Thomas Thornton Obituary (2008) - New Orleans, LA - The Times-Picayune Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Please reset your password. Avenue Benot Frachon, 107, SaintMartind Heres Yandex Maps The service will be available to all others via livestream and recorded via a link here for future viewing. 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, [3][failed verification], After resigning from the police in 1977, Thornton practiced law in Lexington. How Pete Davidsons Life Inspired Bupkis, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Pictured above is Pablo Eskobear, or Cocaine Bear", on display at Kentucky Fun Mall. [1] He was sentenced to six months in prison, fined $500, placed on probation for five years, and had his law license suspended. **In either case, please reference that the donation is being made towards the Ludie Litz Scholarship Fund**, Never allow the sun to set on an angry heart; instead live, laugh, love as if each day were your last.. His death, however, makes for an interesting story on its own. Ryan Moore horse jockey. Select boxes below to reduce the number of results. 1801 Baltic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. 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. 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. [5] The plane crashed over 60mi (97km) away in Hayesville, North Carolina. 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. "He would have loved the concept of the warriors who fall from the sky.". Ralph Ross, a retired Kentucky State Police officer formerly in charge of the state's intelligence division. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. He wore camouflage fatigues and swastikas and bulletproof vests, and talked about eyes for eyes and teeth for teeth. Sorry I could not be there in person. They Lived their 57 year marriage until his passing in 2016. an adventurer driven by adrenaline rushes" who became bored with being a cop. His problems began in 1981, with the arrest of one of his aristocratic connections, Bradley Bryant. Shirley Lou Brown, age 95, of Broomfield, Colorado passed away on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. He had the usual quotient of decency, fun-loving mischief. How Thornton would have felt about his untimely death and less-than-flattering portrayal in Cocaine Bear is anybodys guess. His rivals don't share this romanticized version. ", A fellow police officer describes Thornton as an "edge walker" -- a thrill seeker motivated by danger. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Roger Thornton and paternal aunt, Rebecca Stone (Thornton). Learn more about managing a memorial . During his time with the police, Thornton took night classes at the University of Kentucky College of Law, earning a law degree in 1976. Andrew C. Thornton II - Wikipedia She was born February 15, 1935 to Mary Meehl Thornton and William Littleton Thornton, Sr. That film takes its fair share of liberties with the truth. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. June 11, 2002 - "He loved me," she says, "but he resented having a wife." "He was a philosophical, incredibly disciplined, extremely spiritual and loyal warrior, with his own code of ethics, who thrived on excitement.". A visitation will be held from 6-8pm on Monday, May 1st,. You will never be forgotten. She was a lifelong devout member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. 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. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. He participated in the 1965 U.S. invasion of the Dominican Republic and received a Purple Heart for his service. Saint-Martin-d'Hres : Saint-Martin-d'Hres Localisation : Country France, Region Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, Department Isre. When he graduated, he joined the Army, where he became a paratrooper. He returned to school for a year in 1966 but dropped out and trained racehorses for his father. MINMAXMEDICAL Company Profile - Dun & Bradstreet Roberts. At night, he attended Eastern Kentucky University and in 1971 received a degree in law enforcement. The irony is lost on him. Please try again later. [2], After quitting the army, Thornton joined the LexingtonFayette Urban County Police Department in 1968. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Parrish & Underwood Funeral Homes and Cremations. There was an error deleting this problem. Church at 112 E Blanche St, Pine Level, NC 27568. Add to your scrapbook. Drew was a talented gamer he always was kind and nice to me I remember we created our 10 man called Lads 10 mans and those days were very fun I hope he finds peace and to his family as well I am very sorry for youre loss drew was a amazing young man. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Delma Ray Thornton, and Bernice Thornton; sisters, Faye Pope, and Edith Britt. Write your message of sympathy today. Failed to report flower. The bag that had carried the cocaine becomes the focus of a mystery roughly 30 years later. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Andrew Carter Drew Thornton II I found on Findagrave.com. Andrew was the son of Alferino and Secundina DeHerrera from Roy, New Mexico. When asked about the incident involving Thornton, a DEA agent at the time was quoted as saying, there was cocaine literally falling from the sky. Duffel bags containing 220 pounds of 95% pure cocaine was still being recovered in Georgia after Thorntons death. "I never saw any indication of innate motivation for his life on the razor's edge," Prichard says. They were also accused of conspiring to smuggle 1,000 pounds of marijuana into the United States. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Brother of Gerald Hazen Thornton; Wanita Mary Schriver; Jacqueline Thornton and Ronald Thornton. 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. Mark Thornton Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information - Legacy.com Donald "Don" Thornton, Age 69 of Pulaski, Virginia died Tuesday, May 29, 2018 due to a tractor accident at his home. [9] Thornton was also detailed in a Discovery Channel double-length episode of The FBI Files named "Dangerous Company" in 2003. He was 40 when he died. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Immediate Family: Son of James Murray Thornton and Willa Mae 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. He is also survived by many uncles, aunts and cousins. "We both realized it wasn't a life I felt comfortable with." He made a second stab at college in 1966 but dropped out after a year. 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. Andrew Thornton Obituary (1939 - 2022) - Sacramento, CA - The Sacramento Bee Andrew "Sonny" Thornton Jr. May 4, 1939 - December 16, 2022 Sacramento, California - Andrew "Sonny" Thornton. She was a member of St. Andrew by the Sea Catholic Church, Corpus Christi Tennis Association (CCTA), Corpus Christi Womens Golf Association (CCWGA) and the Shriners Club. Thornton remained a fugitive for several months. Love you. Annette Anderson Obituary - Birmingham, AL The .38-caliber "wadcutter" bullets didn't penetrate his bulletproof vest. There is no photo or video of Andrew Tyler Thornton.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. Thirteen floral arrangements decorated the rural cemetery, including one from the deceased's most recent girlfriend, signed, "I will always love you, Rebecca.". 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. [10] The beginning of episode one features a flashback to 1983 in which a man falls to his death, parachute still attached, with bricks of cocaine scattered around his body. 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! Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. 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. Perhaps more than anyone, Thornton would have appreciated the absurdity of his death. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the Atencio family. Mary moved to Dallas, Texas in 1965 to become a flight attendant for Braniff Airlines. James "Jim" Hope Thornton Obituary - Courier-Journal He competed at high levels of competition in several of these areas. Andrew DeHerrera Obituary - Thornton, CO - Dignity Memorial 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.". Andrew Thornton was born on October 28, 1972 (age 50) in England. cemeteries found in Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Thornton earned a Purple Heart during U.S. intervention in the Dominican Civil War in 1965, according to The Washington Post. Thornton consistently maintained that nothing illegal occurred on his farm. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. ", In his pocket were three epigrams. A funeral mass will be held at 10am on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. She is survived by brother Patrick Anthony Thornton (Ann), her daughter Kathryn Gaynor Anderson Porter, her son Edward Thornton Anderson (Blair) and her daughter Virginia Littleton Anderson Stone (Tim) She is also survived by her five cherished grandchildren; Mary Winslow Anderson, Edward Thornton Anderson, Jr., Anderson Ellis Stone, Grace Littleton Stone and step grandson Ian Patrick Stone. That was indeed Thornton's credo, according to those who knew him best. As soon as I woke up or got home I would be messaging him about playing games. 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. He was born June 11, 2002 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Early life, education and military[edit] Andrew Carter Thornton II was born on October 30, 1944, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. 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. 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. Lourdes "Ludie" Abeto Litz Obituary - Corpus Christi Caller Times ANDREW THORNTON OBITUARY. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. A celebration of life will be held for Drew on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 2pm at Altmeyer Funeral Home on Baltic Avenue in Virginia Beach, and will be limited to invited family and friends. Mr. Thornton was born in Plainfield, NJ and lived most of his life in Paris,. He regularly carried a gun, claimed to be a martial arts master, bragged about killing a German shepherd with his bare hands, and described himself as an expert at skydiving from heights of below 2,000 feet, according to The Washington Post. To use this feature, use a newer browser. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. May you be free and happy as you watch over your friends and family. He is survived by : his parents, Jim Thornton and Karen Thornton (Sabol) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; his brothers, Zachary and Ryan Thornton of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and his grandparents, Thelma Thornton (VanWyngarden) of Rustburg, Virginia, Dennis Sabol, Edwina Barton of Oxford, Anthony and Patricia Fronzaglia (Malloy) of Lynchburg. . Failed to delete memorial. 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. A secretary for Threave Main Stud said Thornton's parents are "burned out on talking to the press" and had nothing more to add. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. Family members linked to this person will appear here. The family will visit with friends one hour prior to the service beginning at 2:00 p.m. "We kept in touch," she says. A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on May 2, 2023 at 11:00 AM. Clark was born to Steve and Ellen Thornton on September 10, 1986, in Winter Haven. There is a problem with your email/password. Oops, something didn't work. The death that best summed up the contradictions of the sort of life Thornton led, all the philosophical and cultural reversals, was that of Harold Wade Brown, former head of the DEA office in Kentucky. I know youre all beautiful people. 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. Available Information : Postal address, Phone, #COM# #TYPE_COMMUNE# office fax number, Website, Email address, Mayor, Geographical coordinates, Population, Altitude, Area, Weather and Hotel. She recalls that over lunch last summer, she asked Thornton how he justified the violence, the paradoxes of his life. His body was found about 6-8 hours later in the backyard of a Knoxville, Tennessee residents house. Thats right. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Andrew Thornton (63367160)? Thornton's life began to take several directions. I have so many fond memories staying up till the early AMs of the morning be it winning, losing, raging, or laughing. Memorials may be made to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. The strange true story behind Cocaine Bear and Andrew Thornton - The Altmeyer Funeral Home - Maestas Chapel He was a quick learner, great athlete, and talented guitar player. He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years Mrs. Ruth Kennedy Thornton; daughters, Donna Capps (Wesley) of Smithfield, Gina Davis (Craig) of Smithfield, Carol Gunter (John) of Smithfield; brothers, Bryan Thornton (LaRena) of Raleigh, Jerry Thornton (Pat) of Smithfield, Glenn Thornton (Debbie) of Newton Grove; sisters, Lottie Corbett of Newton Grove and Ida Mozingo of Smithfield; grandchildren, Lara Jackson (Chris), Ryan Capps (girlfriend, Stormy Williams), Savannah Stewart, Chyann Gunter, Brooke Stewart and Alyssa Capps; great-grandchildren, Lucas Barbour, Thomas Jackson, Andrew Jackson and Pas little girl, Makenna Jackson; many nieces and nephews as well as extended family, Shauna Lee (Kelvin), Antonio Blake, Janet and Madelyn Johnson, Jacey Velazquez, Tonia Puckett, Mataya Grimes and Joaquin Trejo. Clark Andrew Thornton died April 15, 2016, surrounded by his family. Managed by: Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Surviving are his parents, Jim and Karen (Sabol) Thornton of Virginia Beach, Virginia; brothers, Zachary and Ryan Thornton of Virginia Beach, Virginia; paternal grandmother, Thelma (VanWyngarden) Thornton of Rustburg, Virginia; maternal grandparents, Dennis Sabol and Edwina Barton of Oxford, North Carolina and Anthony and Patricia (Malloy) Fronzaglia of Lynchburg, Virginia and many uncles, aunts and cousins. This poor, unsuspecting bear stumbled upon 88 pounds of cocaine that had been dropped by Thornton during his freefall. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. There was a problem getting your location. He attended a prestigious private school in his youth and joined a military academy to become a paratrooper, as reported by The Liberator. He was born in Lebanon, KY to Bertha and Andrew Thornton on December 8th, 1927. What wonderful stories each shared of Drews talents, kindness and life during the service. 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. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Andrew Thornton-Wife, Movie, Linkedin, Partner, Obituary, - in4fp.com According to numerology, Andrew Thornton's Life Path Number is 3. . 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. Andrew "Drew" Thornton was also detailed in a Discovery Channel double-length episode of "The FBI Files" named "Dangerous Company" in 2003. She was preceded in death by her parents, Reynaldo and Esperanza Abeto, her sister Teresita Dimalanta, and her husband, James Stephen Litz. 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. .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. OBITUARY Annette Thornton Anderson February 15, 1935 - April 26, 2023 IN THE CARE OF Johns-Ridout's Funeral Parlors On April 26, 2023 Annette Thornton Anderson passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. Ludie believed inherently in the impact of giving back to the community and volunteered at Christus Spohn South and Driscoll Childrens Hospital. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. When police searched Thornton's Lexington town house last month, similar exotic poisons and explosives were among the items seized, including ether, nicotine, sodium and ammonium nitrate, and tear gas. [2] He took night classes at Eastern Kentucky University and graduated with a degree in law enforcement in 1971. He was born June 11, 2002 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Obituary | William "Bill" Edmon Thornton of Smithfield, North Carolina Thanks for your help! When he eventually left the Army, he became a Lexington police officer on the narcotics task force. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. He considers it almost reasonable, suggesting that neither ever left the DEA but became smugglers to better infiltrate narcotics organizations. Sign up for service and obituary updates. He was brought back to Fresno, where he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor drug charge and the felony charges against him were dropped. Thornton apparently got caught in his parachute and began to freefall. Bryant initially told police he was involved in a clandestine CIA assignment. The affiliation between Thornton and the DEA intrigues cops who try to understand Thornton's shift from narc to drug smuggler. He was predeceased by : his grandfather Roger Thornton; and his aunt Rebecca Stone (Thornton). Carmen Marine Kreutzer, age 79, of Commerce City, Colorado passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Thornton had been smuggling drugs for years before his now-infamous 1985 flight. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. 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. Richard Thornton Obituary (1962 - 2018) - Kalamazoo, MI - Legacy.com We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. She taught music and kindergarten for many years at Highlands Day School and will be remembered by many as "Miss Annette". RICHARD THORNTON OBITUARY Thornton, Richard "Kevin" Kalamazoo Passed away Thursday April 19, 2018 at his home. Police concluded the shooting had been staged by Thornton to persuade the California judge that his life would be endangered should he be incarcerated. (19 years old). "He was recuperating from wounds he had received in the Dominican Republic, where he had really come into his own as a paratrooper. 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. Our thoughts continue to be with you today and each day forward. 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. Others who knew him say he thrived on vengeance and murder. He told her horror stories about U.S. military operations in Vietnam, she says. Try again later. He was a "Starsky & Hutch" type of cop -- he drove fast cars, popped in and raided people. Annette is predeceased by her husband, John Franklin Anderson, her parents Mary Meehl Thornton and William Littleton Thornton, Sr., her brothers William Littleton Thornton, Jr., Thomas Joseph Thornton and James Thornton. Andrew Tyler "Drew" Thornton, 19, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away on August 27, 2021 at his residence. He told her he was of a hero consciousness, that at another time in history he would have been a Genghis Khan, a ninja or a samurai, a valorous paragon of battle. Thorntons upbringing wasnt typical of a career criminal. She was preceded in death by her parents, Reynaldo and Esperanza Abeto, her sister Teresita Dimalanta, and her husband, James Stephen Litz. Mary traveled the world with Braniff and met the love of her life on one fateful flight. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. After dropping 200 pounds of cocaine by parachute over Georgia, Thornton leapt from the aircraft over Tennessee and apparently became entangled in his own parachute. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 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. Obituary for Kathleen Diane Rosa. Thornton replied, she remembers, that he meditated regularly, at which time he entered a world beyond good and evil. Andrew Thornton II was born in 1945 in Lexington, Kentucky, to horse breeders Carter and Peggy. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. "He went out like an eagle scout," Zairing says of Thornton's death. Other items in the garment bag included clothes and a map of Jamaica. The bear ate it, overdosed, and unfortunately died. He attended Lakeland Christian School and then graduated from Lake Region High School. Commander Dr. O.W. Let others know about your loved one's death. Brown's forced resignation from the DEA in 1981 came just six months before his retirement eligibility. He returned to Kentucky to await trial, and on Feb. 27, 1982, three days before he was scheduled to appear for a hearing in Fresno, Thornton was shot twice in the chest at close range as he was leaving a Lexington restaurant. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. 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. Zairing describes Thornton as a loving, supportive and gentle husband. "He had trouble understanding that." On September 11th, 1985, Thornton was on a smuggling run from Colombia when he jumped from his autopiloted Cessna 404. September 11th: The Life & Death of Andrew C. Thornton II | by Sara Reynolds | Medium 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. She said Thornton had trouble reconciling the paradoxes of his life.