Military Channel's CAPTURING OSWALD Provides New Insight Into JFK's Assassination from the Men Responsible for Capturing Lee Harvey Oswald, Including Jim Leavelle - a.k.a. "The Man in the White Stetson"

SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- To mark the 50^th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, retired homicide detectives and officers from the Dallas Police Department (DPD) break their silence about the events of November 22, 1963, in the Military Channel's all-new documentary CAPTURING OSWALD. Many of them haven't spoken publicly in years about the tragic events which unfolded on that fateful day but now, for the first time ever, they come together to provide a collective, detailed account of the DPD investigation that had JFK's alleged assassin in custody within 90 minutes of the shooting. These deeply personal accounts of the tumultuous 48 hours following JFK's untimely death are the focus of CAPTURING OSWALD, a powerful one-hour documentary premiering Tuesday, November 12 at 10/9c only on the Military Channel. Co-produced by Kate Griendling, the granddaughter of Jim Leavelle, who was the detective handcuffed to Lee Harvey Oswald when Jack Ruby shot him, CAPTURING OSWALD provides unique access and a fresh perspective on the all-out manhunt for Kennedy's killer. 

"The heroism displayed by the Dallas Police Department during one of the most defining moments in our country's recent history is often overshadowed by political conspiracies," said Kevin Bennett, General Manager of Investigation Discovery and Military Channel. "CAPTURING OSWALD takes a hard look at the facts, explaining what really happened in the minutes, hours and days after Kennedy's assassination through the eyes of the local law enforcement officers on the ground and in the streets of Dallas. Without the help of modern technology, these detectives and officers were able to put into play some of the most brilliant police work our nation has ever seen, and Military Channel is honored to tell their entire side of the story for the first time."

In just 88 minutes, the Dallas Police Department had solved the crime of the century – detaining Lee Harvey Oswald. Yet, suspicions of a second gunman and possible espionage left the department's reputation tarnished. Through the collective participation of five former DPD officers and detectives essential to the manhunt, along with key eyewitnesses, experts and journalists, CAPTURING OSWALD reveals a detailed timeline of events from the first shot fired at Kennedy to the last shot fired at Oswald.

Often referred to as "The Man in the White Stetson," Jim Leavelle was handcuffed to Oswald when the suspect was unexpectedly shot and killed by Jack Ruby, amid the media chaos trying to catch a glimpse of JFK's alleged assassin. Photos from this horrific moment are etched into the collective memory of the Kennedy assassination. In an intimate interview for CAPTURING OSWALD, Leavelle recalls details of Oswald's first interrogation as well as his final moments while en route to the hospital after being shot.  He even admits to telling his captain that he thought it was a bad idea to escort Oswald through the basement and throngs of reporters, and recalls his captain's response: "If you're so concerned Jim, you escort him."

Paul McCaghren, a lieutenant assigned to the pre-planning team that was charged with securing the president's motorcade, faults several federal agencies for withholding information from the DPD —including Oswald's identity, threats he made against the United States, and the fact that his place of employment was on the parade route.

Elmer Boyd was one of the first detectives to search the Texas School Book Depository. In CAPTURING OSWALD, Boyd recalls the initial search of the depository and one officer's brief run-in with the then unknown suspect Lee Harvey Oswald.

In addition to Leavelle, McCaghren and Boyd, CAPTURING OSWALD features interviews with the following principals:

• Hugh Aynesworth, Reporter, Dallas Morning News
• Jim Ewell, Reporter (Ret.), Dallas Morning News
• John Brewer, Witness and Shoe Store Manager
• Jimmy W. Courson, Motorcycle Officer (Ret.), Dallas Police Department
• Ray Hawkins, Investigator (Ret.), Dallas Police Department
• Jack Davis, Detective (Ret.), Dallas Police Department
• Temple Bowley, Witness and Dallas Citizen
• Dave Perry, JFK Assassination Consultant
• Oliver "Buck" Revell, Associate Deputy Director (Ret.), FBI

CAPTURING OSWALD makes its world premiere debut on Military Channel on Tuesday, November 12 at 10/9c, with an encore presentation on the 50^th anniversary of the assassination, Friday, November 22 at 10/9c.

CAPTURING OSWALD is produced for Military Channel by Discovery Studios with Kate Griendling and Alan Martin as writers and co-producers, and Michael Masland as executive producer. For Military Channel, Max Culhane is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is group president.

About Discovery Studios
Discovery Studios is the full-service production house within Discovery Communications, the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 2 billion cumulative subscribers in over 220 countries and territories. Discovery Studios is dedicated to satisfying curiosity by developing and producing innovative, high-quality original programming in any format on any platform. For more information visit: http://discoverystudios.com/

About Military Channel

The Military Channel brings viewers compelling, real-world stories of valor, heroism, and courage from pivotal moments in American history, whether they were on the battlefield, in popular culture, or behind closed doors. Currently available in more than 62 million homes, the network incorporates the best state-of-the-art CGI animation, never-before-seen footage, and gripping interviews to offer in-depth explorations of the armed forces as well as seminal world events and iconic figures that shaped our nation's history, including the Cold War, the struggle for Civil Rights, and the Space Race. For more information, please visit Military.Discovery.com, facebook.com/Military, or twitter.com/MilitaryChannel. Military Channel is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 218 countries and territories.

Please visit the Press Website at http://press.discovery.com/us/mil for additional press materials, online screeners, and photography.

SOURCE Military Channel