The investigation took nearly two years to complete. Did byrnes have a drak motive? Or was it simply an accident? Official reports are oddly ambiguous , but what they do not explain, gossip does.rumors had it that there was tension between the men because Byrnes suspected the other two of being involved with his young wife.there is liltle doubt that he,like the other operators, knew ezactly what would happen when he yanked the controld rod.