NO ONE AT Barron High School seemed to know exactly when the four ducked out of class on the morning of February 27, 1996. High school juniors Wonzel Crowe, Jeremy Whitman, and Jasper Stamper, and senior Saulo Rodriguez were not problem students. In fact, they were some of the highest young achievers in this rural community of about three thousand people in northwestern Wisconsin. Rodriguez reigned as the conference wrestling champion at 119 pounds and had recently placed fifth in the state meet. Stamper looked forward to improving on his school record 6-foot, 5-inch high jump during the spring track season. Crowe had earned a reputation for working hard and was being primed to take over the beef cattle farm that had been in the family for five generations.

But for some reason, the four were in a reckless party mood on that frosty winter morning. On their way to school...