But both were still on the force during the Earley investigation. 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. Some people are musicians and some people play an instrument or sing for themselves. Legal Statement. Remember that local cops, DEA, FBI, etc. They waited until after the death of Jimmy Martin to carry out this threat. FX's Justified has returned, and with it, our weekly postmortems with showrunner Graham Yost, who'll once again take us inside the writers room. 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. Thornton freefell to the ground after being unable to open his parachute. These connections allowed them to commit crimes without getting caught. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided byRefinitiv Lipper. Thornton was found in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you have this book and have read it, think back or look up Anita Madden--rich horsefarm matron who probably dealt in drugs as a sideline. http://www.smartfellowspress.com/_random1/0000000f.htm, Your email address will not be published. The most serious came in 1972 when Melanie fell off a running horse. www.facebook.com/chrisjonesgrass. When they arrived, the police found the occupant of the room gone. The FEDS and the local cops work much more closely together (CIA, DEA, Fish and Wildlife {in recent years} BATF and more) than the normal citizen would even dream that they do. People are ready to believe almost anything. Understandably lost in the virus coverage, I saw where Bill Canan and Henry Vance must have died almost on the same day, because their obituaries were in the Lexington Herald Leader in the same edition. Count on the Judges enjoying their elite deviance as well. Remember the Round Up in Tennessee that was investigated about the time of the Simpson case where the agents showed racism. The next year, she had Kato back again. | Opinion, Bill to end anti-competitive bourbon barrel tax a positive start | Opinion. www.facebook.com/chrisjonesgrass. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ken gave me - I think the first story on the Company [the drug smuggling ring at the center] - I cant remember when it appeared, probably 82 - the story was 13 minutes long straight, without a break, at the top of the news, the 6 oclock news. (How many cops trained this way since 66?). Also believe that Melanie was abducted, murdered, and her body was disposed of, that location to this day is still unknown. My Profile Of course we do. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For more information, please see our Denton, a former investigator for Jack Anderson, relates a sordid tale of corruption in Lexington, Kentucky. When Melanie was reported missing, she was classified by the Lexington Police as endangered missing. 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. As a result of simply not doing their jobs, the Lexington Police Deparment created a huge sense of false security. I dont think so. He also was from the "society set" here of horse business families. Blonde to light brown hair, brown eyes. 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. She never went to jail but the guy she hired did time for the crime. This woman was indicted (but managed to have charges dropped), she supplied money, was involved in game fixing in the NFL and college games, was interviewed in the disappearance/death of Melanie Flynn (a party girl) who was last seen in her presence and more. It has sold more than 250,000 copies.). 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). 783 Ratings. All rights reserved. In a world of Vegas odds, it would have been impossible to predict that Henry Vance and Bill Canan would shuffle off the mortal coil just days apart. Doyle Lawson also knew too much about the mysterious deaths of three of Jimmy Martins hunting dogs. They also believed that other Lexington police officers have something to do with the disappearance as well. My family and I are en route from Alberta to Nashville before we head to Morganton, NC. LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Even decades later, Ken Kurtz remembers exactly where he was on Sept. 11, 1985. Canan, a Mount Sterling native, was charged with the federal drug charges and spent 17 long years in prison. It specifically mentioned a septic hole at Murphy's Landing. The film Cocaine Bear is a highly-fictionalized hypothetical account of what could have happened to the bear that was found dead after having ingested some of the cocaine Thornton dropped from his plane while flying over rural Georgia. There is has been great music every decade and also complete turds every decade including the vaunted 1960's and '70's. That was absolutely unheard of, she said, and we were only scratching the tip of the iceberg then.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Dan Lassiter lived here in Lexington and was in the horse business and started the Ponderosa restuarants which were very popular back then. 1894 The Dreyfus affair. Legal Statement. clnk&cd=1, Plea for Commutation of Death Sentence of Bizzack was involved in the Flynn cover-up, along with several other cover-ups. From being caught, Ross thought that the Lexington Police Department had cut Thornton a deal. It is a detailed account of the events that both surrounded and lead up to former Lexington police officer Drew Thorton parachuting to his death with 150 pounds of cocaine. John Y. Along with Bill Canan being her boyfriend, Melanie had gone on a few dates with the attractive Andrew Thornton. In 1990, just before the Earleys were murdered, Walsh became Chief of Police. Brown was on a Fast-Track to the White House at the time, yet he lost and won a million dollars at a time in Vegas. Editorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters. Thornton died on September 11, 1985 and on that day . It also includes the disappearance of Melanie Flynn. +44 (0)7540 787812 frances@constructionandbuildingphotography.com. . It has sold more than 250,000 copies.) And we both have reason to know of the School of the Americas in Ft. Benning, Ga. What many don't know is that many of the local law enforecement (due to huge amts. Melanie Flynn, The Bluegrass Mafia, and the Lexington Kentucky Police Department: Cops Gone Wild (Has TV documentary "Freefall" by Dominick Dunne- Power, Privilege and Justice) Talks about the whole Bluegrass Conspiracy, Bluegrass Conspiracy Melanie Flynn missing, Bluegrass Conspiracy Player Released From Prison, Melanie Flynn, The Bluegrass Mafia, and the Lexington Kentucky Police Department: Cops Gone Wild. "It just went on for month after month and nothing, nothing.". Both men would serve the majority of their sentences and then return to Lexington upon their release. He came to Lexington a few times after that and may have met with her then. They dont want anyone to buy a CD ever again, and they dont want anyone to ever hear Decca-era Jimmy Martin. 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 1995, she sold the farm and they broke ground on what is now known in Lexington as Hamburg. I cant say his name because then my life would be in even more danger than it is right now (Im writing this from an undisclosed location, not far from Cape Canaveral). "I have two sisters of my own. Those tips sent a team of investigators to Murphy's Landing multiple times. Sally Denton is 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 the hidden history of Manifest Destiny; from one of America's bitterest political campaigns to the powerful forces arrayed against Franklin D. Roosevelt. You can send the photos to policepio@lexingtonpolice.ky.gov. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It's on the Kentucky River on U.S. 68 in Mercer County. Op-Ed. 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. It sure caused havoc here with The Bluegrass Conspiracy. Somebody had to vouch for her. Greetings from the road. Esquire magazine recently published a list of the top 30 conspiracy theories prevalent in the United States. Lexington, though a diverse and alluring city in many ways, has not always had a sparkling reputation. I believe everything Ive ever read about Agenda 21, Area 51, and Studio 54. Fans have actually been seeing an Alison Krauss hologram on stage. Around this time, many Lexington police officers took their uniforms to the Earley Bird Cleaners. 17 talking about this. She knew Melanie Flynn who was killed (probably by Lexington cops). of Fed money coming in with strings attached) are trained in another facility in East Georgia run by the CIA. Some people are musicians and some people play an instrument or sing for themselves. Yet ultimately press coverage exposed the conspiracy. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. and this is just a few) had Intelligence connections or more. Privacy Policy. And the obituaries mention that Carole "was very involved in her husband's work.". And Im still waiting for that free computer from Bill Gates (or was that a free set of steak knives?). 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. Yet even today, the 1977 disappearance of Melanie Flynn remains a mystery. Logout. The fact is that it all goes back to Bill Monroe knowing too much about one of the biggest figures in the Nashville music scene. But in yet another Shakespearean twist, Canan will be buried at Camp Nelson National Cemeterynot far from the Jessamine County site where police searched for Flynns body last summer. You can listen to the full podcast below, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. Consequences and Effects. Sally Denton is 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 the hidden history of Manifest Destiny; from one of America's bitterest political campaigns to the powerful forces arrayed against Franklin D. Roosevelt. said former WKYT news director Ken Kurtz. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. At one time, actor Warren Beatty was on the board of directors of the resort. Just keep it off the television, whatever you do was how they put it, when this underhanded plan was being formed. I have often wondered if the Heidi Fleiss business where LAPD cops provided security wasn't one of the operations that we had here in the Bluegrass Conspiracy. You are correct to mention Ollie North as having more power than his station in life called for but you have to put the CIA in the mix whom I believe he had and perhaps still have strong connections with. In the latest episode of Uniquely Kentucky, Amber Philpott dives into "The Bluegrass Conspiracy" with Sally Denton. www.chrisjonesgrass.com Your email address will not be published. Wow, I haven't had this much fun reading since Bill Bryson's 'A Walk in the Woods'. At Nellie Kellys, Melanie was talking to a man with a pockmarked face and brown hair that was parted down the middle (The Doe Network). The training courses, held at the CIA's compound near Washingon, D.C., included declassification of materials, foreign weapons, COUNTERAUDIO MEASURES, explosive devices and detection techniques, BASIC THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE AND CLANDESTINE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION, COVERT PHOTOGRAPHY, AND PHOTOANALYSIS, and Ralph found that he was a quick study. In that world passes a sordid cast of . Kentucky State Police said they received a similar tip from a different person. Her car was found a week later in Lexington. Cornishville, KY is said to be the drug capitol of the world.. That saga is chronicled in Sally Denton's 1989 book, "The Bluegrass Conspiracy." The 175-pound bear's body was found several months after Thornton's and preserved with taxidermy. 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. Among the major players were Governor John Y. "I think if there could be some answers and some justice that it would go a long way towards helping everybody heal from the results of this," said Denton. They're still looking," Siegel said. He's been quite successful, even though implicated in much of the cover up documented in Ms. Denton's book. 2022 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. When Thornton was found with a broken . Famous 300-year-old bur oak was saved from development. (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. by Sally Denton 1) How you doing on THE CHRISTINA MOORE MURDER in Round Rock, Texas, by contract surveillance (retired cops) who came after me in Austin, Texas, backin in 1997-2001. The main director of the Bluegrass Conspiracy, Andrew Thornton III, was the only one who truly suffered any consequences. Judging by their obituaries, they lived out their post-penitentiary lives in an exceedingly forgiving community that didnt give their infamy a second thought. In fact, it was well-known even before then because it was one of the rst "Califor-nia" houses built in Lexington. After Walsh took office, many officers either retired or took jobs elsewhere, including David Shade and John Bizzack. I happen to believe that the same requirements from the Feds that began in the 70's (the CIA training) was in effect in LA during that time and later and caused the LAPD Intelligence Squad to come into existence. Kentucky native and blue blood Andrew Thornton II was found dead after jumping from a plane strapped with over $15 million worth of . (He also hired Barbara Bailey, Bill Bryant and Sam Dick.). bluegrass, in music, country and western style that emerged in the United States after World War II, a direct descendant of the old-time string-band music that had been widely played and recorded by such groups as the Carter Family from the late 1920s. About 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 11, 1985, Fred Myers got up to shave at his home in Knoxville when he looked out his window and saw a body tangled up in a parachute. To make it seem as there was nothing fishy was going on, Melanie would take Canan to lavish parties thrown by Anita and Preston Madden; mostly Anita would host the parties while Preston followed her around like a lost puppy. It was just wild, andso out in the open, Denton said. NOT MANY I'd say. Former WKYT news director adds perspective to Flynn case, Lexington Herald-Leader looks back at 40-year-old case, New tips send investigators to Murphy's Landing, Investigators asking public for photos of the area from the 1950s -1970s, Email photos to:policepio@lexingtonpolice.ky.gov, Latest on search: Crews focus on one particular area at Murphy's Landing, Uniquely Kentucky dives into 'The Bluegrass Conspiracy' with Sally Denton, One dead after tree falls onto car in Lexington, Chris Baileys Forecast | Potential for tornadoes to spin up across the area, One arrested, one injured in Nicholasville shooting, Big Sandy RECC crews continue working to restore power outages, Family of Letcher County woman offering reward for information on her death, EKY churches partner to help those impacted by historic flood, Denton is an award-winning investigative reporter, author, and historian. There are no urban legends in my world, and we all know that the web site Snopes.com, which purports to tell us which internet rumors are true or false, is nothing more than a front for a secret organization funded by the Koch Brothers, George Soros and the Queen of England (who all live together, by the way, in a condo in Belize). I think that little "picnic" that you mentioned--The Good Ole Boy Roundup--in Chattanooga, Tenn. is a prime example. Twitter: @chrisjonesgrass Only the files were made but nobody was ever arrested. Melanie Flynn disappeared in January 1977.