Stuff You Should Know SYSK’s Fall True Crime Playlist: The Harvey’s Casino Bombing of 1980
Sep 26, 2025
In August 1980, a bomb weighing 1,000 pounds was delivered to Harvey's Casino, igniting a dramatic true crime saga. Hosts explore the sophisticated design of the bomb and its intricate delivery process, including ransom demands and a failed fake money drop. They introduce the mastermind behind the chaos, John Waldo Burgess Sr., and his motives rooted in gambling losses. The aftermath includes massive explosions, chaos at the casino, and the subsequent investigation that led to arrests. The story’s twists keep the suspense alive, even decades later.
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Mysterious Early-Morning Delivery
- Early on August 26, 1980, delivery men wheeled an IBM-covered machine into Harvey's second-floor offices and left quickly. Staff gathered and read a threatening ransom note pinned to the device.
Scare Tactics In The Ransom Note
- The ransom note claimed the bomb would detonate with minute movement and couldn't be defused, increasing urgency and fear. That technical-sounding language convinced authorities the device required extreme caution.
A Unique, Sophisticated Bomb
- The FBI later called the device unusually sophisticated and used it as a training model for technicians. The bomb's layered design thwarted conventional disarm attempts and shaped the response.