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expert, who explain a number of unlikely coincidences that contributed to everyone making it out safely. Some of the events defy logical explanation, such as wires on the bomb inexplicably being cut before it exploded, no one being hit by flying shrapnel, and the school fire alarms going off with no apparent cause in the days leading up to the bombing. Ron also learns that even though the bomb was designed to explode outward, the force of the blast was largely directed up into the ceiling, which aligns with Jason describing a ring of angels surrounding the bomb and flying upward as it went off.
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did and is glad they're dead. Claudia warns him that he'll lose her and their kids if he lets doubt and anger control his life. Ron then overhears part of a lesson given by their bishop, reminding the congregation that hatred will not help anyone, as well as the children, many of whom were present during the bombing, singing in the youth room. Ron is overcome with emotion and asks God and his family to forgive him for doubting. He resumes praying and attending church.
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Deppe and
Mendenhall, who had assumed after an earlier demonstration that they would be setting off illegal fireworks, are horrified and refuse to participate. Young handcuffs them and leaves them in his van. Young arms the bomb and he, Doris, and Penny enter the school. When Young starts yelling at a student, Penny confronts him and refuses to help any further. She takes Young's van and drives to the town hall, where she, Deppe, and Medenhall alert the authorities.
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quickly begin evacuating the children through the open doors and windows. Young returns from the bathroom, sees Doris on fire, and shoots her. He also shoots John Miller, a teacher, in the back before retreating to the bathroom and shooting himself. Young and Doris are the only two fatalities of the bombing; everyone else successfully evacuates.
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The next day, Ron is called out of town. Meanwhile, Young's group travels to the elementary school and David announces his plan to take the school hostage and blow it up in the deluded belief that he's mathematically calculated how to die and come back to life in a "brave new world" he will control.
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Eventually, Young goes to the bathroom, transferring the dead man's switch to Doris before he leaves. Doris accidentally pulls the switch with a hand gesture, triggering the bomb. The room is set on fire and fills with smoke and shrapnel as shells from Young's guns explode in the heat. The teachers
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Even after hearing all this, Ron remains skeptical. The following Sunday, Jason persuades Ron to attend church by refusing to attend unless Ron comes as well. Ron enters the church building, but can't bring himself to attend the meetings, admitting to
Claudia that he hates the Youngs for what they
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Ron is doubtful of Jason's story, so
Claudia encourages him to look for other evidence. Ron visits other families and learns that their children likewise saw deceased relatives in the room with them shortly before the explosion. He also consults with the school principal and the investigating bomb
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Inside the school, gas begins to leak from the bomb, making the children sick from the fumes. The teachers convince Young to let them open the doors and windows for ventilation. They do their best to keep the children quiet and avoid provoking Young, who grows increasingly agitated and unstable,
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As news about the hostage situation spreads, worried parents and emergency responders gather outside the school. Ron learns about the situation and begins speeding back to
Cokeville, aware that every other police officer is also out of town and he is closest. He again questions God's existence,
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A few days later, Jason and Cindy are recovering well from burns and other minor injuries, but their parents worry that Jason is traumatized and take him to a psychologist. After the visit, Jason confides to Ron and
Claudia that there were other people in the room with them, dressed in white —
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tied to his wrist, which will detonate the bomb if anything happens to him, and threatens to shoot anyone who tries to leave. He then orders Max Excell (Alan
Peterson), the school principal, to call the authorities and deliver his ransom demand: $ 2,000,000 for each child.
356:, begins to question his religious beliefs, wondering whether a just God would really allow the atrocities he witnesses in his work to happen. He stops praying and attending church services with his family, which worries his wife, Claudia and his children, Cindy and Jason.
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At the school, Young takes control of Room 4. Doris then lures the rest of the school into the room by promising a "surprise". Once all 136 students, including Cindy and Jason, and 18 teachers are inside, Young explains that the bomb is wired to a
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angels. He identifies one of them as his deceased great-grandmother after being shown a photograph of her and claims she told him the bomb would go off but that everything would be alright.
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Paul Hunt and
Channon Voyce as Doyle Mendenhall and Gerald Deppe, two of David Young's friends who also refuse to participate in holding helpless, little children hostage.
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Jasen Wade as Ron
Hartley, the film's protagonist, one of the town's deputies who is questioning his faith as his children are taken hostage.
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Kymberly Mellen as Doris Young, David's second wife, who accompanies him on his devious plan, but treats the children with much kindness.
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Barta Heiner as
Verlene Bennion, an elderly teacher at Cokeville Elementary who suffers from smoke inhalation after the bomb goes off.
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Kimball
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including making a "magic square" of masking tape on the floor to keep the children away from Young and the bomb.
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Nathan Stevens as David Young, the film's antagonist, the ex-town marshal who holds Cokeville Elementary hostage.
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as Penny Young, David's second daughter from his previous marriage, who refuses to participate in his evil plan.
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Liz Christensen as Pat Bennion, Verlene's daughter-in-law and one of the teachers at Cokeville Elementary.
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as Rich Haskell, a certified bomb expert from the Sweetwater County Sherrif's department in Rock Springs.
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was released in select theaters across the United States in the summer of 2015, and was distributed by
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Joshua Cooper as John Miller, a music teacher who is shot by David Young after the bomb goes off.
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and starring Jasen Wade, Sarah Kent and Kimball Stinger. The film was based on the
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Jillette Dayton as Christina "Tina" Cook, the Secretary of Cokeville Elementary.
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Sarah Kent as Claudia Hartley, Ron's wife, who is worried about his skepticism.
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Shawn Stevens as John Teichert, the bishop of Cokeville's local congregation.
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Alan Peterson as Max Excell, the Principal of Cokeville Elementary.
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wondering why something like this would be allowed to happen.
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by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise.
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The film was written and directed by T. C. Christensen, (
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Alexa Rae as Cindy Hartley, Ron and Claudia's daughter.
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500:through Deseret Book and affiliated retailers.
272:1986 Cokeville Elementary School hostage crisis
266:is a 2015 drama film written & directed by
561:"'Cokeville Miracle' coming to the big screen"
276:The Cokeville Miracle: When Angels Intervene
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119:Cokeville Elementary School hostage crisis
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340:Learn how and when to remove this message
62:Learn how and when to remove this message
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661:Films directed by T. C. Christensen
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621:Crime films based on actual events
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315:too long or excessively detailed
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536:"The Cokeville Miracle Review"
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31:consists almost entirely of a
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666:2010s English-language films
311:This article's plot summary
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585:The Cokeville Miracle
518:The Cokeville Miracle
263:The Cokeville Miracle
211:5 June 2015
80:The Cokeville Miracle
671:2010s American films
636:Films set in Wyoming
496:for distribution by
40:improve the article
474:Only a Stonecutter
354:Cokeville, Wyoming
164:Tanner Christensen
74:2015 American film
44:real-world context
631:Films set in 1986
373:dead man's switch
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38:Please help
33:plot summary
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479:17 Miracles
280:Hartt Wixom
255:$ 1,348,456
174:Rob Gardner
144:Kevin Myers
125:Produced by
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605:Categories
566:2014-10-23
545:17 January
504:References
462:Production
252:Box office
231:94 minutes
215:2015-06-05
180:Production
140:Sarah Kent
138:Jasen Wade
130:Ron Tanner
107:Written by
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330:July 2024
161:Edited by
244:Language
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320:Please
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