As we begin to roll up our sleeves in this investigation, it’s time to look at the players of this ugly chapter in Arizona history.

We must look at several key individuals, both according to the STATE’S THEORY of events, as well as several characters we feel need a much closer look.

With the premise of the state-sponsored theory, it appears that Don Bolles’ murder may have been misconstrued from the start.

Max Dunlap, John Adamson, and James Robison were all charged with being involved in the blast, but was it just a cover-up for the real players?

Let’s start with ‘The Kemper Marley Theory.’

Now remember, Kemper Marley was a local liquor magnate who lost his seat on the state racing commission due to a prior story Bolles wrote. So, the assumption was, he had an axe to grind. This theory includes the only men prosecuted for the murder of Don Bolles... 

The state charged Max Dunlap with first-degree murder for ordering the hit on Don Bolles. But who was Mr. Dunlap & what was his connection to the murder of a famed journalist?

Before his arrest, Dunlap was a well-known figure in town. He was a family man, married to Barbara, and father to their seven children.

Dunlap was a contractor in the land development business.

He started his own company called MA Dunlap Construction and grew his company with the help of a close friend and mentor, Kemper Marley.

Prior to the Bolles murder, it would have been difficult to find anyone in the Phoenix area with a negative thing to say about Max. However, he was also definitely in the orbit of both John Adamson and Neal Roberts, a high school classmate and friend. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices