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1
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**
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-In a Kentucky mall,
you can meet
3
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a very famous taxidermy bear.
4
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-This is my first time
seeing the cocaine bear.
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-The what bear?
6
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-Yes, the cocaine bear.
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-There's a reason why
he's called the cocaine bear.
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-This story is amazing.
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00:00:28,722 --> 00:00:30,963
**
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-One day in the woods, a bear
finds a huge bag of drugs.
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-And the bear got high.
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[ Bear growling ]
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-The cocaine was 95% pure.
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-No, really, they found him
laying there
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with the cocaine around him.
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-[ Chuckles ]
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That's a very interesting
story in itself.
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-But this is the origin
story of the cocaine bear,
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featuring the larger-than-life
man who started it all.
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-He was mercurial
and mysterious.
21
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He lived on the edge.
22
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-He had a James Bond wristwatch
that shot tear gas.
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-These are Kentucky Blue Bloods
24
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that got together to go
into full-time smuggling.
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-He was a bad dude!
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-This is such a powerful story.
27
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It has corruption,
it has murder.
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-Judge John Wood was fatally
wounded by a single gunshot.
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-Drugs, murders, gun running,
you name it.
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-Holy crap, you would
never believe it,
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but it did actually happen.
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-Believe it or not,
this story even has cows...
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on drugs.
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-Oh, come on!
[ Laughs ]
35
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-This is the true story
of the cocaine bear.
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-You wouldn't forget it.
Let's put it that way.
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**
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-The backwoods of the
Chattahoochee National Forest
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00:02:03,402 --> 00:02:07,842
in North Georgia
are stark and remote.
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In December 1985, a hunter
finds something here
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that sparks a legend.
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**
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00:02:15,482 --> 00:02:20,843
-This legend has grown
to be quite a story.
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-And in 2023, that legend
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is brought to life
by an incredible movie.
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[ Bear roars ]
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And soon the whole world
is talking about it.
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-Number one trend on Twitter.
Everyone's talking about this.
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[ Bear roaring ]
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-A bear did cocaine!
51
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-This will be the winner
of the decade probably.
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-Cocaine Bear, Fran.
53
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Take One. Mark.
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**
55
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-Well, my name
is Francis Bishop Wiley.
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And in December of 1985,
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I was Assistant
Special Agent in Charge
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of the Georgia Bureau
of Investigation,
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00:03:01,163 --> 00:03:02,323
in Gainseville, Georgia,
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00:03:02,362 --> 00:03:05,922
and right now I'm retired.
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I received a call at the office
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from a game warden
in Fanon County, Georgia.
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And he advised that a hunter
had found a bear
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in the woods on a mountain
65
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and that there was a parachute
and a duffel bag close by.
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I dispatched two of my agents
to the scene.
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They radioed back and advised me
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that there indeed was a bear,
parachute, and duffel bag.
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So I said,
well, this is very strange.
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I mean, very odd that we would
even find something like this.
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I told them to take it
to the Georgia crime lab
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in Atlanta,
and they did take the duffel bag
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and found residue
of cocaine on it.
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There was no cocaine
in the duffel bag,
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so where did the cocaine go?
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Well, the bear ate it.
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**
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**
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-The bizarre story of this bear
and what happened
80
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actually begins
three months before.
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[ Thud ]
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In the middle of the night,
a Knoxville resident
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is awakened by a sound
from his backyard.
84
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-It wasn't until
the next morning
85
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that he looked in his driveway
86
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and immediately
called the police.
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**
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-My name is Jimmy Jones.
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I'm a retired
Knox County sheriff.
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From the time
I was 16 years old,
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I knew I wanted to be
in law enforcement.
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We were just
in the office that day.
93
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It was a normal day,
just like any other day.
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The call came in from dispatch.
It was an elderly gentleman,
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and he said that there was
a gentleman out in his driveway
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who was trespassing,
97
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and if the police didn't come he
would take care of it himself.
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00:04:53,763 --> 00:04:57,922
**
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00:04:57,963 --> 00:05:01,643
-The "trespasser" is the dead
body of a skydiver,
100
00:05:01,682 --> 00:05:04,882
and JJ is called
to the crime scene.
101
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**
102
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-This is a very quiet
community, usually.
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There's very little crime,
very little happens.
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When we arrived on the scene,
the individual was found
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in the gravel driveway area
between the houses.
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**
107
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We were surprised to see
this individual here.
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His parachute was kind of
wadded up beside him,
109
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like it hadn't fully opened.
110
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The gentleman was deceased.
111
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There was a duffel bag that
was hooked to the individual.
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The duffel bag
contained somewhere
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between 30 and 40 packages
marked USA.
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All of them were labelled
the same way.
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We knew when we cut into it,
it was still moist,
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and the smell would just
hit you in the face.
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It was a very high quality
of cocaine.
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**
119
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Somewhere between 30
and 40 kilos of cocaine.
120
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It was probably worth
hundreds of millions.
121
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I was amazed.
122
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And I was just a kid. I mean,
I wasn't but 24, 25 years old.
123
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I had never seen
anything like that.
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It was like holy crap, you know?
125
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This -- You would never
believe this happened
126
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in sleepy, little, old
Knoxville, Tennessee.
127
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[ Laughs ]
128
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-We continued to look
at the body to evaluate it.
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-There was at least one attack
knife along with some daggers
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or spears that were actually
in a sheath on his arm,
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night vision goggles.
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There was about $5,000
in US currency.
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There were precious
and semi-precious stones
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in a money belt.
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-He had some gold Krugerrands.
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Nobody knew what
a Krugerrand was.
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We heard of 'em,
but nobody actually --
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I don't think anybody
had ever seen 'em.
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They were gold, and they have
like a little kangaroo
140
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or an animal on the front.
141
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**
142
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-Initially we had no clue
what had happened.
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-None of this is making sense
for JJ and his team.
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Who is this guy in the driveway?
145
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-There's some questions that
really haven't been answered.
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He was mysterious.
147
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He looked a lot
like a soldier of fortune.
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-He had a 9mm Browning
high powered pistol
149
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that was loaded
with Teflon-coated 9mm bullets.
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Those are the bullets that will
penetrate a bulletproof vest.
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-He also had a wristwatch
152
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that was like
a James Bond wristwatch,
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but it wasn't one that you would
get out of a cereal box.
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It was actually a high-quality
watch that shot tear gas.
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I was amazed every time
something came off his body,
156
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a piece of equipment
or whatever it was.
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I mean, it was just more
and more and more.
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He also had some
very expensive shoes.
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00:08:08,002 --> 00:08:11,043
-In an odd fact that a lot
of people noted at the time,
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00:08:11,083 --> 00:08:13,723
he was wearing Gucci loafers.
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[ Ding! ]
162
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**
163
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-I mean, we were still trying
to put pieces together.
164
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We really didn't have anything.
165
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Then as more agencies
became involved,
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we ultimately found out
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that the plane had crashed
in North Carolina.
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**
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00:08:35,722 --> 00:08:38,682
-The wreckage of the Cessna 404
is still scattered
170
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across this ridge
of the Nantahala Mountains.
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00:08:41,682 --> 00:08:44,802
-We did hear that a body
had been found in Knoxville
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00:08:44,842 --> 00:08:46,722
of someone who parachuted
out of a plane,
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and evidently,
the parachute didn't open.
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At this time, it kind of appears
175
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that that may be involved
with this.
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**
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-The location of the plane
in North Carolina
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is more than 100 miles
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00:08:59,883 --> 00:09:03,722
from the body
of the mysterious parachutist.
180
00:09:03,763 --> 00:09:06,322
The aircraft provides
a vital clue --
181
00:09:06,363 --> 00:09:09,682
It's registered to a man
from Lexington, Kentucky.
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In Lexington,
the information filters down
183
00:09:16,483 --> 00:09:18,643
to the local papers.
184
00:09:18,682 --> 00:09:23,243
**
185
00:09:23,283 --> 00:09:27,562
-I was a investigative reporter
at the Lexington Herald Leader
186
00:09:27,602 --> 00:09:28,842
in Kentucky
187
00:09:28,883 --> 00:09:32,202
from about 1979 to 1987.
188
00:09:32,243 --> 00:09:34,363
**
189
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The body was identified
as Andrew Thornton.
190
00:09:37,562 --> 00:09:40,962
And that erupted the newsroom
at the time.
191
00:09:41,003 --> 00:09:43,722
**
192
00:09:43,763 --> 00:09:44,842
-Drew Thornton was someone
193
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who had been
in a position of authority,
194
00:09:46,403 --> 00:09:49,003
a police officer
who came from privilege.
195
00:09:49,043 --> 00:09:52,202
He was a soldier, had, you know,
been wounded in combat.
196
00:09:52,243 --> 00:09:54,523
-Personally, I wasn't
all that surprised
197
00:09:54,562 --> 00:09:58,043
when I heard that he was dead
in Knoxville in a driveway,
198
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having fallen out of a plane.
199
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He had lived on the edge
and was --
200
00:10:03,082 --> 00:10:05,082
His luck had run out.
201
00:10:08,082 --> 00:10:13,202
**
202
00:10:13,243 --> 00:10:18,283
**
203
00:10:18,322 --> 00:10:20,842
-With the body identified,
police trace Thornton's
204
00:10:20,883 --> 00:10:24,682
flight path all the way back
to North Georgia.
205
00:10:24,722 --> 00:10:26,883
-We started receiving
more information
206
00:10:26,922 --> 00:10:29,003
that there was more cocaine
that had been dumped
207
00:10:29,043 --> 00:10:31,243
along the way of his journey.
208
00:10:31,283 --> 00:10:34,842
**
209
00:10:34,883 --> 00:10:37,722
-The duffel bag Drew Thornton
had strapped to his body
210
00:10:37,763 --> 00:10:39,043
when he died
211
00:10:39,082 --> 00:10:41,682
was of the same make,
color, and type
212
00:10:41,722 --> 00:10:45,682
that they found close
to the bear in Georgia.
213
00:10:45,722 --> 00:10:49,922
-The incredible story is quickly
picked up by the TV networks.
214
00:10:49,962 --> 00:10:52,363
-The medical examiner says
the bear had been dead
215
00:10:52,403 --> 00:10:54,243
for at least six weeks.
216
00:10:54,283 --> 00:10:57,363
GBI agents recovered
none of the cocaine.
217
00:10:57,403 --> 00:10:59,802
They said it could have been
blown away by the wind
218
00:10:59,842 --> 00:11:01,363
or simply dissolved.
219
00:11:01,403 --> 00:11:02,842
One thing's for sure --
220
00:11:02,883 --> 00:11:07,763
The bear did not eat
75 pounds of the stuff.
221
00:11:07,802 --> 00:11:11,283
-We believe that the duffel bag
that was found in Fanon County
222
00:11:11,322 --> 00:11:12,883
next to the bear
223
00:11:12,922 --> 00:11:17,363
also had 75 pounds of cocaine.
224
00:11:17,403 --> 00:11:21,202
When we found it,
there was no cocaine.
225
00:11:21,243 --> 00:11:24,442
-There was 75 pounds
found with Andrew Thornton
226
00:11:24,483 --> 00:11:28,082
in a similar duffel bag
when he jumped to his death.
227
00:11:28,123 --> 00:11:30,163
**
228
00:11:30,202 --> 00:11:32,483
-So who really is
Andrew Thornton?
229
00:11:32,523 --> 00:11:35,643
And how is he
connected to the cocaine bear?
230
00:11:35,682 --> 00:11:37,842
To find answers, we need
to go back decades
231
00:11:37,883 --> 00:11:41,163
to the heartland of Kentucky's
blue-blood society.
232
00:11:41,202 --> 00:11:48,523
**
233
00:11:48,562 --> 00:11:55,722
**
234
00:11:55,763 --> 00:11:57,243
-My name is Ron Bryant.
235
00:11:57,283 --> 00:12:00,442
I was historian for
the Kentucky State Park System
236
00:12:00,483 --> 00:12:04,562
and director of Waveland State
historic site.
237
00:12:04,602 --> 00:12:09,442
My family has been in Kentucky
for over 200 years.
238
00:12:09,483 --> 00:12:11,202
-Kentucky historian Ron Bryant
239
00:12:11,243 --> 00:12:14,123
is a distant relative
of Daniel Boone.
240
00:12:14,163 --> 00:12:17,363
He knows Kentucky.
241
00:12:17,403 --> 00:12:18,922
-There was always old jokes
in Kentucky
242
00:12:18,962 --> 00:12:21,243
about everyone being related
to each other.
243
00:12:21,283 --> 00:12:24,363
Well, in some cases, the gene
pool was rather shallow,
244
00:12:24,403 --> 00:12:25,922
I've got to admit.
245
00:12:25,962 --> 00:12:28,322
**
246
00:12:28,363 --> 00:12:31,043
But not with Andrew Thornton.
247
00:12:31,082 --> 00:12:33,643
Andrew was a child of privilege.
248
00:12:33,682 --> 00:12:35,043
None of this should have
ever happened
249
00:12:35,082 --> 00:12:37,523
according to the way
he was raised.
250
00:12:37,562 --> 00:12:42,043
When the news came
that Andrew Thornton had died
251
00:12:42,082 --> 00:12:44,562
and how he died,
252
00:12:44,602 --> 00:12:48,043
society was not only
in a state of shock.
253
00:12:48,082 --> 00:12:51,163
It was in a state
of absolute shock.
254
00:12:51,202 --> 00:12:53,922
**
255
00:12:53,962 --> 00:12:57,562
Andrew Thornton II was the son
256
00:12:57,602 --> 00:13:01,283
of, uh, Andrew Carter Thornton.
257
00:13:01,322 --> 00:13:04,043
The Thorntons had
established themselves
258
00:13:04,082 --> 00:13:05,802
in the horse industry.
259
00:13:05,842 --> 00:13:08,003
And they knew their horses.
260
00:13:08,043 --> 00:13:11,043
And they, in fact,
had at least two derby winners.
261
00:13:11,082 --> 00:13:14,523
That's quite a feather
in anybody's cap right there.
262
00:13:14,562 --> 00:13:16,562
**
263
00:13:20,363 --> 00:13:22,442
-Andrew Thornton certainly
had the breeding --
264
00:13:22,483 --> 00:13:24,483
[ Chuckles ] It's funny
to use the word breeding
265
00:13:24,523 --> 00:13:26,123
for someone
from Lexington, Kentucky,
266
00:13:26,163 --> 00:13:28,403
because that never hardly
ever talks about people.
267
00:13:28,442 --> 00:13:29,602
It's only about horses.
268
00:13:29,643 --> 00:13:32,682
But he really did
have the breeding.
269
00:13:32,722 --> 00:13:35,003
Andrew Thornton entered
the University of Kentucky,
270
00:13:35,043 --> 00:13:36,523
but his heart wasn't in it.
271
00:13:36,562 --> 00:13:38,082
So he left the University
of Kentucky
272
00:13:38,123 --> 00:13:43,003
after a short period of time
and volunteered for combat.
273
00:13:43,043 --> 00:13:47,442
**
274
00:13:47,483 --> 00:13:50,763
-He went into the Army,
actually won a purple heart.
275
00:13:50,802 --> 00:13:56,003
And he particularly liked flying
and parachuting.
276
00:13:56,043 --> 00:14:04,682
**
277
00:14:04,722 --> 00:14:09,442
-In 1968, Thornton returns home
a hero and gets married.
278
00:14:09,483 --> 00:14:10,883
But it doesn't last.
279
00:14:10,922 --> 00:14:14,682
This man of action is looking
for his next thrill.
280
00:14:14,722 --> 00:14:18,842
-He wanted something
that was not staid and safe.
281
00:14:18,883 --> 00:14:24,523
He wanted something that was,
shall we say, nearly dangerous.
282
00:14:24,562 --> 00:14:26,442
**
283
00:14:26,483 --> 00:14:29,243
-After having a very
distinguished military career,
284
00:14:29,283 --> 00:14:34,202
he came back, and he joined
the police department.
285
00:14:34,243 --> 00:14:39,322
-Thornton liked the idea
of being a police officer
286
00:14:39,363 --> 00:14:42,483
because that was
an adventuresome life.
287
00:14:42,523 --> 00:14:44,763
**
288
00:14:44,802 --> 00:14:46,043
-My name is Jim Huggins.
289
00:14:46,082 --> 00:14:47,763
I was a supervisory
special agent
290
00:14:47,802 --> 00:14:50,243
for the FBI
in Lexington, Kentucky.
291
00:14:50,283 --> 00:14:54,442
from 1986
to 1995 when I retired.
292
00:14:54,483 --> 00:14:55,883
I worked very closely
293
00:14:55,922 --> 00:14:59,043
with the Kentucky State Police
Intelligence Bureau.
294
00:14:59,082 --> 00:15:04,363
**
295
00:15:04,403 --> 00:15:06,842
In the '70s at that time,
there was a lot of
296
00:15:06,883 --> 00:15:08,643
drug activities
starting to show up,
297
00:15:08,682 --> 00:15:11,483
particularly around
the college campus area.
298
00:15:11,523 --> 00:15:13,722
It was becoming
a major crime problem
299
00:15:13,763 --> 00:15:17,842
for the local law enforcement
agencies at that time.
300
00:15:17,883 --> 00:15:19,442
-The Lexington Police Department
301
00:15:19,483 --> 00:15:23,202
creates its first
narcotics squad.
302
00:15:23,243 --> 00:15:25,842
And the promise of action
is a huge draw
303
00:15:25,883 --> 00:15:29,202
for the young Andrew Thornton.
304
00:15:29,243 --> 00:15:31,562
-He volunteered
for the Narcotics unit.
305
00:15:31,602 --> 00:15:34,602
His best friend, Bill Canan,
was already working there.
306
00:15:34,643 --> 00:15:37,123
Bill Canan came from
a much different background
307
00:15:37,163 --> 00:15:38,922
than Drew Thornton.
308
00:15:38,962 --> 00:15:41,243
His family was working class.
309
00:15:41,283 --> 00:15:45,243
-Drew Thornton likes the fact
that Bill Canan is a tough guy.
310
00:15:45,283 --> 00:15:48,082
As a pair,
they're made for trouble.
311
00:15:48,123 --> 00:15:54,202
**
312
00:15:54,243 --> 00:15:57,123
-They were trying to infiltrate
student groups
313
00:15:57,163 --> 00:15:58,562
out at the University
of Kentucky,
314
00:15:58,602 --> 00:16:00,523
and they would hang out in bars
315
00:16:00,562 --> 00:16:04,562
and dress like
a regular student.
316
00:16:04,602 --> 00:16:09,643
There also were accusations that
they would arrest a drug dealer,
317
00:16:09,682 --> 00:16:11,483
confiscate his drugs,
318
00:16:11,523 --> 00:16:14,682
and then instead of turning them
into the evidence locker
319
00:16:14,722 --> 00:16:19,483
like they should have,
they'd keep them for themselves.
320
00:16:19,523 --> 00:16:20,842
There were allegations that
321
00:16:20,883 --> 00:16:24,922
they did in fact resell
some of the drugs.
322
00:16:24,962 --> 00:16:28,602
-It wasn't too big a leap for
someone in a new narcotics squad
323
00:16:28,643 --> 00:16:31,043
to think that maybe if they just
held back a little bit
324
00:16:31,082 --> 00:16:33,363
of what, uh,
they had confiscated
325
00:16:33,403 --> 00:16:34,722
and then turned it back out
on the streets,
326
00:16:34,763 --> 00:16:36,682
that they could
increase their income.
327
00:16:36,722 --> 00:16:39,883
-But why would a wealthy member
of the Lexington elite
328
00:16:39,922 --> 00:16:43,483
stoop to stealing drugs?
329
00:16:43,523 --> 00:16:46,003
-Nobody really,
really, really knew
330
00:16:46,043 --> 00:16:47,643
what Andrew Thornton was doing.
331
00:16:47,682 --> 00:16:51,283
There had been rumors
that were going around
332
00:16:51,322 --> 00:16:54,722
that something was bad wrong
with Andrew.
333
00:16:54,763 --> 00:16:57,043
-For Thornton, it may not
have been simply
334
00:16:57,082 --> 00:16:59,243
just to get some extra money.
335
00:16:59,283 --> 00:17:02,243
It may have been to do something
336
00:17:02,283 --> 00:17:04,842
that other people
couldn't do or wouldn't do.
337
00:17:04,882 --> 00:17:08,842
It would go along with his whole
soldier of fortune lifestyle
338
00:17:08,882 --> 00:17:11,203
that he cultivated.
339
00:17:11,243 --> 00:17:13,443
-That would be his downfall,
340
00:17:13,483 --> 00:17:16,283
changing him from
a pillar of society
341
00:17:16,322 --> 00:17:19,683
into a pariah in society.
342
00:17:19,723 --> 00:17:23,443
-The charmed life of Drew
Thornton is about to get darker
343
00:17:23,483 --> 00:17:27,483
on the way to a rendezvous...
with the cocaine bear.
344
00:17:38,763 --> 00:17:42,362
-In 1975, the cocaine bear
was just a cub
345
00:17:42,402 --> 00:17:45,562
learning the bear way of life
in the woods of Georgia.
346
00:17:45,602 --> 00:17:48,923
**
347
00:17:52,122 --> 00:17:56,443
Meanwhile more than 300 miles
away in Lexington, Kentucky,
348
00:17:56,483 --> 00:17:59,642
Drew Thornton is relishing
his role as a dirty cop
349
00:17:59,683 --> 00:18:02,362
with his tough guy partner
Bill Canan...
350
00:18:02,402 --> 00:18:04,723
a world away from his
respectable upbringing
351
00:18:04,763 --> 00:18:07,882
in Kentucky horse
breeding society.
352
00:18:07,923 --> 00:18:11,322
-I think Andrew Thornton was one
of these types of individuals
353
00:18:11,362 --> 00:18:13,523
that's grown up
with a silver spoon,
354
00:18:13,562 --> 00:18:16,602
and they've gotten just about
anything they wanted.
355
00:18:16,642 --> 00:18:20,082
So to have this kind of thrill
356
00:18:20,122 --> 00:18:22,043
is something that excites them.
357
00:18:22,082 --> 00:18:24,402
[ Chuckles ]
He was a bad dude.
358
00:18:24,443 --> 00:18:27,243
-I don't think Andrew Thornton
was rebelling
359
00:18:27,283 --> 00:18:29,763
against his position in society.
360
00:18:29,802 --> 00:18:33,882
I think Andrew Thornton wanted
a different type of life.
361
00:18:33,923 --> 00:18:35,122
That's all it was.
362
00:18:35,162 --> 00:18:38,203
He saw himself
as being an adventurer,
363
00:18:38,243 --> 00:18:42,003
a person that literally
lived on the edge.
364
00:18:42,043 --> 00:18:45,562
-Thornton helped create the myth
of Drew Thornton.
365
00:18:45,602 --> 00:18:49,642
He tried to build an image of
himself that was the superman.
366
00:18:49,683 --> 00:18:53,122
But it went beyond what he was
really capable of.
367
00:18:53,162 --> 00:18:56,122
-Always a show-off,
Thornton liked to demonstrate
368
00:18:56,162 --> 00:18:57,723
his athletic arrest techniques
369
00:18:57,763 --> 00:19:00,283
to his buddies
in the police department.
370
00:19:00,322 --> 00:19:02,203
And so he tried
to jump over a car,
371
00:19:02,243 --> 00:19:04,882
and at the same time,
he was wearing a weapon.
372
00:19:04,923 --> 00:19:08,923
And the weapon went off,
and it ricocheted and shot him.
373
00:19:08,963 --> 00:19:11,802
-[ Laughing ]
374
00:19:11,842 --> 00:19:13,723
**
375
00:19:13,763 --> 00:19:16,802
-It does no more than graze
his leg and his ego.
376
00:19:16,842 --> 00:19:19,483
But that doesn't stop him
from escalating his game
377
00:19:19,523 --> 00:19:23,122
from street dealing to flying
illegal drugs into Kentucky.
378
00:19:23,162 --> 00:19:27,283
**
379
00:19:27,322 --> 00:19:29,562
-I've been a pilot
for over 40 years,
380
00:19:29,602 --> 00:19:30,763
and then later I became
381
00:19:30,802 --> 00:19:33,162
an aviation writer
and photographer.
382
00:19:33,203 --> 00:19:35,122
**
383
00:19:35,162 --> 00:19:37,483
I think one of the most
fascinating stories you'll find
384
00:19:37,523 --> 00:19:40,243
in drug smuggling
is the story of Drew Thornton.
385
00:19:40,283 --> 00:19:44,923
**
386
00:19:44,963 --> 00:19:48,122
There's a personality type
who looks for a way
387
00:19:48,162 --> 00:19:51,082
to make life bigger.
388
00:19:51,122 --> 00:19:52,723
Sometime in the mid-'70s,
389
00:19:52,763 --> 00:19:56,963
Drew Thornton decided to move
beyond street level crime
390
00:19:57,003 --> 00:19:58,602
and become a smuggler.
391
00:19:58,642 --> 00:20:02,642
-Drew was primarily bringing
really plane loads of marijuana
392
00:20:02,683 --> 00:20:05,443
into Kentucky for distribution
throughout the state.
393
00:20:05,483 --> 00:20:08,162
I mean, this was a big thing.
394
00:20:08,203 --> 00:20:10,842
-They had devised a plan
that worked well.
395
00:20:10,882 --> 00:20:14,283
All they did was go get it,
transport it back,
396
00:20:14,322 --> 00:20:17,362
cut out the middle man.
397
00:20:17,402 --> 00:20:22,523
I would have never imagined
that this was happening.
398
00:20:22,562 --> 00:20:24,483
**
399
00:20:24,523 --> 00:20:27,283
-Through their contacts
in the Lexington drug scene,
400
00:20:27,322 --> 00:20:30,122
dirty cops Andrew Thornton
and Bill Canan
401
00:20:30,162 --> 00:20:32,963
establish a network
of out-of-state wholesalers
402
00:20:33,003 --> 00:20:37,362
who supply them
with larger quantities of pot.
403
00:20:37,402 --> 00:20:39,842
-Thornton would be coming in
on the weekend,
404
00:20:39,882 --> 00:20:42,923
when a lot of recreational
flyers would be coming back in,
405
00:20:42,963 --> 00:20:45,882
so the radar scopes
would be full of airplanes.
406
00:20:45,923 --> 00:20:49,203
And you could easily
unload your luggage into a car,
407
00:20:49,243 --> 00:20:52,443
head up the highway,
and you're done.
408
00:20:52,483 --> 00:20:57,362
-Drew Thornton flew in
many, many loads of marijuana.
409
00:20:57,402 --> 00:21:00,122
He was making
a substantial amount of money.
410
00:21:00,162 --> 00:21:04,763
**
411
00:21:04,802 --> 00:21:09,923
-As 1976 draws to a close, life
is good for the cocaine bear.
412
00:21:09,963 --> 00:21:13,003
But 200 miles away, things
are about to get complicated
413
00:21:13,043 --> 00:21:15,322
for our pair of dirty cops.
414
00:21:15,362 --> 00:21:21,923
**
415
00:21:21,963 --> 00:21:24,723
-In the late '70s, when
the narcotics squad in Lexington
416
00:21:24,763 --> 00:21:27,483
was cultivating people
who could become informants,
417
00:21:27,523 --> 00:21:30,602
one of those people
was Melanie Flynn.
418
00:21:30,642 --> 00:21:33,283
-Melanie Flynn met Bill Canan,
419
00:21:33,322 --> 00:21:35,602
who was trying to use her
as an informant.
420
00:21:35,642 --> 00:21:38,122
She was furnishing him
with information
421
00:21:38,162 --> 00:21:40,122
about drug users and purchasers
422
00:21:40,162 --> 00:21:42,723
around the University
of Kentucky.
423
00:21:42,763 --> 00:21:43,802
-Melanie by all accounts
424
00:21:43,842 --> 00:21:46,562
was just helping out
the local cops.
425
00:21:46,602 --> 00:21:48,963
She felt like this was
the right thing to do.
426
00:21:49,003 --> 00:21:52,523
-Melanie doesn't know she
is working with crooked cops.
427
00:21:52,562 --> 00:21:54,203
But soon she begins to suspect
428
00:21:54,243 --> 00:21:56,523
that the drugs
circulating in Lexington
429
00:21:56,562 --> 00:22:00,082
are being supplied
by Drew Thornton and Bill Canan.
430
00:22:00,122 --> 00:22:01,882
-And I think
they became concerned
431
00:22:01,923 --> 00:22:04,283
that she may be a threat
to their operations
432
00:22:04,322 --> 00:22:05,483
and would go to the authorities
433
00:22:05,523 --> 00:22:09,402
and cause them
some major problems.
434
00:22:09,443 --> 00:22:14,162
-She leaves work one day
and is going home
435
00:22:14,203 --> 00:22:16,562
and is never seen again.
436
00:22:16,602 --> 00:22:23,443
**
437
00:22:23,483 --> 00:22:25,443
-Her car was later
found abandoned
438
00:22:25,483 --> 00:22:29,283
in an apartment complex
on the north side of Lexington.
439
00:22:29,322 --> 00:22:32,283
**
440
00:22:32,322 --> 00:22:36,283
She was last seen
about two blocks away
441
00:22:36,322 --> 00:22:37,642
parked at an intersection,
442
00:22:37,683 --> 00:22:41,283
talking to two people
in a dark van.
443
00:22:41,322 --> 00:22:45,043
An investigation later
by Kentucky State Police,
444
00:22:45,082 --> 00:22:48,162
there was some belief that
maybe those two individuals
445
00:22:48,203 --> 00:22:50,923
had been Drew Thornton
and Bill Canan.
446
00:22:50,963 --> 00:22:54,923
**
447
00:22:54,963 --> 00:22:56,602
When you go from drug smuggling
448
00:22:56,642 --> 00:22:58,882
and you escalate
to a crime of murder,
449
00:22:58,923 --> 00:23:01,923
that's really taken it
to a whole 'nother level.
450
00:23:01,963 --> 00:23:04,322
And that has not been proven yet
451
00:23:04,362 --> 00:23:07,683
of however Melanie Flynn
is still missing.
452
00:23:07,723 --> 00:23:14,523
**
453
00:23:14,562 --> 00:23:21,243
**
454
00:23:21,283 --> 00:23:23,443
-After Melanie Flynn's
disappearance,
455
00:23:23,483 --> 00:23:24,763
a pocketbook
that she was carrying
456
00:23:24,802 --> 00:23:27,923
was found by a fisherman
in the Kentucky River.
457
00:23:27,963 --> 00:23:32,723
And in that were some
medications that were hers.
458
00:23:32,763 --> 00:23:36,362
-Melanie Flynn is probably one
of the most tragic characters
459
00:23:36,402 --> 00:23:37,923
in all of this.
460
00:23:37,963 --> 00:23:40,842
To this day, we don't know
what really happened to her.
461
00:23:40,882 --> 00:23:46,043
And the rumor mill
was running very, very much.
462
00:23:46,082 --> 00:23:47,523
-One rumor is that Drew Thornton
463
00:23:47,562 --> 00:23:50,923
is the subject of an internal
affairs investigation.
464
00:23:50,963 --> 00:23:52,602
He quits the police.
465
00:23:52,642 --> 00:23:55,683
Now he's free to move into
full-time smuggling...
466
00:23:55,723 --> 00:23:58,122
and the path is clearing
for his final flight
467
00:23:58,162 --> 00:24:00,562
over the woods of North Georgia.
468
00:24:06,362 --> 00:24:10,963
**
469
00:24:11,003 --> 00:24:15,082
-In the woods of North Georgia,
an innocent bear has no idea
470
00:24:15,122 --> 00:24:19,723
that there is a man 200 miles
away plotting something so huge
471
00:24:19,763 --> 00:24:23,723
that their worlds
will one day collide.
472
00:24:23,763 --> 00:24:28,963
-I have heard many people say in
talking about Andrew Thornton,
473
00:24:29,003 --> 00:24:32,562
they would relate him
to the myth of Icarus
474
00:24:32,602 --> 00:24:34,802
flying too close to the sun.
475
00:24:34,842 --> 00:24:36,802
And that's exactly what he did.
476
00:24:36,842 --> 00:24:38,443
[ Chuckles ]
477
00:24:38,483 --> 00:24:42,483
**
478
00:24:42,523 --> 00:24:46,723
-By 1977, Drew Thornton
is no longer a cop
479
00:24:46,763 --> 00:24:49,562
and can now expand
his drug smuggling business
480
00:24:49,602 --> 00:24:52,923
with no one
looking over his shoulder.
481
00:24:52,963 --> 00:24:56,963
-He thought of himself as
smarter than everybody else,
482
00:24:57,003 --> 00:24:58,243
had no fear.
483
00:24:58,283 --> 00:25:00,243
And he would push that envelope
484
00:25:00,283 --> 00:25:03,043
where many people
wouldn't do that.
485
00:25:03,082 --> 00:25:07,523
-The only way for Thornton to
go big is to find new partners.
486
00:25:07,562 --> 00:25:10,322
He turns to an old friend
from Lexington,
487
00:25:10,362 --> 00:25:13,203
a man named Bradley Bryant.
488
00:25:13,243 --> 00:25:17,882
-Bradley Bryant was a childhood
school friend of Drew Thornton.
489
00:25:17,923 --> 00:25:20,043
They went to the same
private school in Lexington,
490
00:25:20,082 --> 00:25:22,283
and they both went
to the military academy,
491
00:25:22,322 --> 00:25:24,523
so they had a long history.
492
00:25:24,562 --> 00:25:28,162
-Bryant was even Thornton's
best man at his wedding.
493
00:25:28,203 --> 00:25:29,642
They were the salt of the earth.
494
00:25:29,683 --> 00:25:33,322
They were -- They were
the bastions of society.
495
00:25:33,362 --> 00:25:35,562
**
496
00:25:35,602 --> 00:25:39,043
-Bradley Bryant isn't just
an old buddy of Thornton's,
497
00:25:39,082 --> 00:25:41,003
he's a successful businessman
498
00:25:41,043 --> 00:25:44,322
with links to organized crime
all over the country.
499
00:25:44,362 --> 00:25:47,842
And he wants to be a player
in Sin City.
500
00:25:47,882 --> 00:25:53,842
**
501
00:25:53,882 --> 00:25:57,283
-Bradley Bryant
went to Las Vegas,
502
00:25:57,322 --> 00:26:02,842
and he met the Chagra brothers,
Lee and Jimmy Chagra.
503
00:26:02,882 --> 00:26:05,882
**
504
00:26:05,923 --> 00:26:08,602
-The Chagras were major,
major players
505
00:26:08,642 --> 00:26:11,243
in the drug business.
506
00:26:11,283 --> 00:26:16,642
They had connections with
South America, Mexico, Colombia.
507
00:26:16,683 --> 00:26:18,882
**
508
00:26:18,923 --> 00:26:21,642
-Jimmy and Lee Chagra
would allow Drew Thornton
509
00:26:21,683 --> 00:26:24,003
to import larger
amounts of marijuana.
510
00:26:24,043 --> 00:26:27,082
**
511
00:26:27,122 --> 00:26:30,162
-Andrew wasn't afraid to,
to go to South America
512
00:26:30,203 --> 00:26:31,842
and risk his life doing it.
513
00:26:31,882 --> 00:26:34,402
But I think that was part
of the attraction for him.
514
00:26:34,443 --> 00:26:39,683
**
515
00:26:39,723 --> 00:26:42,243
-If you're gonna bring in
tons of marijuana,
516
00:26:42,283 --> 00:26:45,763
you're gonna need an airplane
capable of hauling that.
517
00:26:45,802 --> 00:26:49,963
-Drew Thornton was flying
a four-engine cargo aircraft,
518
00:26:50,003 --> 00:26:51,402
a World War II plane
519
00:26:51,443 --> 00:26:56,763
that was able to carry tons
of marijuana into Kentucky.
520
00:26:56,802 --> 00:26:59,562
-Thornton's route takes him
from South America,
521
00:26:59,602 --> 00:27:04,283
up the coast of Florida,
and over North Georgia --
522
00:27:04,322 --> 00:27:07,003
the home territory
of the cocaine bear.
523
00:27:07,043 --> 00:27:08,642
[ Bear growls ]
524
00:27:08,683 --> 00:27:10,283
**
525
00:27:10,322 --> 00:27:13,483
-He was bringing in what's
estimated to be 10,000 pounds,
526
00:27:13,523 --> 00:27:17,642
five tons of marijuana.
527
00:27:17,683 --> 00:27:23,162
-In today's money,
that's $5 million.
528
00:27:23,203 --> 00:27:24,683
-These are Kentucky Blue Bloods
529
00:27:24,723 --> 00:27:27,243
that got together to go
into full-time smuggling
530
00:27:27,283 --> 00:27:29,043
and were pretty
successful at it.
531
00:27:29,082 --> 00:27:33,082
-People don't understand
what a process it would be
532
00:27:33,122 --> 00:27:35,043
to fly into a foreign country,
533
00:27:35,082 --> 00:27:39,683
with a load of drugs coming back
to the United States of America.
534
00:27:39,723 --> 00:27:41,963
That takes a unique individual.
535
00:27:42,003 --> 00:27:45,683
-They quickly ratcheted up
their business,
536
00:27:45,723 --> 00:27:48,243
becoming a major organization
in the southeast,
537
00:27:48,283 --> 00:27:50,122
maybe the biggest at that time.
538
00:27:50,162 --> 00:27:52,923
-I mean, it was -- it -- it --
539
00:27:52,963 --> 00:27:54,802
it was unbelievable.
540
00:27:54,842 --> 00:27:59,723
**
541
00:27:59,763 --> 00:28:03,003
-Drew Thornton and Bradley
Bryant are raking in the cash
542
00:28:03,043 --> 00:28:06,923
on their way to the top of
the drug smuggling food chain.
543
00:28:06,963 --> 00:28:09,602
**
544
00:28:09,642 --> 00:28:11,723
But they're so busy
living the high life,
545
00:28:11,763 --> 00:28:13,562
they ignore the warning signs
546
00:28:13,602 --> 00:28:16,402
that it's all about
to come crashing down.
547
00:28:16,443 --> 00:28:21,283
**
548
00:28:21,322 --> 00:28:25,043
-In 1978, Lee Chagra
was assassinated
549
00:28:25,082 --> 00:28:27,243
in his office.
550
00:28:27,283 --> 00:28:30,362
The suspicion was obviously
that it was a retaliation
551
00:28:30,402 --> 00:28:33,362
for some crime
that had gone bad.
552
00:28:33,402 --> 00:28:34,723
-Lee Chagra's death brings
553
00:28:34,763 --> 00:28:37,723
unwanted police attention
for Thornton.
554
00:28:37,763 --> 00:28:42,562
Within months, Jimmy Chagra is
arrested for drug trafficking.
555
00:28:42,602 --> 00:28:45,043
And this sets in motion
a bizarre series of events
556
00:28:45,082 --> 00:28:49,243
that will send Thornton's life
into free-fall.
557
00:28:49,283 --> 00:28:53,562
-Jimmy Chagra was to go on trial
for his criminal activities.
558
00:28:53,602 --> 00:28:56,443
That trial that would be under
the, uh, supervision
559
00:28:56,483 --> 00:28:59,082
of Judge John Wood.
560
00:28:59,122 --> 00:29:00,842
Was often known as Maximum John
561
00:29:00,882 --> 00:29:03,443
for the sentences
he would hand out.
562
00:29:03,483 --> 00:29:06,443
The day before the trial
was scheduled to start,
563
00:29:06,483 --> 00:29:09,842
Judge Wood was assassinated
in his driveway.
564
00:29:09,882 --> 00:29:13,283
**
565
00:29:13,322 --> 00:29:16,043
-Judge John Wood was fatally
wounded by a single gunshot
566
00:29:16,082 --> 00:29:18,043
as he was getting in his car
this morning.
567
00:29:18,082 --> 00:29:19,963
Emergency attendants
worked on the judge
568
00:29:20,003 --> 00:29:21,842
but could not revive him.
569
00:29:21,882 --> 00:29:27,402
**
570
00:29:27,443 --> 00:29:30,562
-John Wood was assassinated
by a hit man
571
00:29:30,602 --> 00:29:33,882
hired by Jimmy Chagra.
572
00:29:33,923 --> 00:29:36,283
-It's hard to imagine
what Thornton's associate
573
00:29:36,322 --> 00:29:40,043
was thinking
when he ordered the hit.
574
00:29:40,082 --> 00:29:43,283
-It didn't make a lot of sense
in many, many ways.
575
00:29:43,322 --> 00:29:46,602
It just simply wasn't done.
576
00:29:46,642 --> 00:29:50,562
People just didn't
do things like that.
577
00:29:50,602 --> 00:29:54,362
-Perhaps it was scare tactics,
but it didn't work.
578
00:29:54,402 --> 00:29:57,723
Jimmy Chagra went down
for 30 years.
579
00:29:57,763 --> 00:30:02,243
But that's not the strangest
twist in this assassination.
580
00:30:02,283 --> 00:30:08,003
-Chagra had hired a gentleman
named Charles Harrelson.
581
00:30:08,043 --> 00:30:10,802
-If the name Charles Harrelson
is familiar,
582
00:30:10,842 --> 00:30:14,402
it's because the hit man
has a Hollywood connection.
583
00:30:14,443 --> 00:30:19,322
He's the father of actor
Woody Harrelson.
584
00:30:19,362 --> 00:30:23,043
**
585
00:30:23,082 --> 00:30:25,683
-The Wood killing
was international news.
586
00:30:25,723 --> 00:30:27,402
Everybody in law enforcement
in the United States
587
00:30:27,443 --> 00:30:28,723
knew about it.
588
00:30:28,763 --> 00:30:30,683
That was a line
that had not been crossed.
589
00:30:30,723 --> 00:30:33,602
-A lot of attention was on
anything that happened to do
590
00:30:33,642 --> 00:30:37,082
with the Chagra Brothers,
including Drew Thornton.
591
00:30:37,122 --> 00:30:41,122
-Suddenly Drew Thornton of
little-old Lexington, Kentucky,
592
00:30:41,162 --> 00:30:43,562
is on the radar of the FBI.
593
00:30:43,602 --> 00:30:46,003
There's nowhere left to hide.
594
00:30:53,443 --> 00:30:58,203
**
595
00:30:58,243 --> 00:31:02,562
-The cocaine bear was the second
case that was worked in Georgia
596
00:31:02,602 --> 00:31:06,882
where an animal had come
to its demise from cocaine.
597
00:31:10,082 --> 00:31:13,243
In September of 1982,
the sheriff's office had called
598
00:31:13,283 --> 00:31:18,082
and said a farmer had found
a blue canister cylinder
599
00:31:18,122 --> 00:31:21,562
in his pasture with his cows.
600
00:31:21,602 --> 00:31:24,923
And his cows had gotten
into the cylinder.
601
00:31:24,963 --> 00:31:25,963
[ Cow moos ]
602
00:31:26,003 --> 00:31:27,923
And I said are you crazy?
603
00:31:27,963 --> 00:31:31,322
The cows had white powder
all over their noses.
604
00:31:31,362 --> 00:31:35,082
**
605
00:31:35,122 --> 00:31:37,923
There's something going on here.
606
00:31:37,963 --> 00:31:41,322
-But where did the cows
get their cocaine?
607
00:31:41,362 --> 00:31:43,122
[ Cow grunts ]
608
00:31:46,402 --> 00:31:50,642
Could it be the same supplier
to our legendary bear?
609
00:31:52,082 --> 00:31:56,802
**
610
00:31:56,842 --> 00:32:01,562
But back in 1980, Drew Thornton
isn't a cocaine smuggler.
611
00:32:03,283 --> 00:32:07,322
He's running marijuana
612
00:32:07,362 --> 00:32:09,362
and lots of it.
613
00:32:09,402 --> 00:32:12,523
**
614
00:32:12,562 --> 00:32:14,602
After the murder
of a federal judge,
615
00:32:14,642 --> 00:32:18,882
Thornton becomes a person
of interest for the FBI.
616
00:32:18,923 --> 00:32:20,723
**
617
00:32:20,763 --> 00:32:23,523
-We got notified immediately
from FBI headquarters
618
00:32:23,562 --> 00:32:25,122
that a federal judge
had been murdered,
619
00:32:25,162 --> 00:32:29,322
and there might be a person
in Lexington involved in that.
620
00:32:29,362 --> 00:32:31,842
-The FBI has the killer
621
00:32:31,882 --> 00:32:35,003
and the man who ordered the hit.
622
00:32:35,043 --> 00:32:38,963
Now they are shaking down
all of his criminal contacts.
623
00:32:40,243 --> 00:32:42,842
But despite the heat,
624
00:32:42,882 --> 00:32:45,082
Thornton and his old buddy
Bradley Bryant
625
00:32:45,122 --> 00:32:47,043
are still smuggling.
626
00:32:47,082 --> 00:32:50,443
-Thornton was living
a very, very good life,
627
00:32:50,483 --> 00:32:53,923
and Bryant was after the money.
628
00:32:53,963 --> 00:32:55,523
So they gambled.
629
00:32:55,562 --> 00:32:58,562
And that's an old Kentucky vice,
of course.
630
00:32:58,602 --> 00:33:02,842
They gambled, and they lost,
and they lost big time.
631
00:33:02,882 --> 00:33:10,362
**
632
00:33:10,402 --> 00:33:15,322
-In 1981 at a hotel
at the Philadelphia airport,
633
00:33:15,362 --> 00:33:18,602
Bradley Bryant's luck ran out.
634
00:33:18,642 --> 00:33:21,923
He was arrested
with a huge supply
635
00:33:21,963 --> 00:33:26,003
of automatic weapons,
night vision goggles,
636
00:33:26,043 --> 00:33:27,963
and sophisticated
communication gear,
637
00:33:28,003 --> 00:33:30,043
something that one
federal agent told me
638
00:33:30,082 --> 00:33:33,963
looked a lot like
a complicated assassination kit.
639
00:33:34,003 --> 00:33:36,802
-Another weapons stash
is discovered by the feds
640
00:33:36,842 --> 00:33:39,923
in a Lexington warehouse
owned by Bryant.
641
00:33:39,963 --> 00:33:46,923
**
642
00:33:46,963 --> 00:33:51,923
He's sentenced
to 15 years in jail,
643
00:33:51,963 --> 00:33:55,723
and there's bad news for
the drug operation's star pilot.
644
00:33:57,003 --> 00:33:59,802
Hidden among the weapons
is a notebook.
645
00:33:59,842 --> 00:34:02,963
Written inside
is the name Andrew Thornton,
646
00:34:03,003 --> 00:34:07,362
along with code words for
marijuana smuggling missions.
647
00:34:07,402 --> 00:34:08,803
-Thornton became fearful
648
00:34:08,843 --> 00:34:12,923
for the attention that was gonna
come to bear on him.
649
00:34:12,963 --> 00:34:15,082
-He immediately
dropped outta sight.
650
00:34:15,122 --> 00:34:17,722
**
651
00:34:17,762 --> 00:34:20,122
It turned out
that he was on the run,
652
00:34:20,162 --> 00:34:23,883
and he was still up to his old
tricks, flying his airplane.
653
00:34:23,923 --> 00:34:28,202
**
654
00:34:28,242 --> 00:34:33,483
-For months, Thornton flies
from airport to airport,
655
00:34:33,523 --> 00:34:36,923
staying under the radar
and avoiding capture.
656
00:34:38,443 --> 00:34:40,523
-Thornton liked
the idea of risk.
657
00:34:40,562 --> 00:34:45,722
He loved excitement,
he loved adventure.
658
00:34:45,762 --> 00:34:49,483
He would have
enjoyed that immensely.
659
00:34:49,523 --> 00:34:56,122
**
660
00:34:56,162 --> 00:34:58,043
-He landed at an airport
in North Carolina,
661
00:34:58,082 --> 00:35:00,963
and customs officials were
intercepting his communication
662
00:35:01,003 --> 00:35:02,443
and tracking his flights.
663
00:35:02,483 --> 00:35:05,762
[ Indistinct radio chatter ]
664
00:35:05,803 --> 00:35:07,523
And that's where they got him.
665
00:35:07,562 --> 00:35:14,523
**
666
00:35:14,562 --> 00:35:16,883
But he wasn't caught with drugs.
667
00:35:16,923 --> 00:35:18,722
**
668
00:35:18,762 --> 00:35:22,242
-Thornton's plane
is completely clean.
669
00:35:22,282 --> 00:35:24,122
Someone could have
tipped him off...
670
00:35:24,162 --> 00:35:27,923
or he just got lucky.
671
00:35:27,963 --> 00:35:34,242
-Thornton was a very, very, very
lucky man in many, many ways.
672
00:35:34,282 --> 00:35:36,162
-The evidence against him
is thin.
673
00:35:36,202 --> 00:35:38,883
-Thornton was under suspicion
for drug trafficking.
674
00:35:38,923 --> 00:35:41,483
He was indicted for
a conspiracy involving drugs,
675
00:35:41,523 --> 00:35:45,682
pleaded no contest to a single
count of marijuana smuggling.
676
00:35:45,722 --> 00:35:50,122
-Thornton gets off easy
and only serves five months.
677
00:35:50,162 --> 00:35:53,682
**
678
00:35:53,722 --> 00:35:55,523
With all his friends in prison,
679
00:35:55,562 --> 00:35:58,682
Thornton's marijuana empire
has collapsed.
680
00:35:58,722 --> 00:36:01,963
But he's not ready
to give up just yet.
681
00:36:02,003 --> 00:36:04,082
**
682
00:36:04,122 --> 00:36:06,403
-That's when Drew Thornton
became the lone wolf.
683
00:36:06,443 --> 00:36:08,642
He used what connections he had
684
00:36:08,682 --> 00:36:12,162
to start bringing in cocaine...
685
00:36:12,202 --> 00:36:14,122
[ Bear growls ]
686
00:36:14,162 --> 00:36:16,642
...which changed everything.
687
00:36:16,682 --> 00:36:18,843
[ Indistinct conversations ]
688
00:36:18,883 --> 00:36:21,282
**
689
00:36:21,323 --> 00:36:24,003
-In the '70s, there was
a huge appetite for marijuana
690
00:36:24,043 --> 00:36:26,082
in the United States,
691
00:36:26,122 --> 00:36:30,803
but then in the '80s,
the appetite shifted to cocaine.
692
00:36:30,843 --> 00:36:32,003
-It became the drug of choice.
693
00:36:32,043 --> 00:36:33,843
A lot of celebrities
were using it,
694
00:36:33,883 --> 00:36:38,122
and it was attractive
for the smugglers.
695
00:36:38,162 --> 00:36:40,642
-I joined DEA in 1983,
696
00:36:40,682 --> 00:36:45,642
I was assigned to working
drug cases throughout Kentucky
697
00:36:45,682 --> 00:36:48,963
that took me to South America.
698
00:36:49,003 --> 00:36:54,523
Once I joined DEA, I learned
a lot about Andrew Thornton.
699
00:36:54,562 --> 00:36:57,323
Andrew went from flying
tons of marijuana
700
00:36:57,363 --> 00:36:59,963
to flying kilos of cocaine,
701
00:37:00,003 --> 00:37:01,963
because it took
a much smaller airplane,
702
00:37:02,003 --> 00:37:05,323
which was less noticeable
by law enforcement.
703
00:37:05,363 --> 00:37:08,562
-You could make 10 times the
amount of money easily on a run
704
00:37:08,602 --> 00:37:10,323
that you would with marijuana.
705
00:37:10,363 --> 00:37:13,923
And a pilot like Drew Thornton
could do everything on his own.
706
00:37:13,963 --> 00:37:18,122
**
707
00:37:18,162 --> 00:37:23,202
-By 1983, Thornton's using
his connections in Colombia
708
00:37:23,242 --> 00:37:26,602
to smuggle cocaine into America.
709
00:37:26,642 --> 00:37:29,523
-I knew that he was
a major drug smuggler.
710
00:37:29,562 --> 00:37:31,803
And several agencies
were working
711
00:37:31,843 --> 00:37:35,323
to build a case
against Andrew Thornton.
712
00:37:35,363 --> 00:37:39,082
-He's now set for the flight
that will make him infamous
713
00:37:39,122 --> 00:37:43,562
and forever connected
to the fate of the cocaine bear.
714
00:37:49,602 --> 00:37:53,843
**
715
00:37:53,883 --> 00:37:58,562
-It's 1985, and Andrew Thornton
is back in the big time,
716
00:37:58,602 --> 00:38:01,923
smuggling cocaine into Kentucky.
717
00:38:01,963 --> 00:38:04,483
But in the legend
of the cocaine bear,
718
00:38:04,523 --> 00:38:06,843
his fate is sealed,
719
00:38:06,883 --> 00:38:09,323
and his end is fast approaching.
720
00:38:09,363 --> 00:38:16,642
**
721
00:38:16,682 --> 00:38:21,082
-On the night of September
the 10th, 1985,
722
00:38:21,122 --> 00:38:25,242
he flew a load of cocaine into
the United States from Colombia.
723
00:38:25,282 --> 00:38:27,483
**
724
00:38:27,523 --> 00:38:32,483
His goal was to move cocaine
into the Lexington area,
725
00:38:32,523 --> 00:38:34,923
with an intermediate
stop in Georgia
726
00:38:34,963 --> 00:38:37,162
where he had
some co-conspirators
727
00:38:37,202 --> 00:38:39,282
waiting to offload
the airplane.
728
00:38:39,323 --> 00:38:40,963
-You just don't get in a plane
and fly to Colombia
729
00:38:41,003 --> 00:38:43,082
and pick up a load
of cocaine and come back.
730
00:38:43,122 --> 00:38:46,883
This would have taken
some serious prior planning.
731
00:38:46,923 --> 00:38:48,722
**
732
00:38:48,762 --> 00:38:51,323
-Thornton's journey
started as planned.
733
00:38:51,363 --> 00:38:53,722
He passed Cuba and navigated
the coast of Florida
734
00:38:53,762 --> 00:38:56,602
without incident.
735
00:38:56,642 --> 00:38:59,523
But what happened next?
736
00:38:59,562 --> 00:39:03,162
There are certain facts upon
which most investigators agree.
737
00:39:03,202 --> 00:39:06,762
**
738
00:39:06,803 --> 00:39:10,363
-Thornton did not make
his landing in Georgia.
739
00:39:10,403 --> 00:39:13,082
Was flying over
the National Forest in Georgia
740
00:39:13,122 --> 00:39:16,483
and started throwing out
cocaine into the forest.
741
00:39:16,523 --> 00:39:19,003
**
742
00:39:19,043 --> 00:39:22,363
-Probably worth
hundreds of millions.
743
00:39:22,403 --> 00:39:25,642
-He attached the duffel bags
to parachutes,
744
00:39:25,682 --> 00:39:27,282
pushed them out of the airplane,
745
00:39:27,323 --> 00:39:31,403
and then he had about 75 pounds
of cocaine strapped to his body.
746
00:39:31,443 --> 00:39:33,323
**
747
00:39:33,363 --> 00:39:35,963
-And then with the remaining
cocaine strapped to him,
748
00:39:36,003 --> 00:39:38,483
he put the airplane on autopilot
749
00:39:38,523 --> 00:39:42,242
somewhere near the Knoxville
downtown airport, jumped...
750
00:39:45,443 --> 00:39:50,202
-And then something happened
that he didn't expect to happen.
751
00:39:50,242 --> 00:39:51,923
[ Thud ]
752
00:39:59,003 --> 00:40:02,722
-How did Andrew Thornton
parachute to his death?
753
00:40:05,883 --> 00:40:08,082
-People do have a number
of different theories
754
00:40:08,122 --> 00:40:10,602
to how this happened,
why it went bad.
755
00:40:10,642 --> 00:40:14,282
**
756
00:40:14,323 --> 00:40:15,602
The most common story I heard
757
00:40:15,642 --> 00:40:18,282
was that the main chute
did not fully open
758
00:40:18,323 --> 00:40:20,682
for unknown reasons.
759
00:40:20,722 --> 00:40:24,523
The reserve chute
also did not fully inflate.
760
00:40:24,562 --> 00:40:28,043
**
761
00:40:28,082 --> 00:40:30,803
-People noted at the time
that there was an obvious cut
762
00:40:30,843 --> 00:40:34,162
or bruise on his head,
and so perhaps he hit his head
763
00:40:34,202 --> 00:40:37,363
going out the door
of the airplane.
764
00:40:37,403 --> 00:40:38,722
He was unconscious,
765
00:40:38,762 --> 00:40:41,803
didn't have an opportunity
to pull his chute.
766
00:40:41,843 --> 00:40:43,803
It also may have had
something to do with
767
00:40:43,843 --> 00:40:46,443
Thornton carrying
all that cocaine on him.
768
00:40:46,483 --> 00:40:49,562
**
769
00:40:49,602 --> 00:40:54,642
-From the injuries to his face,
the medical examiner believed
770
00:40:54,682 --> 00:40:57,843
that load of cocaine
had swung back around
771
00:40:57,883 --> 00:41:00,082
and caught him in the face
and either knocked him out
772
00:41:00,122 --> 00:41:02,762
or addled him
to where he was confused.
773
00:41:02,803 --> 00:41:05,843
You know, so, it would be
a pretty good lick.
774
00:41:08,923 --> 00:41:13,082
-But what compelled Thornton
to jump out of the plane?
775
00:41:13,122 --> 00:41:15,282
-The word on the street was
he felt like
776
00:41:15,323 --> 00:41:18,483
he was being surveilled
by customs or DEA.
777
00:41:18,523 --> 00:41:20,523
[ Indistinct radio chatter ]
778
00:41:20,562 --> 00:41:23,483
-Somewhere along the way,
he became paranoid
779
00:41:23,523 --> 00:41:27,242
that he were being followed
or being tracked by a DEA plane
780
00:41:27,282 --> 00:41:29,642
or Coast Guard or customs.
781
00:41:29,682 --> 00:41:31,883
-A lot of people think
he probably jumped out
782
00:41:31,923 --> 00:41:35,483
of the airplane
because of his paranoia.
783
00:41:35,523 --> 00:41:38,082
**
784
00:41:38,122 --> 00:41:41,523
But we checked, and they did not
have any aircraft
785
00:41:41,562 --> 00:41:44,162
following him
into the United States.
786
00:41:47,923 --> 00:41:52,483
-If law enforcement wasn't
on his tail, why jump at all?
787
00:41:52,523 --> 00:41:55,883
**
788
00:41:55,923 --> 00:41:59,682
-I think this was his plan
all along.
789
00:41:59,722 --> 00:42:01,562
One of the stories
that was circulating
790
00:42:01,602 --> 00:42:05,483
was that he actually was ripping
off the Colombian suppliers
791
00:42:05,523 --> 00:42:08,003
by intentionally
crashing the airplane,
792
00:42:08,043 --> 00:42:10,323
claiming the cocaine
was destroyed in the crash,
793
00:42:10,363 --> 00:42:12,242
but keeping it for himself.
794
00:42:12,282 --> 00:42:14,883
-Why would he have all those
parachutes in the airplane
795
00:42:14,923 --> 00:42:17,043
tied to duffel bags
full of cocaine
796
00:42:17,082 --> 00:42:20,282
if that wasn't
the plan originally?
797
00:42:20,323 --> 00:42:21,803
-No, I don't think so.
798
00:42:21,843 --> 00:42:26,082
He was way too smart to steal
from the Medellin Cartel.
799
00:42:26,122 --> 00:42:27,682
They knew who he was.
800
00:42:27,722 --> 00:42:31,483
He -- He would have not lasted
very long at all
801
00:42:31,523 --> 00:42:34,483
if he had stolen from them.
802
00:42:34,523 --> 00:42:39,562
-Whether Thornton was scamming
the cartels or just paranoid,
803
00:42:39,602 --> 00:42:41,282
there's one even more
shocking theory
804
00:42:41,323 --> 00:42:44,282
about what happened that night.
805
00:42:44,323 --> 00:42:45,483
-One of the theories is that
806
00:42:45,523 --> 00:42:48,162
there was a second person
on the airplane.
807
00:42:48,202 --> 00:42:55,082
**
808
00:42:55,122 --> 00:42:58,242
-We initially thought that
other people were involved,
809
00:42:58,282 --> 00:43:01,202
but we didn't have any proof.
810
00:43:01,242 --> 00:43:04,923
This is the downtown
Knoxville Island Home airport.
811
00:43:04,963 --> 00:43:08,963
Where Mr. Thornton parachuted
into the residential area
812
00:43:09,003 --> 00:43:12,282
is about 250 yards
as the crow flies
813
00:43:12,323 --> 00:43:15,043
above us on the hill.
814
00:43:15,082 --> 00:43:18,282
About two or three months
after Thornton was found,
815
00:43:18,323 --> 00:43:24,122
another parachute was found
on the far end of the runway.
816
00:43:24,162 --> 00:43:26,682
We theorized
that Andrew Thornton
817
00:43:26,722 --> 00:43:30,282
let the other individual
in the plane jump.
818
00:43:30,323 --> 00:43:33,082
And then Thornton put
the plane on autopilot.
819
00:43:33,122 --> 00:43:35,803
He would jump out of the plane
and let it go across
820
00:43:35,843 --> 00:43:39,722
the mountains
in North Carolina and crash.
821
00:43:39,762 --> 00:43:41,682
-If there was one other person
on the plane,
822
00:43:41,722 --> 00:43:44,562
it would've to be someone
that Drew Thornton trusted.
823
00:43:44,602 --> 00:43:45,923
And I don't know
of anybody back then
824
00:43:45,963 --> 00:43:48,403
that he trusted
more than Bill Canan.
825
00:43:48,443 --> 00:43:50,242
**
826
00:43:50,282 --> 00:43:53,162
Canan's his very close friend
who worked alongside him
827
00:43:53,202 --> 00:43:55,762
at the Lexington
Police Department.
828
00:43:55,803 --> 00:43:58,682
-Was Thornton's old partner,
corrupt cop Bill Canan,
829
00:43:58,722 --> 00:44:00,803
with him at the very end?
830
00:44:00,843 --> 00:44:03,282
-Canan was
the most likely suspect
831
00:44:03,323 --> 00:44:07,242
until someone else came forward,
uh, also named Bill
832
00:44:07,282 --> 00:44:10,122
who, uh, professed
that he was on the plane.
833
00:44:10,162 --> 00:44:13,323
**
834
00:44:13,363 --> 00:44:17,282
-In 1990, a man named Bill
Leonard told an amazing story
835
00:44:17,323 --> 00:44:20,363
to a journalist at
the Knoxville News Sentinel.
836
00:44:20,403 --> 00:44:23,043
**
837
00:44:23,082 --> 00:44:27,363
-Thornton had talked Bill
Leonard into travelling with him
838
00:44:27,403 --> 00:44:29,562
to help provide
security for him.
839
00:44:29,602 --> 00:44:32,642
But apparently Leonard thought
that was gonna be in Florida
840
00:44:32,682 --> 00:44:35,082
or The Bahamas,
but Thornton kept flying,
841
00:44:35,122 --> 00:44:38,923
and they ended up in Colombia,
surprising Bill Leonard.
842
00:44:38,963 --> 00:44:42,202
**
843
00:44:42,242 --> 00:44:44,963
-You have to ask yourself
how plausible that is.
844
00:44:45,003 --> 00:44:48,642
But, you know, the Bill Leonard
that I knew was a stand-up guy,
845
00:44:48,682 --> 00:44:51,883
and you could believe him.
846
00:44:51,923 --> 00:44:54,242
-Leonard has never been
charged with a crime.
847
00:44:54,282 --> 00:44:56,642
And I spoke to former detectives
from Lexington
848
00:44:56,682 --> 00:44:58,483
who believe his story.
849
00:44:58,523 --> 00:45:01,843
They're convinced that he was
an unwitting accomplice
850
00:45:01,883 --> 00:45:05,202
in that smuggling run.
851
00:45:05,242 --> 00:45:07,082
I don't know how you account
for the fact
852
00:45:07,122 --> 00:45:09,963
that someone as experienced
as Drew Thornton
853
00:45:10,003 --> 00:45:12,682
as a paratrooper
did not survive that night
854
00:45:12,722 --> 00:45:16,323
and the totally inexperienced
Bill Leonard did.
855
00:45:16,363 --> 00:45:19,843
Pure luck? Perhaps.
856
00:45:19,883 --> 00:45:21,803
-I've asked a number
of the investigators
857
00:45:21,843 --> 00:45:23,162
from the federal aviation
858
00:45:23,202 --> 00:45:25,883
to the FBI to the state police
in Tennessee.
859
00:45:25,923 --> 00:45:27,883
Nobody has any answer.
860
00:45:27,923 --> 00:45:29,443
**
861
00:45:29,483 --> 00:45:31,803
-Much of what happened
in the skies over Knoxville
862
00:45:31,843 --> 00:45:35,082
remains a mystery.
863
00:45:35,122 --> 00:45:38,803
Can more answers
be found in North Georgia?
864
00:45:38,843 --> 00:45:41,923
And what really happened
to the cocaine bear?
865
00:45:49,803 --> 00:45:52,162
**
866
00:45:52,202 --> 00:45:55,923
-On Andrew Thornton's
final flight in 1985,
867
00:45:55,963 --> 00:45:58,682
he drops several duffel bags
full of cocaine
868
00:45:58,722 --> 00:46:02,162
over the Southern United States.
869
00:46:02,202 --> 00:46:03,562
-There was a map
870
00:46:03,602 --> 00:46:05,963
that showed where the cocaine
was found along the way.
871
00:46:06,003 --> 00:46:09,883
And you could just about
track his line of flight
872
00:46:09,923 --> 00:46:12,323
where the packages
were thrown out.
873
00:46:12,363 --> 00:46:18,722
**
874
00:46:18,762 --> 00:46:21,762
-One lands in the woods that are
the home of the cocaine bear.
875
00:46:21,803 --> 00:46:23,162
[ Bear growls ]
876
00:46:23,202 --> 00:46:25,722
-One of the DEA agents
called back and said,
877
00:46:25,762 --> 00:46:27,762
"You know that a bear
878
00:46:27,803 --> 00:46:30,003
got into that cocaine down there
in the woods."
879
00:46:30,043 --> 00:46:32,242
And I was like, "Oh, come on."
880
00:46:32,282 --> 00:46:35,403
And at first I thought that,
you know, that was, they were,
881
00:46:35,443 --> 00:46:37,762
they were kind of gigging me
a little bit,
882
00:46:37,803 --> 00:46:40,003
but actually, it did happen.
883
00:46:40,043 --> 00:46:45,043
**
884
00:46:45,082 --> 00:46:47,963
-When Fran Wiley's officers
get to the scene,
885
00:46:48,003 --> 00:46:51,843
there is no cocaine left.
886
00:46:51,883 --> 00:46:54,963
She has her own theory
about what happened to it.
887
00:46:55,003 --> 00:46:58,883
-There was no cocaine
in the duffel bag at the scene.
888
00:46:58,923 --> 00:47:01,722
So where did the cocaine go?
889
00:47:01,762 --> 00:47:03,003
Well, the bear ate it.
890
00:47:03,043 --> 00:47:05,803
Well, no,
the bear didn't ate it.
891
00:47:05,843 --> 00:47:07,762
The bad guys got it.
892
00:47:07,803 --> 00:47:10,843
**
893
00:47:10,883 --> 00:47:14,202
The bear would've never
been able to consume
894
00:47:14,242 --> 00:47:16,282
75 pounds of cocaine.
895
00:47:16,323 --> 00:47:19,843
The pathologist told me
that it had consumed
896
00:47:19,883 --> 00:47:22,883
about 3 grams of cocaine
897
00:47:22,923 --> 00:47:26,963
that was 95% pure.
898
00:47:27,003 --> 00:47:29,963
It would probably
would have been dead
899
00:47:30,003 --> 00:47:32,682
within the first or second bite.
900
00:47:32,722 --> 00:47:35,562
**
901
00:47:35,602 --> 00:47:41,443
My theory is that Mr. Thornton
had a predestined location
902
00:47:41,483 --> 00:47:46,762
for his ground crew
to pick up the cocaine.
903
00:47:46,803 --> 00:47:49,883
And I think that they did.
904
00:47:49,923 --> 00:47:52,722
They probably saw the bear
had got into it.
905
00:47:52,762 --> 00:47:56,162
**
906
00:47:56,202 --> 00:47:59,082
And they picked up
the remaining and left.
907
00:48:04,162 --> 00:48:12,923
**
908
00:48:12,963 --> 00:48:17,282
I've heard many variations
of this story
909
00:48:17,323 --> 00:48:19,682
about the bear
910
00:48:19,722 --> 00:48:23,323
in Lexington, Kentucky,
that is on display.
911
00:48:23,363 --> 00:48:25,323
**
912
00:48:25,363 --> 00:48:29,282
They are portraying it
to be Pablo EskoBear.
913
00:48:29,323 --> 00:48:35,403
**
914
00:48:35,443 --> 00:48:37,883
But that is not my bear.
915
00:48:37,923 --> 00:48:39,523
There's no way.
916
00:48:39,562 --> 00:48:41,403
**
917
00:48:41,443 --> 00:48:46,162
The bear was in no condition
to be taxidermied.
918
00:48:46,202 --> 00:48:48,883
-I think the purveyors
of the display,
919
00:48:48,923 --> 00:48:50,403
if you press them,
they would tell you
920
00:48:50,443 --> 00:48:52,843
that it's not the same bear.
921
00:48:52,883 --> 00:48:54,923
It's symbolic.
922
00:48:54,963 --> 00:48:57,762
-So, what do the mall's
owners say?
923
00:48:57,803 --> 00:49:00,202
They claim that
their "taxidermy bear
924
00:49:00,242 --> 00:49:03,883
is 100% Cocaine Bear,"
925
00:49:03,923 --> 00:49:06,202
and that "if disbelief
is your choice,
926
00:49:06,242 --> 00:49:09,562
then we created
the most fantastic story ever."
927
00:49:09,602 --> 00:49:15,803
**
928
00:49:15,843 --> 00:49:18,043
The whereabouts of
the real cocaine bear
929
00:49:18,082 --> 00:49:22,963
is as mysterious
as so much of this legend.
930
00:49:23,003 --> 00:49:26,282
The story begins with reports
of a dead parachutist
931
00:49:26,323 --> 00:49:28,762
found wearing Gucci loafers,
932
00:49:28,803 --> 00:49:31,803
and even that may be a myth.
933
00:49:31,843 --> 00:49:33,202
-There were incorrect accounts
934
00:49:33,242 --> 00:49:37,722
as to what exactly
he was wearing on his feet.
935
00:49:37,762 --> 00:49:41,082
There was one indication
that he had Gucci loafers.
936
00:49:41,122 --> 00:49:44,282
-In reality, Thornton's
shoes were described
937
00:49:44,323 --> 00:49:48,403
as the "Gucci loafers"
of the parachuting world.
938
00:49:48,443 --> 00:49:54,122
-He had some very expensive
jumping shoes on.
939
00:49:54,162 --> 00:49:58,162
When I was told about them,
they were equated to Gucci.
940
00:49:58,202 --> 00:49:59,923
That's how they tried
to correlate it to me
941
00:49:59,963 --> 00:50:02,242
was this would be like Gucci.
942
00:50:02,282 --> 00:50:06,363
**
943
00:50:06,403 --> 00:50:09,642
I don't think we'll ever know
what really happened.
944
00:50:09,682 --> 00:50:12,642
I think we have
gotten pretty close
945
00:50:12,682 --> 00:50:14,003
with the bits and pieces
946
00:50:14,043 --> 00:50:15,762
and the puzzles
that we've put together.
947
00:50:15,803 --> 00:50:17,843
With the individuals
that are still alive
948
00:50:17,883 --> 00:50:20,843
and the agencies that did
the legwork that they did,
949
00:50:20,883 --> 00:50:24,523
I think we got as close
to knowing what happened
950
00:50:24,562 --> 00:50:27,803
as we ever will.
951
00:50:27,843 --> 00:50:30,762
-A curtain was drawn
over the conspiracy,
952
00:50:30,803 --> 00:50:34,523
the drugs, the murders.
953
00:50:34,562 --> 00:50:37,963
If I had to go to my grave
with that on my conscience,
954
00:50:38,003 --> 00:50:40,242
I would not want
to stand very tall
955
00:50:40,282 --> 00:50:43,202
on the day of judgment
is all I can say.
956
00:50:43,242 --> 00:50:45,363
**
957
00:50:45,403 --> 00:50:49,602
-Bradley Bryant served his time
and then dropped out of sight.
958
00:50:49,642 --> 00:50:54,883
Bill Canan was jailed in 1994
for federal drug charges.
959
00:50:54,923 --> 00:50:57,403
He passed away in 2020.
960
00:50:57,443 --> 00:51:03,003
**
961
00:51:03,043 --> 00:51:06,562
And as for Drew Thornton,
his myth lives on,
962
00:51:06,602 --> 00:51:10,642
alongside that
of the cocaine bear.
963
00:51:10,682 --> 00:51:12,282
-He was a bad guy.
964
00:51:12,323 --> 00:51:16,122
These guys
did this stuff for fun,
965
00:51:16,162 --> 00:51:19,883
and, and that's kind of scary.
966
00:51:19,923 --> 00:51:23,162
-Thinking about Andrew Thornton
and the cocaine bear,
967
00:51:23,202 --> 00:51:27,403
would've Thornton liked to have
been associated with that?
968
00:51:27,443 --> 00:51:28,883
I think he would've thought
969
00:51:28,923 --> 00:51:30,923
the bear was getting
more attention than he did,
970
00:51:30,963 --> 00:51:33,443
and I don't think he would've
liked that whatsoever.
971
00:51:33,483 --> 00:51:36,483
But he probably would've been
amused by it.
972
00:51:36,523 --> 00:51:42,162
**
73998
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