Approaching the 50 year anniversary of the JFK assassination, from the Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet Illinois, confessed assassin James Earl Files tells the story of his role in the crime of the century. In 1989, Houston private investigator Joe West launched an independent investigation to find the true assassins of President John F. Kennedy. After three years of disappointments and dead-ends, West received a tip from an unexpected source: an FBI agent who asked to remain nameless. The tip led Joe West to the Stateville Correctional Center at Joliet, Illinois, and a prisoner by the name of James E. Files. Files, who was serving time for attempted murder of an Illinois police officer, was at first, very reluctant to talk. Slowly and meticulously West established a relationship with Files. Through months of personal visits and detailed correspondence, Files began to reveal his participation in the JFK assassination. Files was nearing a full confession when West became ill and suddenly passed away in 1993. It took 13 months after Joe's death, but on March 22, 1994, associates of West's videotaped an interview with Files. It was during this interview that Files first confessed to being the shooter on the infamous "grassy Knoll" located in Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963 and that it was he who delivered the final, fatal shot to JFK's right temple. He also implicated organized crime members Charles Nicoletti, Johnny Roselli and Sam Giancana, who all had been murdered in the 1970's. For the next two frustrating years, attempts were made to bring the interview to the public. This finally led to an agreement for a nationwide TV program. As the program was being prepared for broadcast a consultant became involved. Based on his input the program was cancelled for reasons that have since been proven to be untrue. Also reputable JFK researchers have confirmed that the consultant was solidly connected to the Central Intelligence Agency.
