Willing to lend a hand and stick by his bandmates, he was hard to beat when standing by your side. Artimus has had many ups and downs since then, several incarcerations, and a huge falling out with Gary. Photo: Pinterest. Natural causes were to blame. "Sweet Home Alabama" became the southern anthem for millions. Her brother was Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines. The crash killed Ronnie Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, as well as pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. The choppers belonged to the Coast Guard, National Guard and Forrest County General Hospital, who were doing their best to ferry people in, and illuminate the crash site. Artimus Pyle, drummer for the band, stops for a quick picture while en route to the next show. "From there, we followed the lights of the helicopter," he said. His first band recorded its debut at Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, and later bands included RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day. The official cause of death will be announced after toxicology test results come back in two to three weeks. He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back. Collins entered the hospital with pneumonia symptoms and was in a coma the last few days, said longtime friend Ann Thompson. Thats when most of the sober members of the band saw that the right propeller was no longer working. Through the woods, yet another seeker appeared. The tail section broke off, the cockpit broke off and buckled underneath, then both wings broke off. Some blame it on the planes age and poor design, weighing in on its smaller fuselage and compact wingspan. She died from excessive bleeding as her throat had been cut from ear to ear. Small and cramped, it still felt better than lift-off of the Convair CV-240. The choppers belonged to the Coast Guard, National Guard and Forrest County General Hospital, who were doing their best to ferry people in, and illuminate the crash site. The albums that followed featured a plain black background. He claims that Artimus Pyle, drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, survived scathe-less and crawled into the bushes watching Ronnie and the others die in this horrid fiery crash. Ronnie Van Zant was just more than the bands main songwriter, frontman, and singer. Obviously it is hard to dictate the correct story when various opinions and recollections are thrown out, however, it seems to us as though the pilots were aware of the faulty issues of the plane, did not check to make sure that the plane had enough gas, and did not seem to make an attempt to alert the passengers of their timely death. Billy Powell would be in the new starting line-up of Lynyrd Skynyrd until his death in 2009. Cassie Gaines died on the 20 th of October, 1977 in a plane crash at Gillsburg, Mississippi when she was only 29 years old. In 1986, his car ran off a road and crashed into a culvert, paralyzing him from the waist down and killing his girlfriend. Powell's nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. She is famous for starring in Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Goode Behavior, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Lynyrd Skynyrd pose for a portrait circa 1976. He was known as Papa Ronnie. We knew every word. For another crash scene veteran, this was also his first return visit in 38 years. Where Did We Find This Stuff? He suffered a heart attack while on break from tour. The band enjoyed national fame in the 1970s with such hits as Gimme Three Steps and Sweet Home Alabama.. A Convair CV-240. But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically. Billy had taken too long on his intro to the song Free Bird and that didnt set well with Ronnie. Some blame it on the planes age and poor design, weighing in on its smaller fuselage and compact wingspan. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. As we walked through the woods, Governor and I agree that nothing looked or felt the same. Medical personnel arrived and began to ferry out the injured and the dead. The band regularly has different people sit in and play shows with them like Warren Haynes and Dicky Betts. Lead vocalist and founding member of the southern rock band, Ronnie Van Zant, also lost his life in the accident. It Crashed, Killing 3 Members, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Drinking, Fighting, Hell-Raising: The Classic Skynyrd Lineup In Pittsburgh, Associate Press Mississippi Road Signs For Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash Site, Hollywood Reporter Appeals Court Reverses Ban on Lynyrd Skynyrd Movie, Ronnie Van Zant Of Lynyrd Skynyrd Predicted His Own Death, Groove History, 1977 Missippi Convair CV-240 Plane Crash, Wikipedia, History Collection The Deadliest Plane Crash in Canada Killed 248 Soldiers in 1985, History Collection A Plane Crashed into the Empire State Building (1945). "If (that tree) could talk, it'd tell you all about it," he said. I told him that it was the strongest thing I had seen a man do.. A little after the two-hour mark, however, events started to unfold that would soon make history. "He didn't want to talk about it for years.". Crying, praying, and counting the dead to see who they would never hug, play music with, and enjoy company with again. Photo: Pinterest. The singer died in the arms of the surviving band's keyboardist Billy Powell. Thats when most of the sober members of the band saw that the right propeller was no longer working. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. "I had expertise on what to do and growing up in Amite County, Mississippi didn't hurt. On one occasion after a show, he approached Billy Powell who was the bands keyboard player, and punched him so hard in the mouth he knocked his two front teeth out. The album would reach gold in ten days after release and it would eventually go double platinum. Everyone on the flight, except for Ronnie Van Zant, was feeling uneasy and restless. At the time of her death, she was 29 years old. "Live on my brother. Original cover for Street Survivors, 1977Notably, the third member of The Honkettes, JoJo Billingsley, was not on the plane and in fact was home tending to a family member's illness. "They seemed to be chasing him, trying to flag him down. In a separate interview, revealing the story of sound man Paul Welch who suffered traumatic injuries in this crash and was sent into a coma, shares that the plane that was utilized during this trip was already catching fire around the engine area and Lynyrd Skynyrd had requested to cease using it. There are just too few physical landmarks. It is reported that the pilots whose eyes were full of terror, told them to go back to their seats and prepare for impact. "They stopped, straight back there," he said, and pointed to the tree line a quarter mile across open hay fields and woods. I couldn't stand it. The tree where the cockpit came to rest has long-since died. Owners emphasize that trespassers can be prosecuted. Pianist Billy Powell survived, but his nose was nearly torn off and he suffered severe facial lacerations. Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash site draws a pilgrimage. The band got its name as a way of mocking Leonard Skinner, a gym coach at Robert E. Lee High School known for punishing his long-haired students specifically band co-founders Gary Rossington and Bob Burns. Both of which helped the album climb to the No. The site is hard to access. Billy had taken too long on his intro to the song Free Bird and that didnt set well with Ronnie. It was there where he was found dead in his room on July 27. And the hardest-working rock 'n' roll band in America was about to run out of gas. Powells nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. With a newly-released album, "Street Survivors," they were flying from a concert in Greenville, S.C. to the next night's show at LSU in Baton Rouge in a substandard charter plane. Street Survivors was released just three days before the crash and would quickly become a hit. All of the seats were ripped from the frame of the plane, landing in the front section of the crash. Shining from what seemed to be a small house on a dairy farm. These combinations of poorly built aircraft and less than acceptable crew quickly led to the dismissal of the band leasing out their services. Varying accounts have Mote either firing a warning shot into the air or actually shooting Pyle in the shoulder no report is completely reliable. Sit down. The plane had taken off with a faulty gasoline gauge that fooled the pilots into thinking that the plane was equipped with the appropriate amount of gas to reach their destination. Coincidence? Natural causes were to blame. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. I used my camera in my work. Easley knows he wasn't the first on the site, but he was there early. She was hesitant because she had seen a small fire in one of the engines the previous day. Mike Rounsaville also arrived in the jeep with Dr. Lewis. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. Aerosmith's touring family was also relieved because the band, specifically Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, had been trying to pressure their management into renting that specific plane. His post noted that he and many others had made pilgrimages for years to the site to pay their respects. Gary continues on the band with Ronnies brother, Johnny Van Zant, and guitarist Ricky Medlocke. He was a walking treasure trove of names, facts and figures. As a member of the Civil Air Patrol on that fateful night, he heard the report of a plane crash over the citizens band radio. Photo: Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader. It was rumored that it was Ed Kings (original guitar player for Lynyrd Skynyrd) wife but it was not confirmed. Marc Frank recalled hearing both engines on the plane then within a matter of minutes, just air passing over the cabin. Suffocating the people on the bottom from the sheer weight. In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. The sky is the limit for the talented actress. Her mother passed away on 15th February 1979 in a car accident. I've not looked at them since. She was requested to join the band as a backing vocalist. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. The plane killed three band members (Ronnie Van Zant, Cassie, Steve Gaines) and Dean Kilpatrick (assistant road manager), Walter McCreary (pilot), and William Gray (co-pilot). Especially Artimus, who had three broken ribs and multiple large cuts. The band buckled in. The death of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gains of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was a massive blow to many. Cassie Gaines cause of death The talented singer met her death at the young age of 29. He smiled broadly and said, "Turn it up! He had already finished a film about the plane crash when Gary and several others stepped in and placed a lawsuit against the film to not be shown to the public. The medical examiner reported that Wilkeson suffered from liver and lung disease at the time of his death. "It was the saddest thing," she recalls, 11 years later. Small and cramped, it still felt better than lift-off of the Convair CV-240. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. In addition to his fractured ribcage, Artimus Pyle was treated for numerous abrasions and contusions. "Seems like everyone is writing a book. Pilot Walter. As the three marched on, feet soaking wet from the water, all odds seemed stacked against the trio. Over the ridge, a World War II vintage Willis Jeep crawled down a dusty logging trail. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. But soon, the helicopters that were heard and seen previously were on the scene. Ronnies mother Marion refused to make the flight, after seeing a horrific plane crash of her own that killed 9 people. Bianca is a force to be reckoned with in the American film industry. Especially with the song That Smell. Cause of death: Car accident. A costly mistake at 9,000ft or so. Four of the passengers were killed including bandleader and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines and assistant tour manager Dean Kilpatrick. Aerosmiths management passed on the opportunity to call this plane their own. Here are 10 facts about Lynyrd Skynyrd and their fateful end. It would also be the first album that guitarist Steve Gaines would be the sole guitar player on. Marc Frank recalled hearing both engines on the plane then within a matter of minutes, just air passing over the cabin. The guys hit the dirt and yelling out with what they had left Hey! Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? He pulled the lifeless body of Cassie Gaines up by her belt. It was known that the right engine's magneto a small power generator that provides spark and timing for the engine had been malfunctioning (Powell, among others, spoke of seeing flames shooting out of the right engine on a trip just prior to the accident), and that pilots McCreary and Gray had intended to repair the damaged part when the travelling party arrived in Baton Rouge. I quickly maneuvered free of a crumpled bumper and sped off. The crash killed singer/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. As we walked, Easely pointed to a towering pine. A small plane with 40 seats and two props the plane was anything but extraordinary. Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, Kilpatrick and the pilots were laid in a temporary morgue at a local high school gymnasium. Click to reveal The rest of the group had no idea at the time that they would never see the face of Ronnie again. Ronnies mother Marion refused to make the flight, after seeing a horrific plane crash of her own that killed 9 people. She performed as a backup singer in popular hits such as One More Time and That Smell. Artimus Pyle and Gary Rossington are the only two members alive today from the crash. A spokesperson for the band's record label said Wilkeson died in his sleep Friday at a hotel near Jacksonville, Florida. Yen.com.gh shared an interesting piece on Bianca Lawson age, parents, husband, kids, net worth, and movies. There is some speculation as to why the second engine had ultimately failed. It would take hours to remove the bodies of the dead and injured from the plane. Updated cover after plane crash, 1977The official NTSB accident report reads, "The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to fuel supply. The other two members were JoJo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins. I knew my camera had stories to tell. Tuesday October 20, 2015 marked the 38th anniversary and drew several veterans from the night of the crash. At the beginning of the flight, all was well, amid high tensions. On hearing of the accident, Billingsley was so shaken that some of her hair fell out. The rest of the group had no idea at the time that they would never see the face of Ronnie again. Ronnie had died instantly upon impact, his head slamming into a tree. There have been several different theories as to the culprits of this . 2023 Getty Images. McDaniel was eager to join me. "You like Lynyrd Skynyrd?" "I've been coming for years," he said, "and I've never met anyone who was here that night. Street Survivors became the band's second platinum album, and was the #5 top selling album on the U.S. album chart. Four of the passengers were killed including bandleader and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines and assistant tour manager Dean Kilpatrick. But we were both enjoying it. He had been impaled by a part of the fuselage and it pushed through his body and projected out of his back. Photo: obviousmag.org. She was famous for being part of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The 22-year-old had been outside bailing hay in the twilight when he heard the crash in the distance, which he assumed was a car skidding in gravel. But after seeing helicopter searchlights, he started to assume it was a jailbreak instead. The guys hit the dirt and yelling out with what they had left Hey! The album had deeper meaning than most. As he looked around the scene, his mind went back. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Wilkeson cheated death in 1977, surviving a crash of the band's chartered plane. Video of a barechested Pyle at the 1979 Volunteer Jam does not show evidence of a gunshot wound. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. It felt like being hit with baseball bats in a steel garbage can with the lid on. Here Are Our Sources: Remembering Lynyrd Skynyrds Deadly 1977 Plane Crash, Jordan Runtagh, The Rolling Stones, What Happened To The Surviving Members Of The Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash?, Micheal Cristopher, Ultimate Classic Rock.com, Falling Free Bird: The Truth About The Infamous Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash Is Stranger Than Fiction, Phil Gibbons, Ranker.com, The Joplin Globe Steve and Cassie Gaines to be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. I dont know who you think we are but we were on a plane and the plane crashed out there on the other side of that cow pasture. Mote instantly connected the dots to the sound he heard earlier and the men that lay before him. But I loved the bonding. 5 album. Everyone was afraid of riding on this plane. As the Houston Press reports, the crash took Van Zant's life, as well as the lives of band member Steve Gaines and his sister, backup singer Cassie; and Dean Kilpatrick, the assistant road manager. I had never seen anything like it before. His only help at that moment was his neighbor, Dwain Easley. In Genes interview, he mentions that he ran to the cock pit and to alert the pilots of the exploded engine and their response was Nothins wrong. Where Did We Find This Stuff? "Folks were all mashed together. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. My college roommate was a young photojournalist. At least one member, background singer Cassie Gaines, had refused to board the flight, but was convinced against her better judgment. Stinky! The tour is scheduled to run through mid-September. Marc Frank, a 24-year-old roadie traveling with the band, noticed what seemed to be fuel spewing from the right engine. David Bowie Reveals His Favorite Songwriters, Michael Jacksons Daughter Release New Song, Fans Wants To Cancel Roger Waters Concerts, Ozzy Osbourne Give Update On Possible Touring, Why Keith Richards Was Jealous Of The Beatles, Dave Grohl Reveals His Favorite Paul McCartney Track. The band would be marked for strife as just before their inaugural tour, Allens wife would bleed to death due to a miscarriage. With my camera at the ready, the translator and I stood watch on the prow of the brightly colored wooden boat as we plowed the exotic coastline. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to the fuel supply. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. The Convair 240 itself had been inspected by members of Aerosmith's flight crew for possible use in the early summer of 1977, but was rejected because it was felt that neither the plane nor the crew were up to standards. He suffered a heart attack while on break from tour. Skip to main content. On another occasion, while reportedly on a drunken rage, he even slashed the hands of Gary Rossington, his best friend and guitarist, with a broken beer bottle. Cassie Gaines Birthday and Date of Death. Last of the two surviving original member of the band, Gary Rossington, with Johnny Van Zant to his left and guitarist Rickey Medlocke to the right. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. Powell's version of events has been discounted by both Artimus Pyle and Judy Van Zant Jenness, who posted the autopsy reports on the band's website in early 1998 in order to set the record straight. Mote fired a warning shot in the air. I'm really not sure anymore," he said. You all just better get some rest. Dan Barnes recalls saying This man had just been to the funeral home and seen his son dead and decided to keep that to himself for these guys to heal. Photo: thetv.info. She was brought up in Miami, Florida, alongside her brothers, Bob and Steve. Cassie Gaines mother was LaRue, while her father was Bud. My younger brother and I banged out "Freebird" on a cheap set of drums in our bedroom. Cassie Larue Gaines was an American singer. I was a young graphic artist at the time. It wasn't a Cessna; it was a Convair CV 240, a twin engine, 40-passenger plane that was down in heavy woods near Gillsburg. On several occasions, the latter shined through. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a FANDOM Music Community. Other band members were injured, some very seriously. Lynyrd Skynyrd stops for a shot in 1973. The Vintage News Aerosmith Said No, Lynyrd Skynyrd Said Yes To The Plane. Collect, curate and comment on your files. A Convair CV-240, similar to the one in the crash. ", "I never cared about flying in an airplane," he said. The official report of the crash read: "The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determines that the probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to the fuel supply. He could see the circling helicopter from his back yard. Collins began his rise to success as the lightning-fingered guitarist for the Jacksonville band formed in 1966 by a group of high school students. The album had a very controversial cover when released. On October 20, 1977, Cassie Gaines died of non-communicable disease. It sounded great to us. There were 26 people on that fateful flight. On several occasions, the latter shined through. Gary Rossington, one of the bands guitar players, had suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, a punctured stomach and liver. I didn't know where this was going. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. The accident essentially destroyed one of the unique voices of American rock and roll. Marc Frank, a 24-year-old roadie traveling with the band, noticed what seemed to be fuel spewing from the right engine. On October 20, 1977, a Convair CV-240 carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana crashed outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. The pilots would have to make an emergency landing. Headline from a local newspaper reporting the crash. Sang background vocals (one of the Honkettes) for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Musician. Band members Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell entered the cockpit to get an idea of what was happening. Gabel says he's been to the site 15 or more times. "I saw the blond hair," he said. Freebird, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 10/20/77 and a notebook-sized rebel flag are deeply etched into the old bark. The location sounded familiar so he asked them to repeat. Cassie was 29 years old at the time of death. I'm from southern Thailand. Johnny Mote and his ragtag team were first on the crash site. The plane was produced from 1947-1954. But soon, the helicopters that were heard and seen previously were on the scene. Also Known As: Cassie LaRue Gaines Died At Age: 29 Family: mother: Cassie LaRue Gaines Died Young Rock Singers Died on: October 20, 1977 place of death: Gillsburg, Mississippi, United States U.S. State: Oklahoma Cause of Death: Plane Crash Recommended Lists: American Celebrities Film & Theater Personalities American Women Women Singers While the site is duly remembered, it is on private property and is not open to the public. Allen Collins, another guitar player for the group, had cracked two vertebrae, and the cut to his right arm was so severe, that it almost required amputation. Rossington recalls saying It was always weird for Allen and me because we were up front in the plane. But not all had the intentions of lending a helping hand. Photo: hu.wikipedia.com. Headline from a local newspaper reporting the crash. Wilkeson cheated death in 1977, surviving a crash of the band's chartered plane. Allen Collins kept moving on, eventually getting together with Gary Rossington to form the Rossington Collins Band. Members of the band that survived the crash said that Cassie actually . For members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, the weight of what happened seemed to push down on them the most. Losing daylight, the pilots desperately looked for an open field or some kind of saving grace. At the time of her death she survived by her large extended friends and family. But I couldn't stand it any longer. Van Zant died instantly of blunt force trauma to the head. Artimus Pyle was also notoriously outspoken against the plane and on several occasions would take buses to shows. The cover would quickly be changed to a more bland blacked-out background with the band in the same pose after the accident. She was sick and would meet up with the band in Arkansas to continue the tour. Collins recovered and began performing again, eventually forming the Allen Collins Band. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a staple on rock, classic rock, and southern radio stations. The album would go through several cover changes and would mark a new era for the guys. The pilots were still in their seats, but were laying upside down in nearby trees. Other band members were injured, some very seriously. When the group asked Ronnies father how he was, he simply replied Hes fine. Rescuers look over the wreckage of the 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash. Some of the guys were playing poker. Aerosmiths band management at the time was looking at a Convair CV-240. The two men, for a while, were the only able-bodied persons present to help pull people from the wreckage. He had been hospitalized since September. Van Zant himself "loathed flying," as Rolling Stone. The pilots would have to make an emergency landing. The other band members Collins, Gary Rossington, Wilkeson, Powell, Artimus Pyle, and Hawkins, tour manager Ron Eckerman, and several road crew suffered . But one thing I'm proud of. But sadly when he drank, which was quite often, his demeanor and character qualities changed drastically. One of them being completely decapitated. In an interview in the book Walk This Way, Aerosmith's assistant chief of flight operations Zunk Buker tells of seeing pilots McCreary and Gray trading a bottle of Jack Daniels back and forth while Buker and his father were inspecting the plane. A Convair CV-240, similar to the one in the crash. When the group asked Ronnies father how he was, he simply replied Hes fine. After claiming his deceased son, Lacy Van Zant went to visit the other members of the band at the hospital. memorial page for Cassie LaRue Hatfield Gaines (26 Nov 1926-15 Feb 1979), Find a Grave Memorial ID 37010431, citing Jacksonville Memory . The whole scene tore him apart. But there wasn't any gas on the ground because they ran out of gas.". He, like me, was 21-years-old at the time. Governor said, "I'm bad about leaving an empty beer bottle and a full one for Ronnie and the boys" each year. Part of the preparations required contacting landowners and securing permission to be there and a guide to lead me in. He then assembled a convoy of trucks and four-wheelers to locate the crash site and rescue the survivors. A design that would most likely lead to the infamous crash. For members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, the weight of what happened seemed to push down on them the most. I began the classic guitar lick. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. One such silent witness has found a way to talk. You all just better get some rest. Dan Barnes recalls saying This man had just been to the funeral home and seen his son dead and decided to keep that to himself for these guys to heal. He was known as Papa Ronnie. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2fad0cc830fa72 Minutes later he was guiding an ambulance through an overgrown trail. Another 20 were injured, which included keyboardist Billy Powell, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, drummer Artimus Pyle and bassist Leon Wilkeson. Los Angeles, Billie Eilishs phone is now internet-free: Im like: Ew! Photo: Pinterest. Violent, wild, and belligerent, Ronnie was a force to be reckoned with. I'm still not sure why. We had a friendly translator whose command of the English language was poor at best. Totaled, decimated, and left for dead. I would like to think that only one grave robber was involved, but so many items were missing that I have to believe otherwise. It was as if they were back in Noahs time and all but a select few were stricken with greed of mankind and the chance to capitalize on an easy opportunity.