it is clear to me, since some have been my friends, that more lies beneath. As the economy continues to crush men (and women) it will be harder and harder for these men to make the grade called upon by their faith and those around them. Traditional families were often built under economic conditions that were possible in the past, but due to the relentless desire of the 1 percent to extract as much value out of us peons as possible, success is not always possible at the same level as it was for those men’s role models.

I now need to back up my theory, which to be clear is just that, a theory. Had the FBI done the type of job they would have done if Beebo was Muslim, for example, or even Sheik, we would not be here right now.

David Odell was, according to the Seattle Times, Beebo’s pastor. So what does David believe? What was he filling Beebo and Hannah’s head with? Fortunately, dear reader, we can get a good sense of this from Calvary Church in The Dalles, Oregon, where he is the head pastor today.

“We believe the Bible is God’s absolute, objective truth for all people for all times. It is without error in concept or detail in the original writings. It is breathed out in its entirety by God, divinely preserved, and, therefore, trustworthy,” reads the church’s website. Message me for links if you like, Reddit does not play nice with links so I don’t include them here. What Odell’s church is saying, is that everything in the Bible should be taken literally. This means when 1st Timorthy told Beebo that he was a worse than a non-believer for not providing enough, that was absolute truth. This might be why Beebo messaged Hannah mid-flight that she “deserved better.”

A sermon of Odell’s church where he is head pastor stated a year ago that men have a “responsibility to lead protect and provide for his wife.” There really is no daylight here in faiths that practice biblical literalness. The man MUST provide and that is a primary way in which he is judged. Beebo likely felt judged and that here was a test, from on high, that he was failing.

The church where Beebo’s funeral was held in August 2018, also believes in the same things. Lighthouse Christian Center recommends Stu Weber’s book, Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart, which pushes men hard to be “kings” of their own domain, which is their family and home. Loading bags onto planes does not accomplish this. Beebo was working at Horizon primarily for free flights to Alaska, where his family was. It’s not hard to imagine a traditional God fearing family like the Straceners being ashamed of a husband who works alongside the “dregs” of society in their eyes to make a pittance loading baggage.

What is the point of this? To suggest that Beebo’s story is not just about low pay, but about how faith often fails those who are mentally ill. You can’t pray away depression, at least not in a lasting way. Beebo needed help, and those who were around him, especially on Hannah’s side, may not have been ready to provide. Or I could be totally one hundred percent wrong here. This is also possible. But I doubt I’m not at least somewhat right. There should be a reckoning in the Christian community based on this and other incidents. But that cannot happen if people can’t talk freely, if they can’t question the bible, and if they hide behind a wall of silence, as it appears the Straceners are doing right now. Saying he was just a guy who snapped is likely leaving out the very important nuance of the environment that created his mindset. It deserves exploration. So what are the remaining mysteries?

1. Did the Straceners put pressure on Beebo? Do they know this and that is why they are so silent?

2. Did Hannah herself pressure him?

3. Did Beebo's church make him feel like a failure as a MAN?

I think I know the answers. What do you think?

​

TLDR: Sky King was heavily into his faith which puts a lot of pressure on men to provide for their families. His specific church believed this and those around him did and this apparent fact has never been deeply explored, especially by the FBI. By not exploring it, we leave many stones unturned and potentially don’t understand the source of his pain, which could hurt other men.

Most people think they know the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell. I have been following this sad tale ever since it happened, since it is at the intersection of aviation and faith, two topics that I have long been interested in. In case anyone is wondering, my interest preceded the recent Hulu documentary, which I did watch with great interest.

I often find in life, like the late and highly controversial Donald Rumsfeld, that sometimes you have to look at what is not said, what questions are not asked, and consider what you do not know.

“As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know,” Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, 2002. Now I’m not a fan of Rumsfeld, but he is on to something here. Sometimes there are hidden truths in the unknown. Things that are important to understand, but are missing. The worst offenders are those things we need to know but do not know.

The story of Beebo goes like this. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air (Alaska Air owned) employee ground service employee named Richard “Beebo” Russell, stole a Bombardier Q400 commuter turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport. For 75 minutes, he flew around the Seattle area, before intentionally crashing into a remote island. The FBI issued a 567 page report into the matter, which was very serious, because while he was in the air, nobody knew his intentions, beyond what he was verbally saying, which was to not harm anyone. The FBI concluded that there was no single reason for his actions - but bear in mind, this was the 2018 FBI, and it is known that this was an FBI very reluctant to look at certain things, particularly Christianity.

During the flight, Beebo complained about the hard life of a ramp service worker briefly, had fun at times, but also said he was just a broken guy with a few screws loose. He also reportedly texted his wife that she deserves better.

We know that Beebo had owned a bakery with his wife Hannah Russell before selling it to be closer to Hannah’s family, the Stracener family of Sumner, Washington. We also know that he attended Gateway Chapel in Sumner, Washington, headed by Pastor David Odell, who was asked in the aftermath not to speak about Richard Russell. This is just one of many instances of the Hannah’s family, the Straceners, being secretive. They also declined to participate in the recent Hulu documentary and Hannah herself cut off contact with Beebo’s family, or so it has been reported. The Straceners are very quiet and Hannah has never given a direct interview, which is strange in cases like this.

“David Odell, pastor at Russell’s Auburn church, also declined to discuss Russell, citing the family’s wishes. “In the statement where it says it’s a complete shock, it’s just 100 percent true,” Odell said, as reported in the Seattle Times.

So everyone thinks that Beebo simply snapped and took a plan for a joyride. However, I propose this theory, based on the evidence:

Beebo and Hannah meet at a church function in Oregon when they are both going to school.

They get married.

They are both heavily involved in evangelical christianity, including CRU, Young Life and later Gateway Church, a small church that bounces around Washington before settling in Sumner, Washington, where Hannah’s family lives. The pastor at the time that Beebo and Hannah are attending is David Odell.

Beebo and Hannah are running a bakery in North Bend, Oregon. Eventually, they sell to be closer to Hannah’s family in Sumner, Washington. Beebo had wanted to move to Alaska, but Hannah was not on board.

Beebo goes from being a respected business owner, to being a low paid ground service agent for Horizon, making literally less than a McDonald’s worker.. As I will lay out as you read on, this created stress for Beebo, because his faith calls him to be a provider. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” 1 Timothy 5:8

Hannah’s family and the church and perhaps Hannah herself, pressure Beebo to be more than he is, and this pressure, along with working like an absolute dog at the airport, drive him to end it all. He was a bit of a goofy guy, married to a perfectionist (this was reported in interviews about their bakery in Oregon) and was crushed by the weight of the church’s expectations and perhaps the Stracener family.

So why should we care? There are approximately 80 million Christian men in the United States. In my own personal dealings with these men, many are somewhat reserved, and it is clear to me, since some have been my friends, that more lies beneath. As the economy continues to crush men (and women) it will be harder and harder for these men to make the grade called upon by their faith and those around them. Traditional families were often built under economic conditions that were possible in the past, but due to the relentless desire of the 1 percent to extract as much value out of us peons as possible, success is not always possible at the same level as it was for those men’s role models.

I now need to back up my theory, which to be clear is just that, a theory. Had the FBI done the type of job they would have done if Beebo was Muslim, for example, or even Sheik, we would not be here right now.

David Odell was, according to the Seattle Times, Beebo’s pastor. So what does David believe? What was he filling Beebo and Hannah’s head with? Fortunately, dear reader, we can get a good sense of this from Calvary Church in The Dalles, Oregon, where he is the head pastor today.

“We believe the Bible is God’s absolute, objective truth for all people for all times. It is without error in concept or detail in the original writings. It is breathed out in its entirety by God, divinely preserved, and, therefore, trustworthy,” reads the church’s website. Message me for links if you like, Reddit does not play nice with links so I don’t include them here. What Odell’s church is saying, is that everything in the Bible should be taken literally. This means when 1st Timorthy told Beebo that he was a worse than a non-believer for not providing enough, that was absolute truth. This might be why Beebo messaged Hannah mid-flight that she “deserved better.”

A sermon of Odell’s church where he is head pastor stated a year ago that men have a “responsibility to lead protect and provide for his wife.” There really is no daylight here in faiths that practice biblical literalness. The man MUST provide and that is a primary way in which he is judged. Beebo likely felt judged and that here was a test, from on high, that he was failing.

The church where Beebo’s funeral was held in August 2018, also believes in the same things. Lighthouse Christian Center recommends Stu Weber’s book, Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart, which pushes men hard to be “kings” of their own domain, which is their family and home. Loading bags onto planes does not accomplish this. Beebo was working at Horizon primarily for free flights to Alaska, where his family was. It’s not hard to imagine a traditional God fearing family like the Straceners being ashamed of a husband who works alongside the “dregs” of society in their eyes to make a pittance loading baggage.

What is the point of this? To suggest that Beebo’s story is not just about low pay, but about how faith often fails those who are mentally ill. You can’t pray away depression, at least not in a lasting way. Beebo needed help, and those who were around him, especially on Hannah’s side, may not have been ready to provide. Or I could be totally one hundred percent wrong here. This is also possible. But I doubt I’m not at least somewhat right. There should be a reckoning in the Christian community based on this and other incidents. But that cannot happen if people can’t talk freely, if they can’t question the bible, and if they hide behind a wall of silence, as it appears the Straceners are doing right now. Saying he was just a guy who snapped is likely leaving out the very important nuance of the environment that created his mindset. It deserves exploration. So what are the remaining mysteries?

1. Did the Straceners put pressure on Beebo? Do they know this and that is why they are so silent?

2. Did Hannah herself pressure him?

3. Did Beebo's church make him feel like a failure as a MAN?

I think I know the answers. What do you think?

​

TLDR: Sky King was heavily into his faith which puts a lot of pressure on men to provide for their families. His specific church believed this and those around him did and this apparent fact has never been deeply explored, especially by the FBI. By not exploring it, we leave many stones unturned and potentially don’t understand the source of his pain, which could hurt other men.

Most people think they know the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell. I have been following this sad tale ever since it happened, since it is at the intersection of aviation and faith, two topics that I have long been interested in. In case anyone is wondering, my interest preceded the recent Hulu documentary, which I did watch with great interest.

I often find in life, like the late and highly controversial Donald Rumsfeld, that sometimes you have to look at what is not said, what questions are not asked, and consider what you do not know.

“As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know,” Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, 2002. Now I’m not a fan of Rumsfeld, but he is on to something here. Sometimes there are hidden truths in the unknown. Things that are important to understand, but are missing. The worst offenders are those things we need to know but do not know.

The story of Beebo goes like this. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air (Alaska Air owned) employee ground service employee named Richard “Beebo” Russell, stole a Bombardier Q400 commuter turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport. For 75 minutes, he flew around the Seattle area, before intentionally crashing into a remote island. The FBI issued a 567 page report into the matter, which was very serious, because while he was in the air, nobody knew his intentions, beyond what he was verbally saying, which was to not harm anyone. The FBI concluded that there was no single reason for his actions - but bear in mind, this was the 2018 FBI, and it is known that this was an FBI very reluctant to look at certain things, particularly Christianity.

During the flight, Beebo complained about the hard life of a ramp service worker briefly, had fun at times, but also said he was just a broken guy with a few screws loose. He also reportedly texted his wife that she deserves better.

We know that Beebo had owned a bakery with his wife Hannah Russell before selling it to be closer to Hannah’s family, the Stracener family of Sumner, Washington. We also know that he attended Gateway Chapel in Sumner, Washington, headed by Pastor David Odell, who was asked in the aftermath not to speak about Richard Russell. This is just one of many instances of the Hannah’s family, the Straceners, being secretive. They also declined to participate in the recent Hulu documentary and Hannah herself cut off contact with Beebo’s family, or so it has been reported. The Straceners are very quiet and Hannah has never given a direct interview, which is strange in cases like this.

“David Odell, pastor at Russell’s Auburn church, also declined to discuss Russell, citing the family’s wishes. “In the statement where it says it’s a complete shock, it’s just 100 percent true,” Odell said, as reported in the Seattle Times.

So everyone thinks that Beebo simply snapped and took a plan for a joyride. However, I propose this theory, based on the evidence:

Beebo and Hannah meet at a church function in Oregon when they are both going to school.

They get married.

They are both heavily involved in evangelical christianity, including CRU, Young Life and later Gateway Church, a small church that bounces around Washington before settling in Sumner, Washington, where Hannah’s family lives. The pastor at the time that Beebo and Hannah are attending is David Odell.

Beebo and Hannah are running a bakery in North Bend, Oregon. Eventually, they sell to be closer to Hannah’s family in Sumner, Washington. Beebo had wanted to move to Alaska, but Hannah was not on board.

Beebo goes from being a respected business owner, to being a low paid ground service agent for Horizon, making literally less than a McDonald’s worker.. As I will lay out as you read on, this created stress for Beebo, because his faith calls him to be a provider. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” 1 Timothy 5:8

Hannah’s family and the church and perhaps Hannah herself, pressure Beebo to be more than he is, and this pressure, along with working like an absolute dog at the airport, drive him to end it all. He was a bit of a goofy guy, married to a perfectionist (this was reported in interviews about their bakery in Oregon) and was crushed by the weight of the church’s expectations and perhaps the Stracener family.

So why should we care? There are approximately 80 million Christian men in the United States. In my own personal dealings with these men, many are somewhat reserved, and it is clear to me, since some have been my friends, that more lies beneath. As the economy continues to crush men (and women) it will be harder and harder for these men to make the grade called upon by their faith and those around them. Traditional families were often built under economic conditions that were possible in the past, but due to the relentless desire of the 1 percent to extract as much value out of us peons as possible, success is not always possible at the same level as it was for those men’s role models.

I now need to back up my theory, which to be clear is just that, a theory. Had the FBI done the type of job they would have done if Beebo was Muslim, for example, or even Sheik, we would not be here right now.

David Odell was, according to the Seattle Times, Beebo’s pastor. So what does David believe? What was he filling Beebo and Hannah’s head with? Fortunately, dear reader, we can get a good sense of this from Calvary Church in The Dalles, Oregon, where he is the head pastor today.

“We believe the Bible is God’s absolute, objective truth for all people for all times. It is without error in concept or detail in the original writings. It is breathed out in its entirety by God, divinely preserved, and, therefore, trustworthy,” reads the church’s website. Message me for links if you like, Reddit does not play nice with links so I don’t include them here. What Odell’s church is saying, is that everything in the Bible should be taken literally. This means when 1st Timorthy told Beebo that he was a worse than a non-believer for not providing enough, that was absolute truth. This might be why Beebo messaged Hannah mid-flight that she “deserved better.”

A sermon of Odell’s church where he is head pastor stated a year ago that men have a “responsibility to lead protect and provide for his wife.” There really is no daylight here in faiths that practice biblical literalness. The man MUST provide and that is a primary way in which he is judged. Beebo likely felt judged and that here was a test, from on high, that he was failing.

The church where Beebo’s funeral was held in August 2018, also believes in the same things. Lighthouse Christian Center recommends Stu Weber’s book, Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart, which pushes men hard to be “kings” of their own domain, which is their family and home. Loading bags onto planes does not accomplish this. Beebo was working at Horizon primarily for free flights to Alaska, where his family was. It’s not hard to imagine a traditional God fearing family like the Straceners being ashamed of a husband who works alongside the “dregs” of society in their eyes to make a pittance loading baggage.

What is the point of this? To suggest that Beebo’s story is not just about low pay, but about how faith often fails those who are mentally ill. You can’t pray away depression, at least not in a lasting way. Beebo needed help, and those who were around him, especially on Hannah’s side, may not have been ready to provide. Or I could be totally one hundred percent wrong here. This is also possible. But I doubt I’m not at least somewhat right. There should be a reckoning in the Christian community based on this and other incidents. But that cannot happen if people can’t talk freely, if they can’t question the bible, and if they hide behind a wall of silence, as it appears the Straceners are doing right now. Saying he was just a guy who snapped is likely leaving out the very important nuance of the environment that created his mindset. It deserves exploration. So what are the remaining mysteries?

1. Did the Straceners put pressure on Beebo? Do they know this and that is why they are so silent?

2. Did Hannah herself pressure him?

3. Did Beebo's church make him feel like a failure as a MAN?

I think I know the answers. What do you think?

​

TLDR: Sky King was heavily into his faith which puts a lot of pressure on men to provide for their families. His specific church believed this and those around him did and this apparent fact has never been deeply explored, especially by the FBI. By not exploring it, we leave many stones unturned and potentially don’t understand the source of his pain, which could hurt other men.

Most people think they know the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell. I have been following this sad tale ever since it happened, since it is at the intersection of aviation and faith, two topics that I have long been interested in. In case anyone is wondering, my interest preceded the recent Hulu documentary, which I did watch with great interest.

I often find in life, like the late and highly controversial Donald Rumsfeld, that sometimes you have to look at what is not said, what questions are not asked, and consider what you do not know.

“As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know,” Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, 2002. Now I’m not a fan of Rumsfeld, but he is on to something here. Sometimes there are hidden truths in the unknown. Things that are important to understand, but are missing. The worst offenders are those things we need to know but do not know.

The story of Beebo goes like this. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air (Alaska Air owned) employee ground service employee named Richard “Beebo” Russell, stole a Bombardier Q400 commuter turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport. For 75 minutes, he flew around the Seattle area, before intentionally crashing into a remote island. The FBI issued a 567 page report into the matter, which was very serious, because while he was in the air, nobody knew his intentions, beyond what he was verbally saying, which was to not harm anyone. The FBI concluded that there was no single reason for his actions - but bear in mind, this was the 2018 FBI, and it is known that this was an FBI very reluctant to look at certain things, particularly Christianity.

During the flight, Beebo complained about the hard life of a ramp service worker briefly, had fun at times, but also said he was just a broken guy with a few screws loose. He also reportedly texted his wife that she deserves better.

We know that Beebo had owned a bakery with his wife Hannah Russell before selling it to be closer to Hannah’s family, the Stracener family of Sumner, Washington. We also know that he attended Gateway Chapel in Sumner, Washington, headed by Pastor David Odell, who was asked in the aftermath not to speak about Richard Russell. This is just one of many instances of the Hannah’s family, the Straceners, being secretive. They also declined to participate in the recent Hulu documentary and Hannah herself cut off contact with Beebo’s family, or so it has been reported. The Straceners are very quiet and Hannah has never given a direct interview, which is strange in cases like this.

“David Odell, pastor at Russell’s Auburn church, also declined to discuss Russell, citing the family’s wishes. “In the statement where it says it’s a complete shock, it’s just 100 percent true,” Odell said, as reported in the Seattle Times.

So everyone thinks that Beebo simply snapped and took a plan for a joyride. However, I propose this theory, based on the evidence:

Beebo and Hannah meet at a church function in Oregon when they are both going to school.

They get married.

They are both heavily involved in evangelical christianity, including CRU, Young Life and later Gateway Church, a small church that bounces around Washington before settling in Sumner, Washington, where Hannah’s family lives. The pastor at the time that Beebo and Hannah are attending is David Odell.

Beebo and Hannah are running a bakery in North Bend, Oregon. Eventually, they sell to be closer to Hannah’s family in Sumner, Washington. Beebo had wanted to move to Alaska, but Hannah was not on board.

Beebo goes from being a respected business owner, to being a low paid ground service agent for Horizon, making literally less than a McDonald’s worker.. As I will lay out as you read on, this created stress for Beebo, because his faith calls him to be a provider. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” 1 Timothy 5:8

Hannah’s family and the church and perhaps Hannah herself, pressure Beebo to be more than he is, and this pressure, along with working like an absolute dog at the airport, drive him to end it all. He was a bit of a goofy guy, married to a perfectionist (this was reported in interviews about their bakery in Oregon) and was crushed by the weight of the church’s expectations and perhaps the Stracener family.

So why should we care? There are approximately 80 million Christian men in the United States. In my own personal dealings with these men, many are somewhat reserved, and it is clear to me, since some have been my friends, that more lies beneath. As the economy continues to crush men (and women) it will be harder and harder for these men to make the grade called upon by their faith and those around them. Traditional families were often built under economic conditions that were possible in the past, but due to the relentless desire of the 1 percent to extract as much value out of us peons as possible, success is not always possible at the same level as it was for those men’s role models.

I now need to back up my theory, which to be clear is just that, a theory. Had the FBI done the type of job they would have done if Beebo was Muslim, for example, or even Sheik, we would not be here right now.

David Odell was, according to the Seattle Times, Beebo’s pastor. So what does David believe? What was he filling Beebo and Hannah’s head with? Fortunately, dear reader, we can get a good sense of this from Calvary Church in The Dalles, Oregon, where he is the head pastor today.

“We believe the Bible is God’s absolute, objective truth for all people for all times. It is without error in concept or detail in the original writings. It is breathed out in its entirety by God, divinely preserved, and, therefore, trustworthy,” reads the church’s website. Message me for links if you like, Reddit does not play nice with links so I don’t include them here. What Odell’s church is saying, is that everything in the Bible should be taken literally. This means when 1st Timorthy told Beebo that he was a worse than a non-believer for not providing enough, that was absolute truth. This might be why Beebo messaged Hannah mid-flight that she “deserved better.”

A sermon of Odell’s church where he is head pastor stated a year ago that men have a “responsibility to lead protect and provide for his wife.” There really is no daylight here in faiths that practice biblical literalness. The man MUST provide and that is a primary way in which he is judged. Beebo likely felt judged and that here was a test, from on high, that he was failing.

The church where Beebo’s funeral was held in August 2018, also believes in the same things. Lighthouse Christian Center recommends Stu Weber’s book, Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart, which pushes men hard to be “kings” of their own domain, which is their family and home. Loading bags onto planes does not accomplish this. Beebo was working at Horizon primarily for free flights to Alaska, where his family was. It’s not hard to imagine a traditional God fearing family like the Straceners being ashamed of a husband who works alongside the “dregs” of society in their eyes to make a pittance loading baggage.

What is the point of this? To suggest that Beebo’s story is not just about low pay, but about how faith often fails those who are mentally ill. You can’t pray away depression, at least not in a lasting way. Beebo needed help, and those who were around him, especially on Hannah’s side, may not have been ready to provide. Or I could be totally one hundred percent wrong here. This is also possible. But I doubt I’m not at least somewhat right. There should be a reckoning in the Christian community based on this and other incidents. But that cannot happen if people can’t talk freely, if they can’t question the bible, and if they hide behind a wall of silence, as it appears the Straceners are doing right now. Saying he was just a guy who snapped is likely leaving out the very important nuance of the environment that created his mindset. It deserves exploration. So what are the remaining mysteries?

1. Did the Straceners put pressure on Beebo? Do they know this and that is why they are so silent?

2. Did Hannah herself pressure him?

3. Did Beebo's church make him feel like a failure as a MAN?

I think I know the answers. What do you think?

​

TLDR: Sky King was heavily into his faith which puts a lot of pressure on men to provide for their families. His specific church believed this and those around him did and this apparent fact has never been deeply explored, especially by the FBI. By not exploring it, we leave many stones unturned and potentially don’t understand the source of his pain, which could hurt other men. 

Most people think they know the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell. I have been following this sad tale ever since it happened, since it is at the intersection of aviation and faith, two topics that I have long been interested in. In case anyone is wondering, my interest preceded the recent Hulu documentary, which I did watch with great interest.

I often find in life, like the late and highly controversial Donald Rumsfeld, that sometimes you have to look at what is not said, what questions are not asked, and consider what you do not know. 

“As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know,” Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, 2002. Now I’m not a fan of Rumsfeld, but he is on to something here. Sometimes there are hidden truths in the unknown. Things that are important to understand, but are missing. The worst offenders are those things we need to know but do not know. 

The story of Beebo goes like this. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air (Alaska Air owned) employee ground service employee named Richard “Beebo” Russell, stole a Bombardier Q400 commuter turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport. For 75 minutes, he flew around the Seattle area, before intentionally crashing into a remote island. The FBI issued a 567 page report into the matter, which was very serious, because while he was in the air, nobody knew his intentions, beyond what he was verbally saying, which was to not harm anyone. The FBI concluded that there was no single reason for his actions - but bear in mind, this was the 2018 FBI, and it is known that this was an FBI very reluctant to look at certain things, particularly Christianity. 

During the flight, Beebo complained about the hard life of a ramp service worker briefly, had fun at times, but also said he was just a broken guy with a few screws loose. He also reportedly texted his wife that she deserves better.

We know that Beebo had owned a bakery with his wife Hannah Russell before selling it to be closer to Hannah’s family, the Stracener family of Sumner, Washington. We also know that he attended Gateway Chapel in Sumner, Washington, headed by Pastor David Odell, who was asked in the aftermath not to speak about Richard Russell. This is just one of many instances of the Hannah’s family, the Straceners, being secretive. They also declined to participate in the recent Hulu documentary and Hannah herself cut off contact with Beebo’s family, or so it has been reported. The Straceners are very quiet and Hannah has never given a direct interview, which is strange in cases like this.

“David Odell, pastor at Russell’s Auburn church, also declined to discuss Russell, citing the family’s wishes. “In the statement where it says it’s a complete shock, it’s just 100 percent true,” Odell said, as reported in the Seattle Times. 

So everyone thinks that Beebo simply snapped and took a plan for a joyride. However, I propose this theory, based on the evidence:

Beebo and Hannah meet at a church function in Oregon when they are both going to school.

They get married.

They are both heavily involved in evangelical christianity, including CRU, Young Life and later Gateway Church, a small church that bounces around Washington before settling in Sumner, Washington, where Hannah’s family lives. The pastor at the time that Beebo and Hannah are attending is David Odell. 

Beebo and Hannah are running a bakery in North Bend, Oregon. Eventually, they sell to be closer to Hannah’s family in Sumner, Washington. Beebo had wanted to move to Alaska, but Hannah was not on board. 

Beebo goes from being a respected business owner, to being a low paid ground service agent for Horizon, making literally less than a McDonald’s worker.. As I will lay out as you read on, this created stress for Beebo, because his faith calls him to be a provider. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,” 1 Timothy 5:8

Hannah’s family and the church and perhaps Hannah herself, pressure Beebo to be more than he is, and this pressure, along with working like an absolute dog at the airport, drive him to end it all. He was a bit of a goofy guy, married to a perfectionist (this was reported in interviews about their bakery in Oregon) and was crushed by the weight of the church’s expectations and perhaps the Stracener family. 

So why should we care? There are approximately 80 million Christian men in the United States. In my own personal dealings with these men, many are somewhat reserved, and it is clear to me, since some have been my friends, that more lies beneath. As the economy continues to crush men (and women) it will be harder and harder for these men to make the grade called upon by their faith and those around them. Traditional families were often built under economic conditions that were possible in the past, but due to the relentless desire of the 1 percent to extract as much value out of us peons as possible, success is not always possible at the same level as it was for those men’s role models. 

I now need to back up my theory, which to be clear is just that, a theory. Had the FBI done the type of job they would have done if Beebo was Muslim, for example, or even Sheik, we would not be here right now. 

David Odell was, according to the Seattle Times, Beebo’s pastor. So what does David believe? What was he filling Beebo and Hannah’s head with? Fortunately, dear reader, we can get a good sense of this from Calvary Church in The Dalles, Oregon, where he is the head pastor today.

“We believe the Bible is God’s absolute, objective truth for all people for all times. It is without error in concept or detail in the original writings. It is breathed out in its entirety by God, divinely preserved, and, therefore, trustworthy,” reads the church’s website. Message me for links if you like, Reddit does not play nice with links so I don’t include them here. What Odell’s church is saying, is that everything in the Bible should be taken literally. This means when 1st Timorthy told Beebo that he was a worse than a non-believer for not providing enough, that was absolute truth. This might be why Beebo messaged Hannah mid-flight that she “deserved better.”

A sermon of Odell’s church where he is head pastor stated a year ago that men have a “responsibility to lead protect and provide for his wife.” There really is no daylight here in faiths that practice biblical literalness. The man MUST provide and that is a primary way in which he is judged. Beebo likely felt judged and that here was a test, from on high, that he was failing. 

The church where Beebo’s funeral was held in August 2018, also believes in the same things. Lighthouse Christian Center recommends Stu Weber’s book, Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart, which pushes men hard to be “kings” of their own domain, which is their family and home. Loading bags onto planes does not accomplish this. Beebo was working at Horizon primarily for free flights to Alaska, where his family was. It’s not hard to imagine a traditional God fearing family like the Straceners being ashamed of a husband who works alongside the “dregs” of society in their eyes to make a pittance loading baggage. 

What is the point of this? To suggest that Beebo’s story is not just about low pay, but about how faith often fails those who are mentally ill. You can’t pray away depression, at least not in a lasting way. Beebo needed help, and those who were around him, especially on Hannah’s side, may not have been ready to provide. Or I could be totally one hundred percent wrong here. This is also possible. But I doubt I’m not at least somewhat right. There should be a reckoning in the Christian community based on this and other incidents. But that cannot happen if people can’t talk freely, if they can’t question the bible, and if they hide behind a wall of silence, as it appears the Straceners are doing right now. Saying he was just a guy who snapped is likely leaving out the very important nuance of the environment that created his mindset. It deserves exploration. So what are the remaining mysteries?

1. Did the Straceners put pressure on Beebo? Do they know this and that is why they are so silent?

2. Did Hannah herself pressure him?

3. Did Beebo's church make him feel like a failure as a MAN?

I think I know the answers. What do you think?

Gifted CISSP materials - do they have value?

I have books, Sun Microsystems Manuals, discs related to CISSP. How likely are these to be valuable for resale?

This show is the example of how good a call in show can be when you have good screening and a great host. Everyone should listen to see what I mean.

I'm honestly surprised. Imagine owning your own former ratings powerhouse. You could do really fun stuff with it. You can stream at the same time so that you are modern. I might do a hybrid public affairs, sports, discussion format with some music.