andrew thornton obituary

The bear, lovingly named Pablo Eskobear (or Cocaine Bear) was taxidermied after its autopsy and sent to Kentucky Fun Mall in Lexington for display, where you can still see it today! Strapped to his body was an Army duffel bag containing "two pistols, knives and $4,500 in cash," and close to 80 pounds of cocaine worth at least $15 million.The story of Andrew C. Thornton II was examined in Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice and in Sally Denton's The Bluegrass Conspiracy. Thornton owned an isolated farm in Jessamine County, Kentucky, that he called Triad, which he surrounded with barbed wire, barracks, and trenches. He was a philosophical, incredibly disciplined, extremely spiritual, and loyal warrior, with his own code of ethics, who thrived on excitement.. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. If you are a fan of Andrew Thornton, tell us more about Him Andrew Thornton Fans Also Viewed. Drew was a very bright person when I met him online during a CSGO pug. Where Is He Going, The True Story of Popes Exorcist Gabriele Amorth, The Real Story Behind Netflixs Transatlantic, The True Story of the Michael Jordan Film Air, Michael Jordans Two Requests for The Movie Air, Tetris Creator Alexey Pajitnov Got No Royalties, Actors in the 1993s Super Mario Bros. Hated It, The Mandalorian Features Jar Jar Binks Actor. Robert S. Walker, a witness against Thornton in the case, was found strangled in a swamp in Tampa. Thornton had been smuggling drugs for years before his now-infamous 1985 flight. This is a carousel with slides. Andrew Thornton was born on October 28, 1972 (age 50) in England. Colin McEvoy joined the Biography.com staff in 2023, and before that had spent 16 years as a journalist, writer, and communications professional. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. He is also an avid film buff, reader, and lover of great stories. If you have a true crime case youd like to see me cover on my blog, email me at [email protected]. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. He was charged with piloting into the Lexington airport a DC4 loaded with tons of marijuana. The federal grand jury in Fresno investigated charges that Brown had thwarted the probe of the DC4 piloted by Thornton. According to a Washington Post article published at the time of his death , he was awarded a purple heart for injuries he sustained during the U.S. invasion . Search above to list available cemeteries. Thornton's life began to take several directions. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. As a policeman, Thornton would meet "with Mafia hit men from Detroit who had contracts on him," she said. He later transferred to Sawnee Military Academy. A funeral service for Robert will be held Monday, May 15, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Swan-Law Robert Valdez Sr., age 67, of Denver, Colorado passed away on Monday, April 24, 2023. On April 26, 2023 Annette Thornton Anderson passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. It would take some time before authorities could piece together exactly what happened, but in its account of Thorntons dramatic death, Time magazine noted that drug smugglers were increasingly resorting to desperate measures to evade radar technology from federal authorities. It was a quiet, partly cloudy morning when Andrew Drew Thornton II fell out of the sky and landed on a driveway in Knoxville, Tennessee, with $15 million worth of cocaine strapped to his body. THORNTON Thomas Andrew Thornton, born August 22, 1948 died of congestive heart failure on December 27, 2007. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}How Pete Davidsons Life Inspired Bupkis, Jerry Springers Surprising Stint as a Politician, 7 Memorable Guests from The Late Late Show, Tucker Carlson Leaves Fox News. A system error has occurred. Born December 27, 1948 in Radford, he was the son of the late James Isaac Thornton and Iva Annie Cressel Thornton. His death, however, makes for an interesting story on its own. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. (19 years old). The story of Thornton was examined in Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice and in Sally Denton's The Bluegrass Conspiracy. Screenwriter Jimmy Warden told USA Today that Banks opted to simply have Thornton get accidentally knocked out while departing from the plane. May you be free and happy as you watch over your friends and family. [9] Thornton was also detailed in a Discovery Channel double-length episode of The FBI Files named "Dangerous Company" in 2003. Smithfield William Bill Edmon Thornton, age 86, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Wake Medical Center in Raleigh. He also loved grilling chicken for folks and riding the grandkids on his lawn mower. Try again later. Thats right. These real-life events from 1985 were the inspiration behind the .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Elizabeth Banksdirected action-comedy movie Cocaine Bear, which hits theaters today. Son of the late Willie and Evelyn Thornton. One case among the remaining 23 indictments was dismissed; the other defendants were either convicted or became government witnesses. Ronald Keiffer Graham, age 91, of Thornton, Colorado passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023. They were divorced in 1970, and neither remarried. Hugs to you all during this difficult time. He was a "Starsky & Hutch" type of cop -- he drove fast cars, popped in and raided people. Thornton, Tom Tom Thornton, age 71, of Saranac, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, September 12, 2020. Her varied work experience included stints at Amoco, Bath Iron Works, Energy Industries, Inc. and KEDT. "They were cowboys," said a friend of both Thornton and Brown, who asked that his name not be used. Available Information : Postal address, Phone, #COM# #TYPE_COMMUNE# office fax number, Website, Email address, Mayor, Geographical coordinates, Population, Altitude, Area, Weather and Hotel. Drag images here or select from your computer for Andrew Carter Drew Thornton II memorial. When he hit the driveway on Sept. 10, shortly after abandoning a Cessna twin-engine 404 (which would crash unmanned against a mountain in North Carolina), Thornton was wearing a bulletproof vest, special night vision goggles, a Browning 9 mm automatic pistol, a .22-caliber pistol and several clips of ammunition. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. "He was a little boy who never grew up," says an FBI agent investigating his death, who asked to remain nameless. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? A search of a cabin Brown owned in Dead Horse Hollow uncovered a laboratory for manufacturing a poison that was sold on the streets as cocaine, according to Black. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. "He was a philosophical, incredibly disciplined, extremely spiritual and loyal warrior, with his own code of ethics, who thrived on excitement.". Thornton was exceedingly eccentric and paranoid, and his short life was filled with stories as bizarre and colorful as that of his death. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the Valdez Sr. family. On September 11th, 1985, Thornton was on a smuggling run from Colombia when he jumped from his autopiloted Cessna 404. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63367160/andrew-carter-thornton. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the Graham Cynthia Ruth Atencio, age 67, of Denver, Colorado passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023. cemeteries found in Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. TOM THORNTON OBITUARY. Smithfield William Bill Edmon Thornton, age 86, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Wake Medical Center in Raleigh. She is survived by her children Laurie Abeto Amagan (Marlene Cantillo) of Durham, NC; Denise Amagan Thornton (Matthew Thornton) of Austin, TX and Stephen Jay Litz (Jessica Litz) of Corpus Christi, TX; her brothers Roberto Abeto of Newberry Springs, CA; Angel Abeto and Rosario Abeto of Corpus Christi, TX; Reynaldo Abeto, Jr. of Lake Stevens, WA; Enrique Abeto and her sister Thelma Peterson of San Diego, CA; and their spouses as well as her aunt, Remedios Cybulsky (Larry Cybulsky) of Winnipeg, Canada, numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He wore camouflage fatigues and swastikas and bulletproof vests, and talked about eyes for eyes and teeth for teeth. [2], After quitting the army, Thornton joined the LexingtonFayette Urban County Police Department in 1968. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Thornton earned a Purple Heart during U.S. intervention in the Dominican Civil War in 1965, according to The Washington Post. Thornton pleaded not guilty to the charges, then proceeded to flee the state. A visitation will be held from 6-8pm on Monday, May 1st, 2023 at Seaside Funeral Home Chapel with a Rosary to be recited at 6:30pm that same evening. Bill was a godly, family man and he will be missed by all his family and friends. Obituary for Kathleen Diane Rosa. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. RICHARD THORNTON OBITUARY Thornton, Richard "Kevin" Kalamazoo Passed away Thursday April 19, 2018 at his home. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. A funeral mass will be held at 10am on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Andrew Tyler Drew Thornton, 19, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away on August 27, 2021 at his residence. The bear, for example, simply died of an overdose in real life and did not go on a bloody, murderous rampage as in the film. Other items in the garment bag included clothes and a map of Jamaica. The Cocaine Bear Drug Smuggler Was a Real Person. He was born June 11, 2002 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Highland Andrew DeHerrera passed away peacefully on January 10, 2022 at the age of 88 at his home in Denver, Colorado surrounded by his family and friends after a short illness. 1801 Baltic Avenue Virginia Beach, VA ANDREW THORNTON OBITUARY Andrew Thornton's passing has been publicly announced by Altmeyer Funeral Home - Maestas Chapel in Virginia Beach, VA. Legacy. He was a daring pilot, a master of martial arts who boasted of killing a German shepherd with his bare hands, and an expert sky diver -- famous among jumpers for "pulling low," or releasing the chute at below 2,000 feet. [11] Thornton is played by Matthew Rhys. ", In his pocket were three epigrams. According to numerology, Andrew Thornton's Life Path Number is 3. . When he eventually left the Army, he became a Lexington police officer on the narcotics task force. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Thanks for your help! [5] The plane crashed over 60mi (97km) away in Hayesville, North Carolina. She said Thornton had trouble reconciling the paradoxes of his life. This man had known Brown and Thornton for many years, had watched them go from one side of law enforcement to the other. Roberts. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. Betty Zairing says Thornton thought of himself as a purist, an innocent. based on information from your browser. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. "As a policeman, Andrew could walk the edge only so long before it became routine. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. [1], On September 11, 1985, while on a smuggling run from Colombia, Thornton and a partner jumped from his auto-piloted Cessna 404, after dumping packages of cocaine off near Blairsville, Georgia, US. A memorial service for Susie will be held Wednesday, May 24, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. After his apprehension, U.S. marshals transported Thornton to Fresno for his arraignment, where he posted $75,000 in cash and a $1 million personal surety bond, secured by his interest in three racehorses. Share. Thornton was sentenced to six months in prison, fined $500, placed on probation for five years, and had his law license suspended. In 1981, he caught public attention in a big wayby being among the 25 men in Fresno, California, who were accused of stealing weapons from the China Lake Naval Weapons Center. They further linked the Cessna to him when a garment bag was fished out of a pond 40 miles southeast of Atlanta, Georgia, which contained a pilots handbook with identifying numbers on it. Funeral arrangement under the care ofAltmeyer Funeral Homes & Crematory. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Annette will always be remembered for her tireless, unwavering strength and faith towards the recovery of her beloved eldest daughter Gaynor. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). He was charged with piloting into the Lexington. Investigators were able to link Thornton to the Cessna when they found the planes keys in his pockets. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. "We both realized it wasn't a life I felt comfortable with." She was preceded in death by her parents, Reynaldo and Esperanza Abeto, her sister Teresita Dimalanta, and her husband, James Stephen Litz. Resend Activation Email. He considers it almost reasonable, suggesting that neither ever left the DEA but became smugglers to better infiltrate narcotics organizations. He. Annette was an early Volunteer for the Foundation of Hearing and Speech. I have so many fond memories staying up till the early AMs of the morning be it winning, losing, raging, or laughing. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. She was a university coed, a beauty from Shelby County. Clark was born to Steve and Ellen Thornton on September 10, 1986, in Winter Haven. August 27, 2021 He bailed out of his aircraft and died on impact after his parachute failed to open. He is the author of two true crime books: Love Me or Else and Fatal Jealousy. Robert L. Williams' Cowboys Caravan looks into the death of his son David, and his skydiving relationship with Drew Thornton. Pictured above is Pablo Eskobear, or Cocaine Bear", on display at Kentucky Fun Mall. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Drew and I spent a lot of time playing video games with each other. Mother of three, avid golfer, tennis player, and global traveler, Lourdes Ludie Abeto Litz was the eldest daughter of eight born in Manila, Philippines. She was born February 15, 1935 to Mary Meehl Thornton and William Littleton Thornton, Sr. She attended Cathedral of St. Paul Elementary School, John Carroll High School and graduated from The University of Alabama where she was a member of the Phi Mu sorority. Bill enjoyed cutting grass and would make sure that elders in the community had their yards mowed. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. Thirteen floral arrangements decorated the rural cemetery, including one from the deceased's most recent girlfriend, signed, "I will always love you, Rebecca.". Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. How Thornton would have felt about his untimely death and less-than-flattering portrayal in Cocaine Bear is anybodys guess. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Andrew Carter Drew Thornton II I found on Findagrave.com. Soon after graduation, Annette and John Franklin Anderson (Jack) married. Failed to delete flower. [7], Three months later, a dead black bear, later known as the Cocaine Bear, that had apparently overdosed on cocaine dropped by Thornton, was found in the Chattahoochee National Forest.[8]. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Thornton, Andrew Charles Milan, MI Infant son of Angie and Ron Thornton passed on Tuesday, October 14th. Warden said, Its quicker and more efficient to tell the story if the guy just hits his head and passes out. "There was absolutely nothing startling about Andrew's youth that would be a prologue to the current circumstances. Bill was a member and a deacon at the Pine Level Pentecostal Holiness Church for many years, he loved serving his Lord and he always told people about his Savior. Failed to report flower. Select boxes below to reduce the number of results. Try again later. Early life, education and military[edit] Andrew Carter Thornton II was born on October 30, 1944, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. In the midst of the Chattahoochie National Forest, a 175 pound black bear was found dead. Harold Slone, a Lexington attorney who recently pleaded guilty to federal income tax violations and mail fraud -- an old friend and law partner of Thornton's -- was there. ", A fellow police officer describes Thornton as an "edge walker" -- a thrill seeker motivated by danger. We are sad to announce that on August 27, 2021 we had to say goodbye to Andrew Tyler Thornton (Virginia Beach, Virginia), born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He had served six months in prison for allegedly piloting an airplane with a half-ton of marijuana aboard from South America to Kentucky in 1979 as part of a drug- and gun-importing and distribution ring. Sorry I could not be there in person. "Andrew always made sure I had whatever I needed.". THORNTON, Rosemary Rosemary Jeanette Taylor Thornton was called to her Lord and Savior on Sunday, January 23, 2022, after sharing her love and life with God, her family, and friends for over 97. "He Thornton was very fond of the words of the Oriental philosopher who said, 'Man can overcome any obstacle if he knows in his heart that he must and in his mind that he shall,' " the Rev. Andrew Tyler Thornton Obituary We are sad to announce that on August 27, 2021 we had to say goodbye to Andrew Tyler Thornton (Virginia Beach, Virginia), born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He had with him survival gear, a stiletto, $4,500 in cash, six gold Krugerrands, food rations and vitamins, a compass, an altimeter, identification papers in two different names, a membership card to the Miami Jockey Club and the key to the airplane. Before he was found dead in the driveway at a Knoxville, Tennessee home in 1985, Lexington, Kentucky native Andrew "Drew" Thornton was an army veteran, police officer, and an attorney. Saint-Martin-d'Hres, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France Lat Long Coordinates Info. They were lifelong friends; they traveled in the same social circles and attended the Sewanee Military Academy together. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Sign up for service and obituary updates. He was a quick learner, great athlete, and talented guitar player. His body was found laying next to his reserve parachute with his main parachute unopened. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. They were paying their last respects to Andrew Carter Thornton II, who had single-handedly summed up the dark side of the American dream, or at least the Kentucky version of it, when he landed on a Knoxville, Tenn., driveway with several million dollars worth of cocaine strapped to his waist and a failed parachute strapped to his back. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Plant Memorial Trees Opens send flowers url in a new window Saint-Martin-d'Hres : Saint-Martin-d'Hres Localisation : Country France, Region Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, Department Isre. Hey, welcome to my blog, History of Murder! Mary and Jim Horn married on May 6, 1967 settling first in Dallas and . Try again. All Rights Reserved. In Bryant's possession at the time of his arrest was a cache of semiautomatic weapons, disguises, more than 10 fraudulent Kentucky driver's licenses and $22,000 in cash. She was an avid Alabama football fan and rarely missed a game. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Sally Ann Denton, a former TV and wire service reporter, covered part of the Thornton story in Kentucky. This poor, unsuspecting bear stumbled upon 88 pounds of cocaine that had been dropped by Thornton during his freefall. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. GREAT NEWS! To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. When Betty Zairing met Thornton, he was training racehorses and thinking of becoming a policeman. Thornton replied, she remembers, that he meditated regularly, at which time he entered a world beyond good and evil. He was born June 11, 2002 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Thornton was one of nine Kentucky men named in that indictment, which was handed down amid hints that a larger drug-smuggling conspiracy existed. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the Atencio family. He attended Florida State University and was a devoted Seminoles fan. "He was a trained warrior -- a very efficient killer trained by the U.S. government," she says. With Drew gone I feel like Im missing the fun I used to have and game less often. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. He became a member of the Lexington Police Department's narcotics squad in the early 1970s and worked on narcotics investigations with the Louisville office of the Drug Enforcement Administration. He returned to school for a year in 1966 but dropped out and trained racehorses for his father. Now, this should be the end of Thorntons story; however, there was another incident three months later that linked all the way back to him. Oops, we were unable to send the email. We have set your language to He worked for his father, training racehorses, before joining the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police Department in 1968. [3][failed verification], After resigning from the police in 1977, Thornton practiced law in Lexington. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. [1] He was sentenced to six months in prison, fined $500, placed on probation for five years, and had his law license suspended. The mourners, by most accounts, made up a Who's Who in Kentucky aristocracy, a crowd of lawyers, socialites and politicians. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ludie Litz Scholarship Fund. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. In 1977 Bryant formed a private security company called Executive Protection Ltd. There was an error deleting this problem. Within days of his arrest, several federal agencies joined the investigation, and a few months later 25 individuals were indicted in Fresno, Calif., and charged with conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana and to steal government property from the China Lake Naval Base. "I never saw any indication of innate motivation for his life on the razor's edge," Prichard says. Ryan Moore horse jockey. With any interaction with Ludie you realized what a true zest for life she had and an abundant love of family. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. A secretary for Threave Main Stud said Thornton's parents are "burned out on talking to the press" and had nothing more to add. 1801 Baltic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. You will never be forgotten. Thornton was arrested as a fugitive in North Carolina, where he had fled to. Andrew Carter Thornton II was born on October 30th, 1944. Cliff Pike of the tiny Episcopal church in Paris, Ky., said in his eulogy. The service will be available to all others via livestream and recorded via a link here for future viewing. See other industries within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector: Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services , Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services , Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services , Computer Systems Design and Related Services , Legal Services , Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services , Other . Make sure that the file is a photo. Commander Dr. O.W. "He went out like an eagle scout," Zairing says of Thornton's death. Says former DEA agent Larry Lakin: "DEA worked with Drew on many occasions in narcotics, and sometimes on a weekly basis." Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. I know youre all beautiful people. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Get directions to Avenue Benot Frachon, 107 and view details like the building's postal code, description, photos, and reviews on each business in the building One read: "There is only one tactical principle not subject to change: it is to inflict the maximum amount of wounds, death and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time.".

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