The Cokeville Miracle

In May 1986, the peaceful environment of Cokeville is disrupted as local cop Ron Hartley struggles with his faith. His experiences with unimaginable violence leave him doubting the existence of a just God, prompting him to stop attending church with his family, much to the distress of his wife and children.

Meanwhile, in Tucson, Arizona, former town marshal David Young concocts a sinister plot. After testing a homemade bomb on an old bus, which he successfully obliterates, he shares his grim triumph with his second wife, Doris, and begins plotting an even more devastating act.

David Young, along with Doris and his daughter Penny, returns to Cokeville to gather supplies for his malevolent mission. He recruits two accomplices, Gerald Deppe and Doyle Mendenhall, further solidifying his plan to hold the local elementary school hostage.

With Ron Hartley absent from town, David Young and his accomplices invade the local elementary school. Young boldly announces his intent to take the school hostage, claiming he has found a way to cheat death and create a new world where he can reign supreme.

Amid the chaos, Penny Young begins to wrestle with the moral implications of her father's actions. Overwhelmed by guilt, she decides to defy him, commandeering the van and racing to town hall to obtain help from authorities and the two accomplices left behind.

Inside the school, David Young tightly controls Room 4 where he has his hostages, including Ron Hartley’s children, Cindy and Jason. He reveals the bomb's deadly configuration, threatening to detonate it if he perceives any danger or attempts at escape.

As news of the hostage crisis spreads, anxious parents and emergency responders gather outside, expressing their fear and despair. Unknown to them, Ron Hartley is racing back to the scene, questioning the very nature of this tragedy and the existence of a higher power.

As time passes, gas from the bomb fills the area, increasing the tension inside the classroom. In a desperate attempt to create a safer environment, teachers convince David Young to permit the opening of doors and windows, hoping for better ventilation.

Tragedy strikes when Doris inadvertently triggers the bomb's ignition while Young is distracted in the bathroom. A massive explosion engulfs the room, leading to chaos as flames and shrapnel threaten the lives of all inside.

Following the disaster, Cindy and Jason Hartley experience emotional and physical scars from the incident. During their recovery, Jason shares a profound experience of seeing figures in white during the chaos, leading the family to ponder the meaning behind it.

Perplexed by Jason's near-spiritual experience, Ron begins a quest for understanding. He speaks with families who also claim encounters with their deceased loved ones prior to the tragedy, noting the eerie similarities among the stories.

As investigators analyze the explosion, they present details that challenge the beliefs of many, including Ron. Odd occurrences, such as wires detaching before the detonation, offer an account of survival, further muddling Ron's sense of reality.

Despite the overwhelming evidence of unexplained events, Ron battles his doubts and resentments. His son Jason draws him back to church, where a sermon reminds him that embracing hatred is futile, paving the way for Ron to seek forgiveness and a path to compassion.

As Ron immerses himself in the healing journey, he begins to reconcile with his emotional turmoil. The path toward redemption and family unity becomes clearer as he turns towards God and seeks understanding of the traumatic events they endured.