andrew thornton obituary

"I never saw any indication of innate motivation for his life on the razor's edge," Prichard says. In the three years following his conviction, Thornton was sought by various jurisdictions for questioning, usually in connection with what police termed vendetta deaths -- with all the victims connected to various Thornton enterprises. My heart breaks for you Andrew and your loved ones. A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on May 2, 2023 at 11:00 AM. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. "He had trouble understanding that." "He believed he was an 'impeccable warrior,' " said Betty Zairing, Thornton's former wife, referring to a term penned by mystical author Carlos Castaneda. [1], Four years later, he was among 25 men accused in Fresno, California, in a theft of weapons from the China Lake Naval Weapons Center and of conspiring to smuggle 1,000 pounds of marijuana into the United States. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. 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. For years, Thornton pursued his avocation of preparing himself and others for Armageddon. A funeral mass will be held at 10am on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. [6] At the time of his death Thornton was wearing a bulletproof vest and expensive Italian shoes, and in possession of night vision goggles, a green army duffel bag containing approximately 35 kilograms (75lbs.) He was wearing night vision goggles, a bulletproof vest, and Gucci loafers. Andrew Carter Thornton II(October 30, 1944 - September 11, 1985) was an American narcotics officer and lawyer who became the head member of "The Company", a drug smugglingring in Kentucky. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Would you like to offer Andrew Tyler Thorntons loved ones a condolence message? Donald "Don" Thornton, Age 69 of Pulaski, Virginia died Tuesday, May 29, 2018 due to a tractor accident at his home. All Rights Reserved. Banks told USA Today she was forced to omit aspects of Thorntons life that were too wild even for this movie. Nevertheless, the character is so outrageous that when star Keri Russell first brought the script home, her husband and fellow actor Matthew Rhys read it and immediately said, Text [Elizabeth] Banks and tell her I want to play that guy.. He grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, where he attended the prestigious Sayre School. 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. Dec 19, 1953 - Oct 15, 2019. This account has been disabled. Altmeyer Funeral Home - Maestas Chapel Immediate Family: Son of James Murray Thornton and Willa Mae Thornton. [2] He took night classes at Eastern Kentucky University and graduated with a degree in law enforcement in 1971. Annette was a devoted mother and wife full of unconditional love and loyalty. To friends, Thornton was a man of loyalty, religious conviction, enchanting charm, keen intelligence and supreme self-confidence. He surrounded Triad, the isolated Jessamine County farm that he owned, with concertina wire, setting up barracks and digging trenches, according to Kentucky State Police. Brother of Gerald Hazen Thornton; Wanita Mary Schriver; Jacqueline Thornton and Ronald Thornton. Says former DEA agent Larry Lakin: "DEA worked with Drew on many occasions in narcotics, and sometimes on a weekly basis." [4] Thornton became caught in his parachute and ended up in a free fall to the ground. His body was found by 85-year-old Fred Myers, in the gravel driveway of Myers's home in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was 40 when he died. How Pete Davidsons Life Inspired Bupkis, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Love you. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. He is survived by his loving wife Cindy; children, David and Cammy Thornton, Andrew and Kate Thornton, Michael and Meghan Thornton, and Katie and Tyler VanRee; grandchildren, Kennedy, Melanie, Hailey, Claire, Brennan, Mason, Addie, Cayden, Micah, and . Please enter your email and password to sign in. Select boxes below to reduce the number of results. GREAT NEWS! Cocaine overdose. 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. All of my condolences go out to his family. For me Drew was my favorite person to spend my time with online. Available Information : Postal address, Phone, #COM# #TYPE_COMMUNE# office fax number, Website, Email address, Mayor, Geographical coordinates, Population, Altitude, Area, Weather and Hotel. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home in Selma, with the burial to follow in the Hills of the Neuse Memory Gardens in Smithfield. In some extreme cases, the crew members put the plane on automatic pilot, dump the drugs, and bail out, Times John S. Demott wrote in 1985. Andrew Thornton II was born in 1945 in Lexington, Kentucky, to horse breeders Carter and Peggy. He considers it almost reasonable, suggesting that neither ever left the DEA but became smugglers to better infiltrate narcotics organizations. Write your message of sympathy today. The man who informed Customs of Thornton's involvement with the Louisiana smuggling vessel had his throat slit in Miami. A special thanks to Paulette Clayton for her extraordinary help, devotion, and friendship for the past several years. This is a carousel with slides. He was a quick learner, great athlete, and talented guitar player. She was preceded in death by her parents, Reynaldo and Esperanza Abeto, her sister Teresita Dimalanta, and her husband, James Stephen Litz. Kathleen Diane Rosa, age 67, of Thornton, Colorado passed away on Monday, April 24, 2023. Thornton consistently maintained that nothing illegal occurred on his farm. His death also served as the inspiration for the story arc of season four of FX Network's Justified. Oops, something didn't work. Managed by: Saint-Martin-d'Hres : Saint-Martin-d'Hres Localisation : Country France, Region Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, Department Isre. "We kept in touch," she says. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. There is a problem with your email/password. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. 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. Born December 27, 1948 in Radford, he was the son of the late James Isaac Thornton and Iva Annie Cressel Thornton. He had the usual quotient of decency, fun-loving mischief. Make sure that the file is a photo. Beautiful service. Ludie believed inherently in the impact of giving back to the community and volunteered at Christus Spohn South and Driscoll Childrens Hospital. A visitation will be held from 6-8pm on Monday, May 1st,. His journey with smuggling began after he received tenure in his time working in the narcotics unit, where he became the head of a drug smuggling ring known as The Company. He later transferred to Sewanee Military Academy,[1] graduating in 1962. Thornton was one of nine Kentucky men named in that indictment, which was handed down amid hints that a larger drug-smuggling conspiracy existed. Thornton pleaded not guilty to the charges, then proceeded to flee the state. I have so many fond memories staying up till the early AMs of the morning be it winning, losing, raging, or laughing. That film takes its fair share of liberties with the truth. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Roger Thornton and paternal aunt, Rebecca Stone (Thornton). He was a loving and devoted family man and he enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids. . [1] He pled no contest in Fresno to a misdemeanor drug charge and the felony charges were dropped. Try again later. Her varied work experience included stints at Amoco, Bath Iron Works, Energy Industries, Inc. and KEDT. The plane crashes when it runs out of fuel., Thats not exactly how it goes down in Cocaine Bear, though. The .38-caliber "wadcutter" bullets didn't penetrate his bulletproof vest. Once on the ground, they locate the contraband by tuning to the radio signals from the parachuted cargo. "He was a philosophical, incredibly disciplined, extremely spiritual and loyal warrior, with his own code of ethics, who thrived on excitement.". 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. This poor, unsuspecting bear stumbled upon 88 pounds of cocaine that had been dropped by Thornton during his freefall. Colin McEvoy joined the Biography.com staff in 2023, and before that had spent 16 years as a journalist, writer, and communications professional. Mary and Jim Horn married on May 6, 1967 settling first in Dallas and . A memorial service for Grace will be held Saturday, May 13, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Olinger Robert Ray Gage Sr., age 69, of Northglenn, Colorado passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. 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. Our thoughts continue to be with you today and each day forward. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. ). In 1981, Bryant was arrested in a hotel in Philadelphia when maids smelled marijuana smoke coming from his room. Federal agents tried to trace the Cessna back to its maker; however, the company the Cessna was made at turned out to be nonexistent. You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. Police concluded the shooting had been staged by Thornton to persuade the California judge that his life would be endangered should he be incarcerated. But after U.S. Customs agents seized a 56-foot converted mine sweeper carrying 1,500 pounds of marijuana off the Louisiana coast -- and discovered that a machine gun on board belonged to Thornton -- the search intensified. He was as flamboyant in his life as he was in his death.". Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. But the ill-fated flight of ex-narcotics-officer-turned-drug-smuggler Thornton, who tossed his stash overboard before leaping from the plane, was not only a true story, but also a more absurd one even by Cocaine Bear standards. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? He also attended law school at night and received a law degree in 1976, though he never practiced law. 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. Robert Thornton Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. "They were cowboys," said a friend of both Thornton and Brown, who asked that his name not be used. Andrew was the son of Alferino and Secundina DeHerrera from Roy, New Mexico. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Investigators were able to link Thornton to the Cessna when they found the planes keys in his pockets. Drug smuggling was a natural transition for him. He worked for his father, training racehorses, before joining the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police Department in 1968. With any interaction with Ludie you realized what a true zest for life she had and an abundant love of family. Cocaine Bear plays fast and loose with a lot of facts, but the story of drug smugglers ill-fated plane trip is all too real. [2], During his tenure, he began smuggling. Try again later. Annette will always be remembered for her tireless, unwavering strength and faith towards the recovery of her beloved eldest daughter Gaynor. He was unharmed thanks to a bulletproof vest, and authorities later determined Thornton staged the shooting himself to fool the judge into believing his life would be in danger if he were imprisoned, according to The Washington Post. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. He also attended University of Kentucky Law School. Bill worked for Carolina Packers Inc. for many years and he loved their hotdogs too. 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. Robert L. Williams' Cowboys Caravan looks into the death of his son David, and his skydiving relationship with Drew Thornton. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. The bear ate it, overdosed, and unfortunately died. She graduated from Rizal High School (Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines) and Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA). Andrew Carter "Drew" Thornton II Birth 30 Oct 1944 Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA Death 11 Sep 1985 (aged 40) Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, USA Burial Paris Cemetery Paris, Bourbon County, When he graduated, he joined the Army, where he became a paratrooper. Anticipating a nuclear holocaust, he stockpiled paramilitary weapons, freeze-dried foods, gold coins. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. "As a policeman, Andrew could walk the edge only so long before it became routine. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Thornton earned a Purple Heart during U.S. intervention in the Dominican Civil War in 1965, according to The Washington Post. (He later joined the Lexington law firm of an old friend, Harold Slone, but he never actually practiced law.) He was happiest when he was on the cutting edge, when he tested himself.". On April 24th, 2023, Kathleen Diane Rosa was called home to be with her Suzanne "Susie" Marie Farnsworth, age 56, of Brighton, Colorado passed away on Sunday, April 23, 2023. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Andrew Thornton (63367160)? Share. Andrew "Drew" Thornton was also detailed in a Discovery Channel double-length episode of "The FBI Files" named "Dangerous Company" in 2003. Andrew C. Thornton II, whose life was once filled with privilege and promise, decided that now was the time to parachute from a twin-engine plane in the dead of night to smuggle the $15 . He was born June 11, 2002 in Lynchburg, Virginia. 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. There was an error deleting this problem. He will forever be missed. 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. 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. "I fell in love with him as a romantic hero," she says. After his time in the Army, Thornton became a police officer in Lexington, Kentucky, and joinedagain, somewhat ironicallythe narcotics squad in the 1970s, working on investigations with the local arm of the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to The Washington Post. They were also accused of conspiring to smuggle 1,000 pounds of marijuana into the United States. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ludie Litz Scholarship Fund. They were lifelong friends; they traveled in the same social circles and attended the Sewanee Military Academy together. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? You need a Find a Grave account to continue. "There was absolutely nothing startling about Andrew's youth that would be a prologue to the current circumstances. Clark was born to Steve and Ellen Thornton on September 10, 1986, in Winter Haven. The oldest son of Carter and Peggy Thornton (a brother and sister still live in central Kentucky), he was guaranteed induction into Kentucky's blue-blood society. .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. Born in 1944, to a well-off family and raised on a thoroughbred farm in Bourbon County, Kentucky, he joined the U.S. Army and trainedsomewhat ironicallyas a paratrooper. 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. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Thorntons Cessna 404 was discovered 60 miles away in Hayesville, North Carolina. But there are some who feel it was the most appropriate way for him to go. A system error has occurred. Bill enjoyed cutting grass and would make sure that elders in the community had their yards mowed. Born in Owatonna, Minnesota on June 28, 1945 to Mary Ann and Lt. The bag that had carried the cocaine becomes the focus of a mystery roughly 30 years later. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. He was a philosophical, incredibly disciplined, extremely spiritual, and loyal warrior, with his own code of ethics, who thrived on excitement.. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. He was carrying a green Army duffel bag containing 88 pounds of cocaine valued at $15 million, $4,500 in cash, six 0.1 ounce gold Krugerrands (a South African gold coin that accounted for 90% of the global gold coin market by 1980), knives, and two pistols. Thornton was sentenced to six months in prison, fined $500, placed on probation for five years, and had his law license suspended. E. Allen Prichard, a Charlotte, N.C., attorney who was a boyhood acquaintance of Thornton's, describes him as the son of a decent, hard-working family, who had the benefit of the finest upbringing. 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! Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Andrew Tyler Thornton to show support. Andrew Tyler "Drew" Thornton, 19, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away on August 27, 2021 at his residence. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. THORNTON Thomas Andrew Thornton, born August 22, 1948 died of congestive heart failure on December 27, 2007. A secretary for Threave Main Stud said Thornton's parents are "burned out on talking to the press" and had nothing more to add. He was born June 11, 2002 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He returned to school for a year in 1966 but dropped out and trained racehorses for his father. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Some time later, in Georgia, a black bear started chowing down on more than 70 pounds container of cocaine that had also fallen from Thorntons airplane. Youre all in my thoughts and may strength and solace be constant companions. Drew will forever be a irreplaceable memory, my best friend, and my idol. "Either side," he said, "they were working for America.". The 40-year-old died from the fall, and the plane, itself, later crashed into a mountain in western North Carolina. Who Was Andrew Thornton? Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Andrew Carter Thornton II was born on October 30, 1944, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Resend Activation Email. To enemies, he was ruthless, egotistical, amoral -- driven by an ego so fragile he overcompensated with machismo. He is the author of two true crime books: Love Me or Else and Fatal Jealousy. 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. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. "We both realized it wasn't a life I felt comfortable with." 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. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Let the family know you are thinking of them. Pallbearers are Edward Thornton Anderson, Jr., Anderson Ellis Stone, James Andrew Watson, Sr., John Slade Screven, Edward Franklin Screven, and James Odingsell Screven, III. ", A fellow police officer describes Thornton as an "edge walker" -- a thrill seeker motivated by danger. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the Valdez Sr. family. 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. Investigators found that he was carrying night-vision goggles and wearing a bulletproof vest, Time magazine reported. "They shared the same mentality, the same paranoia. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. DEA agent Robert Brightwell, who says he worked with Thornton on narcotics investigations in the early 1970s, describes him as "an 007 paramilitary type personality . Learn more about managing a memorial . He ultimately pleaded no contest to marijuana conspiracy charges, and received a six-month sentence at a minimum-security facility in Lexington; Bryant is currently serving a 15-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institute in Memphis. Andrew is also survived by his grandparents, Debbie and Bill Frick, Mark Mohler, Pam and Jim Orr, Bob Thornton and Lydia Santili; great-grandparents, Xen and Janet Lemmon; aunt, Charlotte Paisley; and his uncles, Adam Mohler and Justin Thornton. 0 cemeteries found in Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA. Thornton replied, she remembers, that he meditated regularly, at which time he entered a world beyond good and evil. Ralph Ross, a retired Kentucky State Police officer formerly in charge of the state's intelligence division.

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