"In 1965, at age fourteen, I was a ham radio operator, WN4FKS. I built my first oscilloscope from scratch shortly afterward. I grew up in Middle Tennessee, not far from an airport. Just like Charles, I was small as a kid and my passions became airplanes and radios. When I first heard about this case in 1971, I became interested in it. In fact, it became an obsession. When I realized that many of Charles' passions paralleled mine, I began to understand why I was drawn to this case. I never bought the explanation given in 1965. People don't disappear off the face of the earth, not even Charles Rogers. Over the years I've learned to follow the behavior patterns of white collar criminals. I've always felt that Charles behaved like a person who committed a white collar crime. We followed the assets on this case. Its ripped the case wide open."

Hugh Gardenier      June 2003

     Hugh Gardenier, CPA, has 28+ years of experience in public accounting and banking. Almost all of this experience is in auditing, with much of it focused on financial fraud by individuals and corporations. Over the years he has been responsible for detecting and investigating major frauds in financial institutions, title companies, colleges, and the shipping industry. By the nature of this, his professional experience can be characterized as 20% detective, 30% accountant, and 50% psychologist. Educated at the University of Texas and the University of Houston, he has BBA and MS degrees in accounting, with a minor in government.

     Hugh is the father of two sons , a senior in college, and a 2nd Lt. in the Air Force. He was a Boy Scout leader at the both the local and district levels for many years, as well as being active in numerous other civic organizations. An avid cyclist, for several years Hugh and his sons rode in the MS150 from Houston to Austin (it's actually 170+ miles). Hugh and his oldest son are also survivors of the "Hotter 'n Hell 100" ride in Wichita Falls, Texas. Hugh has been known to enjoy web-site design and home-improvement projects. (Are laying ceramic tile floors with elaborate designs and installing glass brick walls really enjoyable projects?!)


"When Hugh began this project, I thought he was crazy. But once he convinced me to join in, I was hooked. Perhaps it was the thrill of the chase, or the legal aspects that drew me in, but I found that I truly enjoyed trying to beat Charles Rogers at his own head games. Of course, being the type of person who takes the word "no," or any other roadblock in my way, as a personal challenge, with every dead-end or denial of access to records (and there were many), I just dug in my heels and refused to give up. It was so amazing that one number on one piece of paper in the possession of the police lead us to what would have caused Charles Rogers' whole house of cards to fall in had the police pursued the clue, as well as that of several other of his cohorts. By far the best part of the investigation, though, was meeting some very wonderful and fascinating people along the way."

Martha Gardenier     June 2003

     Martha Hughes Gardenier, JD, CPA, has over 23 years of experience in auditing, real estate accounting, oil and gas accounting and taxation. She has a BBA in accounting, having attended Texas A&M University and Sam Houston State University. She has a JD from South Texas College of Law. Her legal experience has provided the knowledge and resources necessary to get the most out of records kept in the public domain. This has been pivotal when issues have been raised with respect to the Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Texas Open Records Act. Martha's enthusiasm for doing research and her passion for detail have brought new dimensions to the characters in The Ice Box Murders.

      Martha and Hugh got married in December 2001, and combined their households and four children in 2002. Martha has a daughter who is a senior in college, and a teenage son. She has been active in scouting programs with each of her children, as well as being a "Soccer Mom." Martha loves to cook (she had better love it with a teenage son in the house), and thinks Emeril is one sexy guy! Until she has the time to spend with her own hobbies, she is content to design elaborate patterns for ceramic tile floors and glass brick walls, and point out home improvement projects for other people's homes.

     Both Hugh and Martha are avid readers, with Hugh's interests gravitating toward historical nonfiction. Martha prefers great mysteries and legal thrillers, as well as some general fiction and current events. In June 2003, they started research for their next book which is about a November 1941, murder in Galveston, Texas.