Chaz started a significant research project that led him to meet Samuel Johnson Hammernut, who was nicknamed "Red" by those close to him. Hammernut's reputation was known to Chaz through old newspaper reports highlighting his involvement in harmful actions. These reports accused him of harming immigrant farmworkers and causing damage to the environment.

Through this connection, Chaz delved into the troubling history and activities of "Red," discovering a pattern of atrocities that affected vulnerable communities and the planet. This journey into Hammernut's background revealed darker aspects of his life and the broader issues of exploitation and environmental destruction.