He competed at high levels of competition in several of these areas. May you be free and happy as you watch over your friends and family. "He had trouble understanding that." All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. To enemies, he was ruthless, egotistical, amoral -- driven by an ego so fragile he overcompensated with machismo. Memorials may be made to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. 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. His death also served as the inspiration for the story arc of season four of FX Network's Justified. He was 40 when he died. 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. 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. This is a carousel with slides. MINMAXMEDICAL Company Profile - Dun & Bradstreet "He was a little boy who never grew up," says an FBI agent investigating his death, who asked to remain nameless. Drew was a lifeguard, pharmacy tech student, pro-level gamer, volleyball player, and talented pool player. He attended Lakeland Christian School and then graduated from Lake Region High School. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Obituary | William "Bill" Edmon Thornton of Smithfield, North Carolina Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. She is a private investigator in Washington. During his time with the police, Thornton took night classes at the University of Kentucky College of Law, earning a law degree in 1976. 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. 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. The bag that had carried the cocaine becomes the focus of a mystery roughly 30 years later. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? A visitation for Carmen will be held Thursday, May 4, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Olinger Patricia Aka Reynoso Mejia, Petra Reynoso, age 79, of Thornton, Colorado passed away on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. She was an avid Alabama football fan and rarely missed a game. "Cocaine-Carrying Chutist Was Ex-Policeman, Lawyer", "Woman to Go on Trial As Smuggler's Helper", "NTSB Accident Report Identification: ATL85LA273", "Cocaine Bear: The True Story Behind the Ultimate Party Animal", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andrew_C._Thornton_II&oldid=1151568992, This page was last edited on 24 April 2023, at 21:27. Drag images here or select from your computer for Andrew Carter Drew Thornton II memorial. September 11th: The Life & Death of Andrew C. Thornton II This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Andrew Carter Thornton II was born on October 30, 1944, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. [9] Thornton was also detailed in a Discovery Channel double-length episode of The FBI Files named "Dangerous Company" in 2003. There is a problem with your email/password. Andrew Carter Thornton II (ACT II) is a name unknown to most except as a piece of historical trivia - the man who fell from the sky in 1985 with millions of dollars of cocaine strapped to his body. The service will be available to all others via livestream and recorded via a link here for future viewing. Richard Thornton Obituary (1962 - 2018) - Kalamazoo, MI - Legacy.com How Pete Davidsons Life Inspired Bupkis, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Thomas Thornton Obituary (2008) - New Orleans, LA - The Times-Picayune Drew was a lifeguard, pharmacy tech student, pro-level gamer, volleyball player, and talented pool player. 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. Andrew Carter Thornton (1917-2010) - Find a Grave Memorial In 1977 Bryant formed a private security company called Executive Protection Ltd. The Cocaine Bear Drug Smuggler Was a Real Person. Thornton was sentenced to six months in prison, fined $500, placed on probation for five years, and had his law license suspended. [1] He pled no contest in Fresno to a misdemeanor drug charge and the felony charges were dropped. The affiliation between Thornton and the DEA intrigues cops who try to understand Thornton's shift from narc to drug smuggler. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Their association began in the early 1970s when Thornton worked closely with the DEA. The latitude of Saint-Martin-d'Hres, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France is 45.167198, and the longitude is 5.765300.Saint-Martin-d'Hres, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France is located at France country in the Towns place category with the gps coordinates of 45 10' 1.9128'' N and 5 45' 55.0800'' E. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Andrew Thornton Obituary (2003) - Milan, MI - Ann Arbor News He was wearing night vision goggles, a bulletproof vest, and Gucci loafers. I hope he got a hell of a high out of that [cocaine].. [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. Our thoughts continue to be with you today and each day forward. Unfortunately, theres hardly anything else known about Andrew C. Thornton II from 1981 until 1985 at the time of his death. Thornton, Andrew Charles Milan, MI Infant son of Angie and Ron Thornton passed on Tuesday, October 14th. Avenue Benot Frachon, 107, SaintMartind Heres Yandex Maps Thornton was one of nine Kentucky men named in that indictment, which was handed down amid hints that a larger drug-smuggling conspiracy existed. Try again later. Andrew and Bertha moved their young family to the Louisville, KY area where Jim lived most of his life. Thornton remained a fugitive for several months. The Dignity Memorial online obituary search tool gives you access to obituaries from thousands of locations across North America. 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. Thornton, CO Obituaries Online | Find Thornton Obituaries Thornton earned a Purple Heart during U.S. intervention in the Dominican Civil War in 1965, according to The Washington Post. Would you like to offer Andrew Tyler Thorntons loved ones a condolence message? He participated in the 1965 U.S. invasion of the Dominican Republic and received a Purple Heart for his service. ). Make sure that the file is a photo. He made a second stab at college in 1966 but dropped out after a year. 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 . He later transferred to Sawnee Military Academy. Verify and try again. While awaiting trial in 1982 on his criminal charges, Thornton was shot twice in the chest at close range while leaving a restaurant in Lexington. 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. This poor, unsuspecting bear stumbled upon 88 pounds of cocaine that had been dropped by Thornton during his freefall. 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. Nearby cities and villages : Grenoble, Gires and Poisat. Thornton subscribed to a code of independence; his society was one in which individuals perfected their survival skills through self-defense. [1] Thornton left California after pleading not guilty and was arrested as a fugitive in North Carolina, wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a pistol. 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. ", A fellow police officer describes Thornton as an "edge walker" -- a thrill seeker motivated by danger. Thornton's life began to take several directions. A private burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery. There is no photo or video of Andrew Tyler Thornton.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. Andrew Tyler "Drew" Thornton - Altmeyer Funeral Homes & Crematory She recalls that over lunch last summer, she asked Thornton how he justified the violence, the paradoxes of his life. Drew Thornton's Last Adventure - The Washington Post His body was found about 6-8 hours later in the backyard of a Knoxville, Tennessee residents house. Thats right. 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. Says former DEA agent Larry Lakin: "DEA worked with Drew on many occasions in narcotics, and sometimes on a weekly basis." Member of "The Company" SmugglerUS Army VeteranFormer Lexington, KY Police/Narcotics OfficerConvict (Convicted on conspiracy to import marijuana)Military Decorations:Parachutist Badge (Jump Wings)National Defense Service MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalPurple Heart (1965 Operation Power Pack)Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster with V-device for service in the line of duty in the Dominican RepublicHe was killed while parachuting from a Cessna Air Aircraft. The cause of death? Funeral arrangement under the care ofAltmeyer Funeral Homes & Crematory. 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, January 14, 1937, in Sampson County, he was a son of the late Ivy Edmond Thornton and Anniebelle Jackson 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. Gene Berry, a Florida state's attorney, was murdered at point blank range Jan. 16, 1982, when he opened the door to his Punta Gorda residence; he had successfully prosecuted one of Thornton's Fresno codefendants. Tom Thornton Obituary (2020) - Grand Rapids, MI - Grand Rapids Press [2], After quitting the army, Thornton joined the LexingtonFayette Urban County Police Department in 1968. Failed to delete flower. "He was recuperating from wounds he had received in the Dominican Republic, where he had really come into his own as a paratrooper. At night, he attended Eastern Kentucky University and in 1971 received a degree in law enforcement. Generous Blessings be upon you all. But there are some who feel it was the most appropriate way for him to go. 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. Rosemary Thornton Obituary (1924 - 2022) - Dallas, TX 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 Bill was a godly, family man and he will be missed by all his family and friends. Kathleen Diane Rosa, age 67, of Thornton, Colorado passed away on Monday, April 24, 2023. Drew and I spent a lot of time playing video games with each other. When Betty Zairing met Thornton, he was training racehorses and thinking of becoming a policeman. 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. Ryan Moore horse jockey. Share. Oops, something didn't work. Parrish & Underwood Funeral Homes and Cremations. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 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. Ralph Ross, a retired Kentucky State Police officer formerly in charge of the state's intelligence division. 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. August 27, 2021 He is preceded in death by his brothers, Delma Ray Thornton, and Bernice Thornton; sisters, Faye Pope, and Edith Britt. Kentucky State Police repeatedly surveilled it in response to reports of guerilla warfare training for mercenaries, though Thornon denied any such activity. He was born June 11, 2002 in Lynchburg, Virginia. 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. When he graduated, he joined the Army, where he became a paratrooper. Like Thornton, Bryant was a native son of the horsy set, the grandson of a Lexington mayor. Obituary for Kathleen Diane Rosa. 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. [11] Thornton is played by Matthew Rhys. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Thorntons upbringing wasnt typical of a career criminal. Colin McEvoy joined the Biography.com staff in 2023, and before that had spent 16 years as a journalist, writer, and communications professional. Thanks for your help! Family members linked to this person will appear here. A funeral mass will be held at 10am on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. "He loved me," she says, "but he resented having a wife." (He later joined the Lexington law firm of an old friend, Harold Slone, but he never actually practiced law.) Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the Brown family. Sorry I could not be there in person. Annette was a devoted mother and wife full of unconditional love and loyalty. There was an error deleting this problem. He was born June 11, 2002 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the Atencio family. Year should not be greater than current year. On April 26, 2023 Annette Thornton Anderson passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Andrew Carter Drew Thornton II I found on Findagrave.com. Andrew Thornton Obituary. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. His passing touched all of us deeply. [3][failed verification], After resigning from the police in 1977, Thornton practiced law in Lexington. This browser does not support getting your location. What wonderful stories each shared of Drews talents, kindness and life during the service. 1801 Baltic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. Try again later. To friends, Thornton was a man of loyalty, religious conviction, enchanting charm, keen intelligence and supreme self-confidence. 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. The family will visit with friends one hour prior to the service beginning at 2:00 p.m. He quit school to join the Army, and often often spoke of his training as a paratrooper for the Army's 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and of being awarded a Purple Heart for service in the 1965 U.S. invasion of the Dominican Republic. Zairing describes Thornton as a loving, supportive and gentle husband. "He believed he was an 'impeccable warrior,' " said Betty Zairing, Thornton's former wife, referring to a term penned by mystical author Carlos Castaneda. He competed at high levels of competition in several of these areas. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. It wasnt until a few years later, however, that he caught the publics attention. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. 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. Brown's forced resignation from the DEA in 1981 came just six months before his retirement eligibility. Thornton consistently maintained that nothing illegal occurred on his farm. 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. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Roger Thornton and paternal aunt, Rebecca Stone (Thornton). Cocaine overdose. "As a policeman, Andrew could walk the edge only so long before it became routine. Investigators found that he was carrying night-vision goggles and wearing a bulletproof vest, Time magazine reported. Husband of Evelyn W. Thornton. To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. 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 . 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.". [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]. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 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 . Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. She was a university coed, a beauty from Shelby County. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of William "Bill" Edmon Thornton, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. Mary and Jim Horn married on May 6, 1967 settling first in Dallas and . 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 attended a prestigious private school in his youth and joined a military academy to become a paratrooper, as reported by The Liberator. "We both realized it wasn't a life I felt comfortable with."