Bombing of Rogers' family minivan. Nine months after the downing of Iran Air Flight 655, on March 10, 1989, Rogers' wife Sharon escaped with her life when a
pipe bomb attached to her
minivan exploded, while she was driving.
[5] The van was recorded in the name of Will Rogers III, and many people jumped to a conclusion and suspected that terrorism was involved. Five months later, the
Associated Press reported that the most likely suspect had a personal vendetta against Capt. Rogers and that the
Federal Bureau of Investigation had ruled out terrorist activity.
[15] At that time pipe bombs were a common occurrence (over 200 each year) in San Diego County and a largely homegrown threat according to the local sheriff's department.
[16] As of 2007, the bombing of Rogers' van remains an unsolved case, despite a major investigation involving at some time up to 300 police men and FBI agents.
[17] On February 17, 1993, the case was featured on the TV show
Unsolved Mysteries, but no additional information was uncovered.