Grand Jury to Probe Possible McVeigh Co-conspirators

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 14, 1997 12:04 p.m. EDT) -- Conspiracy theorists and federal prosecutors both believe Timothy McVeigh didn't act alone in blowing up the Oklahoma City federal building. They agree on little else.

A state grand jury has been empaneled to determine whether other people were involved -- and whether the government knew about the April 19, 1995, attack in advance. The blast killed 168 people and injured hundreds more.

Jurors were to begin hearing testimony Monday. But they had another duty first when they met this morning because Oklahoma grand juries must report on the condition of county jails.

McVeigh awaits execution after his conviction on murder and conspiracy charges last month. Co-defendant Terry Nichols is scheduled to be tried on the same charges in federal court Sept. 29.

The federal indictment alleged the men plotted the bombing with "others unknown." But federal authorities doubt a larger conspiracy and they vehemently deny any prior knowledge of the attack.

Still, several potential witnesses say they saw McVeigh with others the morning of the bombing. And some say agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were aware of a bombing plot.

"I am looking forward to going before the grand jury," said Charles Key, a state representative who helped collect 13,500 signatures for a petition to empanel the grand jury. "I am anxious for us to win this battle that we have been fighting so long to reveal the truth."

The petition named seven witnesses who have said they saw at least one other person with McVeigh in Oklahoma City the day of the bombing. None of the witnesses was called before the federal grand jury primarily concerned with indicting McVeigh and Nichols.

Among those subpoenaed to testify this week is Kyle Hunt, a banker who has said he saw a Ryder truck followed by a light-colored sedan driven by McVeigh near the federal building 30 minutes before the bombing. Hunt said there were two passengers in the car.

Also expected to testify was David Snider, who said he saw McVeigh with another man in a Ryder truck a few blocks away from the federal building the morning of the bombing.

"I've been waiting for this day a long time," Snider said.