A column originally published in March and revisited on the anniversary of the 1999 crash criticizes a television series for what the author calls a "sick, romantic fantasy" of the event. The series, "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette," is accused of misrepresenting the circumstances leading to the deaths of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette, and her sister Lauren Bessette.
The author disputes the show's depiction of the final flight, stating that John F. Kennedy Jr. piloted the plane into a "graveyard spiral" after losing control shortly after takeoff over the ocean. The column asserts that the real event involved the plane dropping 1,100 feet in 14 seconds, falling at a rate of over 4,700 feet per minute, with G forces that would have made passengers aware of their impending deaths. This is contrasted with the show's portrayal of a romantic flight and a gentle descent.
Details regarding the crash scene and the recovery of the bodies are also addressed. A retired Navy diver is quoted as confirming a rumor that at least one body was severed at the torso and that JFK Jr.'s legs were never recovered. The column also mentions a rumor that Lauren Bessette's body was ejected from the plane and never found. The diver also reportedly identified a piece of scalp with blonde hair, which he was allegedly told to release.
The author alleges that the Kennedy family, led by then-Senator Ted Kennedy, orchestrated a cover-up to conceal the condition of the bodies and ensure autopsy reports and photographs of the remains did not surface. This, the column suggests, was done to preserve the JFK Jr. myth and to bolster the wrongful death lawsuit brought by Carolyn and Lauren's mother, Ann Freeman, against JFK Jr.'s estate. The Kennedys reportedly settled with Freeman for $15 million.
Ann Freeman is reported to have regretted allowing Carolyn and Lauren to be cremated with John and their ashes scattered at sea, rather than buried near her. The column attributes the decision to scatter the ashes to Caroline Kennedy's husband, Edwin Schlossberg, who is alleged in RFK Jr.'s diaries to have "bullied, bullied, bullied the shattered, grieving, mother."
The column further states that John F. Kennedy Jr. did not check the weather on the night of the flight, ignored warnings from more experienced pilots, had recently had a boot removed from a broken ankle, and was allegedly seen drinking on the tarmac. He also reportedly rejected a flight instructor's offer to accompany him on the flight. Moments before crashing, the plane allegedly came close to colliding with an American Airlines jetliner.