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. He is also an avid film buff, reader, and lover of great stories. Death: 1992 (60-61) Place of Burial: Central Waterville, New Brunswick, Canada. Robert L. Williams' Cowboys Caravan looks into the death of his son David, and his skydiving relationship with Drew Thornton. Screenwriter Jimmy Warden told USA Today that Banks opted to simply have Thornton get accidentally knocked out while departing from the plane. Obituary | Donald "Don" Andrew Thornton of Pulaski, Virginia | Bower Thirteen floral arrangements decorated the rural cemetery, including one from the deceased's most recent girlfriend, signed, "I will always love you, Rebecca.". The bear ate it, overdosed, and unfortunately died. Who Was Andrew Thornton? 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. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63367160/andrew-carter-thornton. 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. [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. She recalls that over lunch last summer, she asked Thornton how he justified the violence, the paradoxes of his life. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Youre all in my thoughts and may strength and solace be constant companions. 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. 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. Try again later. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Nothing more and nothing less. 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. Year should not be greater than current year. He participated in the 1965 U.S. invasion of the Dominican Republic and received a Purple Heart for his service. 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'll cover a different true crime case every time I post, so be sure to follow, comment, and share if you want. You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. To enemies, he was ruthless, egotistical, amoral -- driven by an ego so fragile he overcompensated with machismo. 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. Lourdes "Ludie" Abeto Litz Obituary - Corpus Christi Caller Times Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. June 11, 2002 - Andrew Thornton Obituary (1939 - 2022) - Sacramento, CA - The [2] He took night classes at Eastern Kentucky University and graduated with a degree in law enforcement in 1971. Would you like to offer Andrew Tyler Thorntons loved ones a condolence message? 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. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Roger Thornton and paternal aunt, Rebecca Stone (Thornton). Once on the ground, they locate the contraband by tuning to the radio signals from the parachuted cargo. Rosemary Thornton Obituary (1924 - 2022) - Dallas, TX He was a quick learner, great athlete, and talented guitar player. He is also survived by many uncles, aunts and cousins. Hugs to you all during this difficult time. Thornton had been smuggling drugs for years before his now-infamous 1985 flight. "There was absolutely nothing startling about Andrew's youth that would be a prologue to the current circumstances. They weren't in it for the money alone." Managed by: He attended a prestigious private school in his youth and joined a military academy to become a paratrooper, as reported by The Liberator. ", They were married in July 1968; a month later he joined the police force. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? 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 . 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. The federal grand jury in Fresno investigated charges that Brown had thwarted the probe of the DC4 piloted by Thornton. Drew was a very bright person when I met him online during a CSGO pug. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. The plane crashes when it runs out of fuel., Thats not exactly how it goes down in Cocaine Bear, though. Oops, we were unable to send the email. 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. Andrew Thornton II was born in 1945 in Lexington, Kentucky, to horse breeders Carter and Peggy. Mary and Jim Horn married on May 6, 1967 settling first in Dallas and . Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. She was an avid Alabama football fan and rarely missed a game. Thornton was sentenced to six months in prison, fined $500, placed on probation for five years, and had his law license suspended. 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. (19 years old). The Cocaine Bear Drug Smuggler Was a Real Person. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. She said Thornton had trouble reconciling the paradoxes of his life. 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 Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the Atencio family. Warden said, Its quicker and more efficient to tell the story if the guy just hits his head and passes out. Nearby cities and villages : Grenoble, Gires and Poisat. [2], After quitting the army, Thornton joined the LexingtonFayette Urban County Police Department in 1968. Immediate Family: Son of James Murray Thornton and Willa Mae Thornton. Thornton replied, she remembers, that he meditated regularly, at which time he entered a world beyond good and evil. After graduation from Sewanee in 1962, he joined ROTC and attended one semester at the University of Kentucky. This man had known Brown and Thornton for many years, had watched them go from one side of law enforcement to the other. [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]. "He was a trained warrior -- a very efficient killer trained by the U.S. government," she says. Early life, education and military[edit] Andrew Carter Thornton II was born on October 30, 1944, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. The day of the 1985 jump, he was flying from Colombia on a Cessna 404 loaded with cocaine. Andrew Thornton Obituary (2003) - Milan, MI - Ann Arbor News 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. The irony is lost on him. RICHARD THORNTON OBITUARY Thornton, Richard "Kevin" Kalamazoo Passed away Thursday April 19, 2018 at his home. A special thanks to Paulette Clayton for her extraordinary help, devotion, and friendship for the past several years. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. This is a carousel with slides. When he eventually left the Army, he became a Lexington police officer on the narcotics task force. 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 cause of death? Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Obituary for Kathleen Diane Rosa. Ralph Ross, a retired Kentucky State Police officer formerly in charge of the state's intelligence division. Born in 1944, to a well-off family and raised on a thoroughbred farm in Bourbon County, Kentucky, he joined. He was a philosophical, incredibly disciplined, extremely spiritual, and loyal warrior, with his own code of ethics, who thrived on excitement.. Try again. Ryan Moore horse jockey. Thornton consistently maintained that nothing illegal occurred on his farm. Clark Andrew Thornton died April 15, 2016, surrounded by his family. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Clark was born to Steve and Ellen Thornton on September 10, 1986, in Winter Haven. In 1981, Bryant was arrested in a hotel in Philadelphia when maids smelled marijuana smoke coming from his room. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? GREAT NEWS! [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. Thornton owned an isolated farm in Jessamine County, Kentucky, that he called Triad, which he surrounded with barbed wire, barracks, and trenches. The 40-year-old died from the fall, and the plane, itself, later crashed into a mountain in western North Carolina. 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 later transferred to Sawnee Military Academy. "As a policeman, Andrew could walk the edge only so long before it became routine. Bill worked for Carolina Packers Inc. for many years and he loved their hotdogs too. 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. Andrew and Bertha moved their young family to the Louisville, KY area where Jim lived most of his life. "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. Share. Oops, something didn't work. Pallbearers are Edward Thornton Anderson, Jr., Anderson Ellis Stone, James Andrew Watson, Sr., John Slade Screven, Edward Franklin Screven, and James Odingsell Screven, III. Thanks for your help! Joseph Anderson Obituary - Thornton, CO - Dignity Memorial Thornton was one of nine Kentucky men named in that indictment, which was handed down amid hints that a larger drug-smuggling conspiracy existed. He was predeceased by : his grandfather Roger Thornton; and his aunt Rebecca Stone (Thornton). Obituary | William "Bill" Edmon Thornton of Smithfield, North Carolina Born December 27, 1948 in Radford, he was the son of the late James Isaac Thornton and Iva Annie Cressel Thornton. As soon as I woke up or got home I would be messaging him about playing games. There is a problem with your email/password. Andrew Carter Thornton II was born on October 30, 1944, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. They were divorced in 1970, and neither remarried. [3][failed verification], After resigning from the police in 1977, Thornton practiced law in Lexington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Born, January 14, 1937, in Sampson County, he was a son of the late Ivy Edmond Thornton and Anniebelle Jackson Thornton. I know youre all beautiful people. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Betty Zairing says Thornton thought of himself as a purist, an innocent. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. of cocaine valued at $15 million, $4,500 in cash, six 1oz (28g) gold Krugerrands, knives, and two pistols. Andrew Carter Thornton (1917-2010) - Find a Grave Memorial Search above to list available cemeteries. [5] The plane crashed over 60mi (97km) away in Hayesville, North Carolina. Bryant had been the best man at Thornton's wedding. The .38-caliber "wadcutter" bullets didn't penetrate his bulletproof vest. (He later joined the Lexington law firm of an old friend, Harold Slone, but he never actually practiced law.) "I fell in love with him as a romantic hero," she says. Resend Activation Email. 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. Thomas Thornton Obituary (2008) - New Orleans, LA - The Times-Picayune TOM THORNTON OBITUARY. Drew was a lifeguard, pharmacy tech student, pro-level gamer, volleyball player, and talented pool player. "He was a philosophical, incredibly disciplined, extremely spiritual and loyal warrior, with his own code of ethics, who thrived on excitement.". Ludie believed inherently in the impact of giving back to the community and volunteered at Christus Spohn South and Driscoll Childrens Hospital. Failed to delete flower. Brown's forced resignation from the DEA in 1981 came just six months before his retirement eligibility. May you be free and happy as you watch over your friends and family. Brother of Gerald Hazen Thornton; Wanita Mary Schriver; Jacqueline Thornton and Ronald Thornton. He also attended University of Kentucky Law School. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com Grace Anne Conway, age 78, of Westminster, Colorado passed away on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. 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. Saint-Martin-d'Hres : Saint-Martin-d'Hres Localisation : Country France, Region Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, Department Isre. Thornton attended law school at night and received his law degree in 1976. Andrew DeHerrera Obituary - Thornton, CO - Dignity Memorial He then joined the ROTC and attended the University of Kentucky for a semester before dropping out to join the Army. Unfortunately, theres hardly anything else known about Andrew C. Thornton II from 1981 until 1985 at the time of his death. [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. Love you. 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. 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. How Thornton would have felt about his untimely death and less-than-flattering portrayal in Cocaine Bear is anybodys guess. Zairing describes Thornton as a loving, supportive and gentle husband. He also loved grilling chicken for folks and riding the grandkids on his lawn mower. His body was found laying next to his reserve parachute with his main parachute unopened. Thornton, Andrew Charles Milan, MI Infant son of Angie and Ron Thornton passed on Tuesday, October 14th. "He went out like an eagle scout," Zairing says of Thornton's death. Police concluded the shooting had been staged by Thornton to persuade the California judge that his life would be endangered should he be incarcerated. Hey, welcome to my blog, History of Murder! So was James Lambert, once a prominent Lexington businessman who is now awaiting sentencing on a recent federal cocaine distribution conviction. Investigators found that he was carrying night-vision goggles and wearing a bulletproof vest, Time magazine reported.