Books similar to the bluegrass conspiracy goodreads. Alabama jubilee ballad of jed clampett bill cheatham blue ridge mountain blues. The bluegrass conspiracy is a widely told story about crime and corruption in the lexington police force in the 1980s. Nov 30, 2012 sally denton said in her book the bluegrass conspiracy that his great grandfather had been treasurer of transylvania college and his grandfather had been a surgeon and president of the state medical association. The son of carter and peggy thornton of threave main stud farm in southern bourbon county, kentucky, thornton grew up living a privileged life in the lexington, kentucky, area and attended the prestigious. 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. So, henry vance knew it was the kind of town where problems were often handled with one phone call to the right person. Privilege, and justice and in sally dentons the bluegrass conspiracy. I should state that the book the blue grass conspiracy. Power, privilege, and justice and in sally dentons the bluegrass conspiracy. Bluegrass conspiracy a great truelife thriller the book bluegrass conspiracy reads like a great movie thriller, but this is all true to life and a wellresearched story.
Bluegrass conspiracy tale never gets old lexington herald. Flynn, melanie d, january 25,1977 page 2 porchlight. Remember former state house member and bluegrass conspiracy actor henry vance. These are books which were either ones i had particularly enjoyed so to speak or were hard to find.
When kentucky blueblood drew thornton parachuted to his death in september 1985carrying thousands in cash and 150 pounds of cocainethe gruesome. The scandal produced a book in 1989, the bluegrass conspiracy, that drew raves and jeers with big sales. Sep 17, 2008 the bluegrass conspiracy was a multimillion dollar drug ring involving well connected members of the lexington community and the police force. Summary of plot the bluegrass conspiracy is about what happened with drew thornton, bill. Doubleday publishers i found this book to be quite entertaining and a very interesting read. There will be heavy use of quotation marks throughout the rest of this column. Hatched on manhattans upper west side, its motives remain shrouded in. Sally denton, the author who titled her book about this event the bluegrass conspiracy, delved deep into the mindset of the police force at this time, and uncovered the greed and power behind this drama. Nobody could make up a story like this one with a straight face, but this is apparently all true. A wildly popular thread on the lexington, kentucky topix forum filled with facts, theories, and inevitably fiction, titled the bluegrass conspiracy a reference to sally dentons book the bluegrass conspiracy. The bluegrass conspiracy by sally denton goodreads.
The bluegrass conspiracy by sally denton and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. When kentucky blueblood drew thornton parachuted to his death in september 1985carrying thousands in cash and 150 pounds of cocainethe gruesome end of his startling life blew open a scandal that reached to the most secret circles of the u. Nov 30, 2012 this scandal has been called by many the bluegrass conspiracy, a term coined from sally dentons book that details the events of the scandal and the lives of those involved. 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. The hamburg place horse farm, nearly 2000 acres originally purchased by john e. Jan 27, 2011 his wife of 35 years died on the comair plane crash at the bluegrass airport in 2006 where 49 south bound people perished.
The discovery of andrew thorntons body in knoxville, tennessee really shed light on the corruption that was present in the lexington police department. Bobby and melanies mother, ella ritchey flynn, believe canan was involved in their daughters disappearance. Im from kentucky so it was interesting reading about something that happened in your own backyard. He and henry vance, another younglexingtonblue blood who entered the police force the same time that drew did, began. The bluegrass hills were vibrant under the strong september sun as hundreds. Bluegrass conspiracy supplemental company drug plane down. I was around and knew a lot of the lexington bunch. Wrd 110 final project the bluegrass conspiracy yourmochila. Andrew carter thornton ii october 30, 1944september 11, 1985 was a former narcotics. Dec 12, 2011 the bluegrass conspiracy is a widely told story about crime and corruption in the lexington police force in the 1980s.
See 850912, 870112, 871123, 890225, 900820, 930409, sally denton, the bluegrass conspiracy, doubleday, 1990. The book bluegrass conspiracy reads like a great movie thriller, but this is all true to life and a wellresearched story. The city of lexington, kentucky, has made major changes since the 1970s and 1980s. Rumors at the time of melanie flynns disappearance were that she knew too much about the lexington police drug trafficking. Dec 08, 2011 many books have been written regarding these happenings, one of which, sally dentons the bluegrass conspiracy, i have used as research for the writing of this piece, and all information regarding andrew c. Oct 18, 2007 it is the topic of the bluegrass conspiracy, sally dentons 1990 truecrime classic. He served as the 55th governor of kentucky from 1979 to 1983, although he may be best known for building kentucky fried chicken into a multimilliondollar restaurant chain. Have you read the book or know anyone that was involved with this.
The bluegrass conspiracy was a multimillion dollar drug ring involving well connected members of the lexington community and the police force. Sep 11, 2010 bluegrass conspiracy tale never gets old. She later attended western kentucky university for two years before transferring to the university of kentucky uk in 1952. Hes been quite successful, even though implicated in much of the cover up documented in ms. The mourners, by most accounts, made up a whos who in kentucky. Andrew carter thornton ii october 30, 1944september 11, 1985 was a former narcotics officer and lawyer who became the head member of the company, a drug smuggling ring in kentucky.
An inside story of power, greed, drugs and murder contained a short, obscure statement from an anonymous author referencing a huge london, ky connection in. His wife of 35 years died on the comair plane crash at the bluegrass airport in 2006 where 49 south bound people perished. His family was connected through business to leonard lawson who just. Soto was charged with conspiracy and aiding and abetting those attempting to import and distribute cocaine. Collins chaired the democratic national convention one year and was considered for the vice presidential nomination eventually taken up by geraldine ferraro of new york. Indeed, he believed, talking of thus spake zarathustra, that with this book of.
Jun 26, 20 we have our conspiracy theories in the world of bluegrass music, too, im happy to say. The bluegrass hills were vibrant under the strong september sun as hundreds made their way past the bourbon county gravesite. The bluegrass conspiracy have you read the book or know anyone that was involved with this. Ralph ross got nailed for illegally bugging henry vance s phone. Thornton ii, his associates, and their actions during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, is from this source, unless otherwise indicated.
Many of the books are available from sites like and. Vance was a prominent state official who was convicted in 1987 on a federal charge of conspiracy to transport a firearm that was used in a murder. Henry vance appeals his conviction of conspiring to transport a firearm in interstate commerce with knowledge that it was to be used to commit murder. Mar 26, 2020 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. The inside story of power, greed, drugs and murder by sally denton should be a prerequisite read. Find books like the bluegrass conspiracy from the worlds largest community of readers. The bluegrass conspiracy 1990 edition open library. While drew got swept up in his new power and escapades, henry was fired from the force in may of 1973 for forging the sheriffs signature on a weapons order.
Woman who killed assistant state attorney to stay in prison until. Bluegrass conjures up visions of kentucky thoroughbreds and bourbon, but as dentona p. He and henry vance, another younglexingtonblue blood who entered the police force the same time that drew did, began a friendship that would last into future ventures. Lexington, kentucky historic henry clay law office in downtown lexington. Im reading it for the 2nd time to pick up on info i missed the first time.
Madden in 1898, had produced five kentucky derby and five belmont stakes winners including the first triple crown winner sir barton. Consequences and effects of all the people involved in the illegal drug ring also known as the bluegrass conspiracy, very few were ever punished. Well, hes lost his appeal to get his kentucky insurance license back. The real bluegrass book pdf book best seller directories. The tale is widely known and told around the country and it never gets old. Rotten roots of the bluegrass viceandsuicideinthebluegrass. The mystery of kentucky state senator, bobby flynns daughter, melanie flynn, remains unsolved. I found it so interesting that such things happened in and around lexington in the 80s. An inside story of power, greed, drugs and murder contained a short, obscure statement from an anonymous author referencing a huge london, ky connection in regards to the. Bluegrass conspiracies pop up again bluegrass today. We have our conspiracy theories in the world of bluegrass music, too, im happy to say. Bluegrass conspiracy supplemental company drug plane. Its fitting because ours is a kind of music that has been systematically denied massmarket exposure for decades, and i suppose thats just a coincidence. Hatched on manhattans upper west side, its motives remain shrouded in mystery.
Dec 18, 2012 soto was charged with conspiracy and aiding and abetting those attempting to import and distribute cocaine. An inside story of power, greed, drugs, and murder by sally denton and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I left kentucky in 1983 and developed what i had uncovered during my threeyear stint there into the book the bluegrass conspiracy. Lexington, though a diverse and alluring city in many ways, has not always had a sparkling reputation. Below are the links to days of research i have done on the topic. It would have been impossible to predict that henry vance and bill. It is the topic of the bluegrass conspiracy, sally dentons 1990 truecrime classic. The son of carter and peggy thornton of threave main stud farm in southern bourbon county, kentucky, thornton grew up living a privileged life in the. The main director of the bluegrass conspiracy, andrew thornton iii, was the only one who truly suffered any consequences. Denton quickly moves through the drug and weapons smuggling group, the company, that was largely based out of lexington, kentucky.
Sterling native bill canan, a purported member of the company profiled in the book the bluegrass conspiracy, was released from federal prison sept. Sharp and other unidentified people began planning the conspiracy in july 1985. An inside story of power, greed, drugs and murder by sally denton 1990 stated first edition hardcover in dust jacket 334 pages including index. An inside story of power, greed, drugs, and murder by denton, sally and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. An inside story of power, greed, drugs and murder, published by. There are many biased stories, accounts, and rumors regarding the conspiracy, but personally, i am unsure if anybody knows the truth. Growing up in the bluegrass, i enjoyed because i know of many of the players and places involved. This collection gathers more than 300 bluegrass favorites presented in the straightforward real book format favored by musicians including lyrics where applicable.
After all the corruption done within the lexington police department and within the major families involved, everyone kept a close tab on the others involved and people were sworn to secrecy. The bluegrass conspiracy by sally denton avon 1990 363. Also, does the library lounge still exist in lexington or the farm named triad. Sally denton is an investigative reporter, author, and historian who writes about the subjects others ignorefrom a drug conspiracy in kentucky to organized crime in las vegas. Sources in the lexington pd say the organization still operates today, over 30 years later. Beshears continuing connection with criminal defendants. The search for flynn, who was 24 at the time, had grown cold over the years, but tips to police have prompted new efforts. A unique variety of people make up the population, from tobacco farmers to entrepreneurs and lawyers. Lexington and kentucky state police began a search last friday after they. Nov 30, 2012 the bluegrass conspiracy has dropped off the radar ever since the case was closed as a cold case. Secret scandals in lexington, kentucky mariapienkowski.
Goodreads members who liked the bluegrass conspiracy also liked. The indictment of vance charged that he, bonnie kelly, and stephen vance taylor no relation to henry vance, who was scheduled to be prosecuted by berry on drug charges, planned berrys murder between late december 1981 and january 16, 1982, and that vance gave bonnie kelly the handgun she used to murder berry at berrys home in florida. When kentucky blueblood drew thornton parachuted to his death in september 1985carrying thousands in cash and 150 pounds of cocainethe gruesome end of his startling. Kentucky, also known as the bluegrass state, is known for its horses, bourbon, and beautiful scenery. Full text of andrew carter thornton ii act ii internet archive. Sally denton came around and gathered a few facts and made up a whole lot of the rest of the stuff in the bluegrass conspiracy. Pictures drew thornton found dead on mans driveway after jumping from plane left, drew thornton right, melanie flynn who first drew attention to thornton after her disappearance, bottom. His family was connected through business to leonard lawson who just stood. Martha layne collins 198387 one of the nations first six female governors, ms. Sally denton said in her book the bluegrass conspiracy that his great grandfather had been treasurer of transylvania college and his grandfather had been a surgeon and president of the state medical association. J a personal address book thornton carried is offering clues in the in vestigation, acri said. He was born in lexington on november 17, 1942 to the late henry s. During this time period many corruptions were going on within the major families and the major businesses that shouldnt have been involved with the scandal but more or less have been trying to stop the scandal.
The bluegrass conspiracy by sally denton librarything. Classic true crime book covers this page dates back several years to when i had a particular interest in true crime books. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Many books have been written regarding these happenings, one of which, sally dentons the bluegrass conspiracy, i have used as research for the writing of this piece, and all information regarding andrew c. The bluegrass conspiracy is a fascinating work by author sally denton. I found this book to be quite entertaining and a very interesting read. The book is a little dry and full of grammatical errors and seems to be ill written wondering if anyone remembers anything theyve heard about this. Melanie was working as an informant when she mysteriously disappeared. Rosss pursuit of the three men, particularly vance, cost him his career with the kentucky state police in 1982. My only issues would be how the author skipped around from characters and, for me.
When the story of the illfated pursuit was told in the book the bluegrass conspiracy three years ago, ross was catapulted to near hero status. Congressman carroll hubbard asks fbi to investigate the involvement of henry vance lexington bigwig recently convicted of supplying the gun used to kill the prosecutor in a drug case in florida in wholesale cocaine and marijuana trade in western kentucky. Canan, 63, is a former narcotics detective with the lexington police department, where he helped establish the narcotics division in the 1970s. A jury has found vance guilty on charges of conspiracy and aiding and abetting transportation of a weapon used to kill a. The bluegrass conspiracy by sally denton, 1990, doubleday edition, in english 1st ed. Predictably, neither obit mentioned their involvement in the bluegrass conspiracy and the other sordid events of the 1970s. Police taking a closer look at famous missing person case. Read how the rich boys of the lexington elite whos who get away with drug deals and hush up both the press and local police.
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