Stories, Truths and Anonymous Tips surrounding The Company and Melanie Flynn. I would appreciate it if you would also use air quotes while youre reading this.). Bluegrasses are slender annuals or . Many LOCAL law enforcement personel were at that picnic/campout that weekend. I have always loved a good conspiracy theory. Dentons reporting turned over the rocks, and the evils - the weevils - came out, Kurtz said previously, highlighting the continuous nature of the revelations during that time. Bobby Flynn went to Ralph Ross and asked him to take over the investigation of the case of his missing daughter. 5) Take a look at the MEXICAN MAFIA MURDERS AFFADAVIT that I posted at Austin IMC. That woman at the height of the OJs trial had Kato Kalein as her houseguest. Why? I pulled together many seemingly disparate Kentucky characters and exposed their good-ole-boy network of criminality. Were these guys getting security clearances or security background checkups? Blonde to light brown hair, brown eyes. --------------- They are trained with military equipment and in wire-tapping, surveillance and swat team/military tactics (which in my opinion is the cause --or partly the cause of some the terrible tragedies when swat teams go into the Wrong house and kill somebody). In the latest episode of Uniquely Kentucky, Denton is asked if she thinks there will ever be answers in the Flynn case. NOT MANY I'd say. He would be convicted in federal court in Ashland, Kentucky in 1987 on charges of interstate racketeering and furnishing the murder weapon in the shooting of Florida prosecutor Eugene Berry, and sentenced to 15 years. What kept this operation afloat was the connections the smugglers had with Lexingtons wealthy citizens such as James Lambert, Anita Madden and Phillip Galls (Denton 53). My family and I are en route from Alberta to Nashville before we head to Morganton, NC. It is a highly-fictionalized account loosely based on fact, from a story that has its roots in the Bluegrass. As in all illegal endeavors, powerful people, politicians, banks and outlets are needed to protect the profits, hide them, and courts and cops needed to protect the profiteers. That was absolutely unheard of, she said, and we were only scratching the tip of the iceberg then.. Police are also encouraging anyone with tips to report them. We have trained cops now all over the US that could do black bag jobs, surveillance, wiretaps, etc.====trained by CIA. Chief among them were Vance and Canan. The Bluegrass Conspiracy. Denton was a WKYT investigative reporter from about 1980-83 and who worked several reports on corruption in the Lexington police department. Legal Statement. Has anyone ever been in the same room as the moon? Ralph Rose, a Kentucky state policeman who began a crusade to catch Thornton and his associates, was eventually forced out by being framed in an illegal wiretapping charge. The story of Thornton and "The Company" he served, and . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In 1985, a . In past years Melanie had many horse riding accidents. (Mena and Contra deal WAS CIA). By Rachel Nix Building Kentucky. Thanks Chris! It's no secret that many things were faked or over-exaggerated on the show for more exciting television, especially in reality TV. Market data provided by Factset. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. My Profile Cookie Notice talking to someone in a blue van near the intersection of Cooper and South Limestone Street. "We want people to know that we are still - it doesn't matter how old the cases are - that we are still actively investigating all of our cases and any tip that comes in we really appreciate it because we need the community's help," said Sgt. With public doubt and criticism of Dentons reporting still lingering even after she left, Denton and Kurtz agreed that it was the circumstances surrounding Thorntons death - when his parachute failed to open after he jumped from a plane with cocaine, cash, guns and gold strapped to him - that finally lent more credence to what they had been saying all along. p.47. The poison was administered through bluegrass festival corndogs. "We are out here for a reason. Avon Books. But afte that the case went cold for years. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided byRefinitiv Lipper. All rights reserved. Published Feb 4, 2022. When found after his free fall, Thornton, was wearing night vision goggles, a bulletproof vest, Gucci loafers, a army green duffel bag containing 40 kilos of cocaine valued at $15 million, $4,500 worth of knives, and two pistils (Andrew C. Thornton II). Brad hopes that this tip could finally be the one. The FEDS and the I just think the Heidi deal and other connections (whew! Melanie was last seen on January 25th, 1977. All I could think what, what else are they hiding? Its not okay to think you are being protected by the local police department, when in fact they are the ones creating the problems. However, when questioned about these allegations Canan denies that he and Melanie had any such relationship. The Bluegrass Conspiracy is now considered a cold case in Lexington Kentucky. The Bluegrass Conspiracy. Thanks Chris! Some took this seriously, others saw it as satire. Use it wisely.) Gov. Don't think I've told you this before but I have told Sherman. Bill Clinton and then went on to run drugs out of Mena, Arkansas by bringing back drugs on the empty planes that came back from South America. (LEX 18) Authorities have recently searched a property along the Kentucky River on the Mercer and Jessamine County line in connection with the 1977 disappearance of Melanie Flynn. Powered and implemented byFactSet Digital Solutions. "They came with a backhoe and started digging down into the ground and said they were looking for some things, that's all they'd give us," said neighbor Brian Siegel. Kentuckians may know the history of "Cocaine Bear," a 175-pound black bear . The Hollywood movie being released in late February is being marketed as "horror/comedy." Those categories might sound like a strange combination but will undoubtedly include a sizable amount . 264 people like this. Your email address will not be published. The "bluegrass conspiracy," as coined by author Sally Denton in her book-length investigation of the scandal, describes the exploits of Lexington's most rich and powerful families and their . One of the chief people to help cover it up is now the Police Chief. LEX 18 was told that a credible tip was what led detectives to the campground near Murphy's Landing. Visit him online : I am an investigative reporter, author, and historian who writes about the subjects others ignore--from a drug conspiracy in Kentucky to organized crime in Las Vegas; from corruption within the Mormon Church to murdered women in New Mexico; from one of America's bitterest political campaigns to the powerful forces arrayed against Franklin D. Roosevelt. The movie "Cocaine Bear" is now in theaters. Book Overview. The son of Carter and Peggy Thornton of Threave Main Stud farm, he grew up in the Lexington, Kentucky, area and attended the private Sayre School and the Iroquois Polo Club. After they were forced to dump hundreds of pounds of cocaine to lighten the plane's load, Leonard said Thornton spoke a few words to him before they reluctantly parachuted out of the plane . Canan was also linked to, but never charged with, the disappearance of Melanie Flynnthe 24-year old Lexington woman whose disappearance in January 1977 remains one of Lexingtons most enduring mysteries. And if you stay here, theyll frame you and get you silenced, and find a legal way to do it. If Thornton would leave the department, then he would be charged with stealing the drugs, people knew that Thornton had connections so they would let him off the hook by the people he knew. They also cited a second agent who also found the circumstances suspicious since there were a number of residue-free wrappers left in the bag. Brown, Jr. of Fed money coming in with strings attached) are trained in another facility in East Georgia run by the CIA. The main director of the Bluegrass Conspiracy, Andrew Thornton III, was the only one who truly suffered any consequences. Recommended. There is has been great music every decade and also complete turds every decade including the vaunted 1960's and '70's. Cornishville, KY is said to be the drug capitol of the world.. October 19, 2004. Of all the people involved in the illegal drug ring also known as the Bluegrass Conspiracy, very few were ever punished. And he has to "go along" with what those backers do whether he may agree with it or not. Legal Statement. Neither Bobby nor Ella, Melanies mother, worried when she didnt show up at home that night for family dinner. Its unfair and gives Lexington a bad name.. Thats the big conspiracy theory in bluegrass music, but we also have numerous other ones, which I feel compelled to share with you now. After going many months, those months turning into years, investigators got a surprise. "When Kentucky Blueblood Drew Thornton parachuted to his death in September 1985 carrying thousands in cash and 150 pounds of cocaine, the gruesome end of his startling life blew open a scandal that reached to the most secret circles of the U.S. government. Along with Bill Canan, Thornton was a part of the narcotics section of the Lexington Police Department. Her ex-husband was Robert Evan's fame of the Cotton Club Murders and Denise's former lover and Paramount film producer. Also believe that Melanie was abducted, murdered, and her body was disposed of, that location to this day is still unknown. The search is expected to continue for days. Several months ago I read with keen interest about a new search being conducted by Lexington police for the remains of the once young and beautiful Flynn. The presidents of all the major streaming companies from Spotify to Apple Music are all Danish, are all the same person, and are all related to Mac Wiseman. Gordon. The tapestry of crime outlined in The Bluegrass Conspiracy has its roots in the socially significant world of Kentucky. Joel Pett: What about critical gender theory. He came to Lexington a few times after that and may have met with her then. Wife Swap: Where Are They Now? Musician/band. John Y. If the mobs after a person, going to another country wont help. They recruited . _oJ:www.kcadp.org/pdf%2520files/Bowling%252 When Melanie was reported missing, she was classified by the Lexington Police as endangered missing. said former WKYT news director Ken Kurtz. according to our reporting partners at the Lexington Herald-Leader. Both of Melanie's knew that Canan was involved in the disappearance. Thats how a lot of these theories work: they simply take on a life of their own. Cops were video-taping, wire-tapping citizens (prominent citizens, NFL players, actors, actresses) using drugs, gambling, prostitution and porn---all out of a house belonging to then Democratic Governor John Y. Visit him online : Around this time, many Lexington police officers took their uniforms to the Earley Bird Cleaners. But with the way Kentucky is churning out revolutionary country performers these days, it could have made for a cool backdrop and soundtrack to an intriguing film. Their long term goal is to eliminate traditional bluegrass so that Coca-Cola can appeal to a younger demographic. There is a big difference. xxiv, 473 pages ; 20 cm "When Kentucky Blueblood Drew Thornton parachuted to his death in September 1985 carrying thousands in cash and 150 pounds of cocaine, the gruesome end of his startling life blew open a scandal that reached to the most secret circles of the U.S. government. What many don't know is that many of the local law enforecement (due to huge amts. One narc cop went on to bigger and better things by joining the Callie (sp) Cartelle and was killed in 1985 when his parachute failed (deliberately) when he parachuted with cocaine, secret CIA phone numbers, secret FBI and DEA secure numbers on his person. They've not found anything so far, but police are asking for tips and old photos of Murphy's Landing. and last updated 3:26 PM, Jul 08, 2019. During the time of the Bluegrass Conspiracy,Lexington had a large gap between the high-class and the rest of society, making it possible to fund this operation while keeping it a secret (Danziger ET). That's the big conspiracy theory in bluegrass music, but we also have numerous other ones, which I feel compelled to share with you now. People may say, where is she going with this. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. When Bobby was describing all the allegations to Lexington Police he stated, Bill Canan was a friend of the family and that Melanie and him were dating. To make everything more suspicious about Melanies disappearance, Bill Canan was the police officer that Bobby Flynn reported Melanies disappearance to. Brown, Jr. first met Phyllis Anne (former Miss America) while she was still married to Evans and they had "dealings' with each other. 2022 FOX News Network, LLC. In 1989, Sally Denton wrote a book titled The Bluegrass Conspiracy after the scandal became known. While in the hospital, Melanie lost her sense of smell and taste. [Channel] 27 had to take a little bit of criticism from various people when Sally was doing various stories about the police department, Kurtz said, many of which ended up in The Bluegrass Conspiracy., (Dentons book: The Bluegrass Conspiracy: An Inside Story of Power, Greed, Drugs and Murder, was first published in 1989. Mark OConnor releases two books and a CD from his early years, Billy Strings at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press at Bluegrass Wednesday Nights, Open Bluegrass Jam // Cinderlands Warehouse (Pittsburgh), Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Class with Joel Denman Durango, CO, Open Bluegrass Jam // Cork Harbour Pub (Pittsburgh), Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Dave Wright & the Midnight Ramblers from Down Under, Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Bononia Grass plays with an Italian flavor, Russ Hooper: 74 years in bluegrass music and still gigging, Jason Fraley returns to Deeper Shade of Blue for one last show. They also believed that other Lexington police officers have something to do with the disappearance as well. Timeline. Bluegrass Conspiracy: Where are they now? Constantly recognizing businesses, towns and roads in such a narrative is a lot of fun for me. I read this on planes, in a hotel room, and at my residence. In 1995 (during the OJ trial) she managed to have Kato Kaelin as a houseguest and Derby Party guest. ured prominently in the so-called Bluegrass Conspiracy in the early 1980s. We are putting it out there that we are here, and we want the public to know we don't forget cases like this," Lexington Police Sgt. It specifically mentioned a septic hole at Murphy's Landing. During the last smuggling from Columbia, Thornton dropped packages of cocaine . The story of the Bluegrass Conspiracy and the fact that is it hardly known to the Lexington community raises the question of what else do we not know about? On Monday, Brad told LEX 18 that he is glad his sister has not been forgotten. See the latest outages from Kentucky Utilities, Blue Grass Energy and more, Live updates: Power restoration across Kentucky will be multi-day process, companies say. If the Fed money came ONLY if the dept. After his departure, Dan Hays will continue to operate the IBMA from a secret bunker underneath the Franklin Theatre in Franklin, TN. The _Lexington Herald-Leader_ ran a story about his death that, some 12 years after "The Bluegrass Conspiracy" was published, is less than objective about Ross. Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and Paul . Denton did not respond to . A couple of months earlier, Lexington narcotics cop Andrew Thornton's body was found in a front yard in Knoxville, Tennessee, along with bags containing 70 pounds of Colombian cocaine, some $4,000 in cash, night vision goggles, two . Has this training continued? Well, he's lost his appeal to get his Kentucky insurance license back. http://www.amazon.com/Bluegrass-Conspiracy-Inside-Drugs-Murder/dp/0595196667, The Bluegrass Conspiracy: An Inside Story of Power, Greed, Drugs and Murder, by Sally Denton. Yet ultimately press coverage exposed the conspiracy. You can do your research from Sweden, or Costa Rico, or Mexico. LEX 18 has confirmed through family and multiple law enforcement sources that investigators spent much of this past week digging in different areas near Murphy's Landing along the Kentucky River on US 68. Who has power? Living in Kentucky near all the event mentioned in The Bluegrass Conspiracy I found this book to be really historical and cool. www.facebook.com/chrisjonesgrass. At the time Ralph Ross was the head of organized crime and intelligence unit for the Lexington Police Department. This weekend, Universal premieres what may be the most ridiculous movie of the year: Cocaine Bear, a violent horror-comedy inspired by a bizarre real-life event. Fuhrman's so-called real partner? In addition to Thornton, former Lexington officer, Bill Canan, was convicted in 1993 for charges of conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, threatening witnesses and carrying a false badge that identified him as a federal drug officer. Police received a tip about a possible underground tank that may hold the remains of Flynn. Copyright 2023 WKYT. I think that little "picnic" that you mentioned--The Good Ole Boy Roundup--in Chattanooga, Tenn. is a prime example. Investigators are asking specifically for photos of the area from the 1950s through the 1970s that may show what buildings and other structures that were in the area. Live updates: Historical windstorm blows in. Brown; his top political aides; former policeman and blueblood Andrew Thornton, the leader of an organization known as the "Company"; and other bluebloods, rich from money originally earned in horse-breeding and racing. He spotted the body through his bathroom window whilst shaving as part of his morning routine. Hed been a beat cop throughout his career, and was appointed Chief of Police to clean up the corruption within the department. Or, the other reason that Thornton resigned was because he knew what was about to happen with Melanie Flynn. Professional Reviews. It has sold more than 250,000 copies.) He also was from the "society set" here of horse business families. (This is purely for your education, but remember that access to information is the greatest weapon we have, and one that you can be sure they dont want you to have. In that world passes a sordid cast of . The 2021 IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh never actually took place. In 1996 his brother Joe, having served six years in a federal prison for conspiracy in the Judge Wood murder, dies in an automobile accident near El Paso, Texas. Remember former state house member and "Bluegrass Conspiracy" actor Henry Vance? From The Side of the Road 500th column reflections, From The Side of the Road Catch the Bluegrass Wave, From The Side of the Road Its the law! Wanting to leave early to beat the rush traffic of Lexington, Melanie left the office around five oclock that afternoon. Bizzack+and+cover-up&hl=en&gl=us&ct= Read full review They were sure anxious for WHO was on it not to be known. Although Thornton denied any allegations that him and Melanie had no other relationship the just being close friends. The secret entrance is in the hair products aisle but it can only be seen by the light of the moon (which doesnt exist). - Sandra K. Lindheimer, Middlesex Law Library, Cambridge, Mass. Your email address will not be published. Melanie never arrived at her doctors appointment and never arrived home. Lester Flatt never died and is coming back on September 29th to host the IBMA Awards and assume control of the IBMA. The Bluegrass Conspiracy is a book by Sally Denton which examines the life and death of Kentuckian narcotics officer turned drug smuggler, Andrew C. Thornton II.The story of Thornton's untimely death is almost too unfathomable to believe, but it's 100% true. @kentuckyforkentucky Reply to @joeyvanrijk #greenscreen # . Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 2013-10-04 19:05:24.947744 Bookplateleaf 0010 Boxid IA1154818 City New York Donor bostonpubliclibrary Edition I havent been a journalist in Kentucky for a long time, but I can still remember what they were suspected of and charged with back in the early 1980s when I was the investigative reporter for WKYT TV.