LA Weekly: Michael Hastings feared his car had been tampered with

[kpete]

War correspondent Michael Hastings, who died in a car crash in April, had reportedly become concerned that his car had been tampered with in the days leading up to his death, and asked friend Jordanna Thigpen to borrow hers, according to new profile in the LA Weekly.

From the report:

Helicopters often circle over the hills, but Hastings believed there were more of them around whenever he was at home, keeping an eye on him. He came to believe his Mercedes was being tampered with. “Nothing I could say could console him,” Thigpen says.

One night in June, he came to Thigpen’s apartment after midnight and urgently asked to borrow her Volvo. He said he was afraid to drive his own car. She declined, telling him her car was having mechanical problems.

“He was scared, and he wanted to leave town,” she says.

The next day, around 11:15 a.m., she got a call from her landlord, who told her Hastings had died early that morning. His car had crashed into a palm tree at 75 mph and exploded in a ball of fire.

(not trying to start a conspiracy, just posting what I find interesting, mho, kp)
http://www.laweekly.com/2013-08-22/news/michael-hastings-crash/

[msanthrope]

1. Take enough meth, you get paranoid. nt

[Rex]

4. But the drugs were ruled as not the reason he crashed and burned.

But ya some can make ya paranoid as hell.

[AzDar]

5. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you...

[ljm2002]

12. Trace amounts...

...IOW he was not intoxicated while driving. And he had been taking Adderol (sp?) according to reports, a prescription drug that could account for a positive tox screen for meth.

I'm not saying one way or the other. His family apparently says he had a relapse after 14 years, and they were planning an intervention, so that is another data point. It could be that he really had relapsed and was out of control.

But it is not fair to paint him as a drugged-out person, when the coroner's report found only trace amounts that could be accounted for by a legal prescription drug rather than by street meth.

[Incitatus]

28. Investigating generals, CIA directors, pissing off people in the MIC can also make you feel paranoid

Just because you act paranoid, doesn't mean people are not out to get you.

[SidDithers]

44. Yup, my first thought too...

Sid

[Tarheel_Dem]

47. +1

[msanthrope]

56. This place is starting to remind me of this---

[Rockyj]

87. Is this just a sneaky way to spam?

[msanthrope]

92. Your concern is noted. Please feel free to share more of your concerns, and enjoy your stay. nt

[burnodo]

2. don't apologize, kpete

You just keep doing what you're doing and I'll call you one of the most valuable people here at DU

As for this story *sigh* everyone will claim conspiracy theory, AGAIN

[Pretzel_Warrior]

33. I see a pattern regarding Snowden's most ardent supporters and the CT folks

who, despite all manner of independent evidence to the contrary, are certain this journalist was assassinated. I say Heisenberg did it to send a message to any others who would dare to not pay their meth bill on time.

[burnodo]

34. your own interpretation of evidence is not the Gold standard

I see a pattern regarding defenders of the NSA and Snowden-haters and their abject devotion to a certain president

[JI7]

50. so you think people who think Hastings death was an accident are saying so because of Obama ?

hehehhe

[zeemike]

57. Much more fundamental than that.

Any questioning of the official story must be countered...And so the CT label is applied to any questioning because it is an established tool to shut people up with...and we are to believe they never lie to us, and if they did it is for our own good, we should ignore it lest we be ridiculed as one of Alex Jones fans...that works every time.

[silvershadow]

59. +1 nt

[snappyturtle]

76. Well here's a CT for you: I think PW writes these things to

create an insurance policy of sorts to stay off any watch list. imho

[Mnemosyne]

78. Same as it ever was... nt

[sabrina 1]

81. The CT label is an old tactic, too old now to have any impact. Especially when it always

comes the minute people do what all intelligent people do, ask questions. The pattern is so common now, it is to be expected. Like Spring follows Winter.

I think those who constantly use it to try to shut down conversation ARE the CTs.

Eg, remember when the Left did not believe the WMD lies? I was a called a CT for stating that opinion so many times I used to add it to the bottom of my comments, to save them the trouble (these were Bush supporters btw back in the Bush era). But it turned out THEY were the CTs.

When the police are investigating a crime, they look for clues and motive and suspects.

Considering the clamp down on Journalists over the past number of years, when a prominent Journalist dies like this, intelligent people do not dismiss anything.

If people don't trust the authorities, that is the fault of those we trusted who betrayed that trust, who lied the country into war. If a country is capable of lying about something so incredibly important, they are capable of lying about everything. And when the liars are protected rather than prosecuted, that trust is further eroded.

I don't dismiss anything regarding Hastings' death. It could have been a tragic accident, but then maybe it wasn't.

[msanthrope]

55. I guess Walt knocked.

[warrprayer]

3. funny how this kind of shit

never happens to a Bill O'Really or Sean Hannity.

[msanthrope]

7. Breitbart's taking a dirt nap, isn't he? nt

[Rex]

16. As a matter of fact, wasn't his ruled as a drug overdose?

nt.

[cascadiance]

27. A little weird that Hastings, Breitbart, and also Rodney King all died shortly after being on TYT...

I'm certain that Cenk or anyone with the Young Turks had anything to do with these deaths, but it is weird that Hastings was a regular on his show right up to before he died, and Breitbart and Rodney King both had interviews on that show only a couple of weeks or so before they passed.

I guess the conspiracy theory meter alert alarm just rang 10 bells now!

[HooptieWagon]

8. It probably would, if they smoked meth.

And don't forget Ted Stevens who died in the small plane crash. Was that a conspiracy also?

[warrprayer]

9. like this guy?

[HangOnKids]

25. Smoking Meth?

You have PROOF of that claim?

[HooptieWagon]

36. Coroner reported amounts of amphetemine

consistant with having smoked meth a couple hours before death. Also reported amounts of DMT and mj. Family said he had relapsed into drug use, were planning an intervention.

[EOTE]

91. DMT is found in small amounts in everyone's blood stream.

That and the fact that it's metabolized extremely quickly means that its recreational use can't be tested. So I don't know who told you that the coroner reported that, but it sounds like utter BS. The coroner said that he was sober at the time of the crash.

[HooptieWagon]

95. No, thats not what the coroner said.

He said the drugs in Hastings system most likely didn't cause the accident, but thats not saying he was sober. IOW, there wasn't enough drugs to adversely affect motor-reflex skills, but we don't know what effect mentally. If Hastings was having paranoia from drug use, he probably was fleeing an imaginary bogeyman.

[EOTE]

96. Yes, it is.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/coroner-details-journalist-michael-hastings-death-20016317

If he was having paranoia from drug use, the coroner wouldn't have said that he was sober at the time of the accident.

[EOTE]

97. Also, you haven't addressed the clearly bogus "reported amounts of DMT"

Are you aware that DMT is inside us all? Are you aware that there's no test for either blood or urine which tests for its recreational use? By spreading easily disprovable information, you're not helping your case at all.

[HooptieWagon]

98. I'm not pushing a case.

Only relaying what the Coroner's report said, ie: traces of DMT found. If that is as common as you claim, why mention it? No coroner's report says traces of red blood cells found in blood. That it was mentioned, indicates outside the norm..

[EOTE]

99. But you haven't provided any proof of that.

Just said that "the coroner's report said". I'm telling you that I honestly doubt that any coroner's report said that. If it is true, surely you'd be able to find some evidence to support that.

[HooptieWagon]

100. Coroner's report was posted on DU a couple days ago.

Use search.

[EOTE]

102. What a joke. Throw out random bullshit and expect everyone else to prove that you're NOT full of

shit. I've read the coroner's report. It says NOTHING about DMT, got it? Probably not. Let me guess, now you're going to ask me to point out exactly where DMT is NOT mentioned. How asinine.

https://app.box.com/s/qyq9xnffpax0glb6pk5s

[HooptieWagon]

109. Joke's on you.

Autopsy report, noting DMT use:
http://documents.latimes.com/coroner-report-michael-hastings/

[EOTE]

110. Did you read the portion that said "None detected"?

You said that the Coroner's report said that he had DMT in his system. Aside from the fact that DMT is in all of us, the report came back negative. So I ask you once again, where did the coroner say that he "tested positive" or anything remotely like that for DMT use?

[HooptieWagon]

111. Two posts up you claim its always present.

Try and get your story straight.

[EOTE]

112. It IS always present.

I don't know how tests are done for recreational use, most likely elevated levels or metabolites. Regardless, you said that the coroner had "reported amounts of DMT" whatever the hell that means. The reports are negative. Will you now admit to that particular bit of bullshit? There are an awful lot of lies floating around this case. You spreading more of them is doing no one any good.

[G_j]

6. wow

that's quite a story!

[HooptieWagon]

10. Yes. Smoke meth and have paranoid delusions.

Smoke meth and drive at high rate of speed and die in car wreck.

[FreeState]

17. The meth was unlikely to have an intoxicative effect at the time of the accident

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/autopsy/michael-hastings-autopsy-867904

A brother told a coroner’s investigator that he believed Hastings was “currently using DMT,” a hallucinogenic, and medicinal marijuana, which “was believed as prescribed for PTSD, as decedent was a war journalist, having had assignments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in Baghdad a few years ago.”

A toxicology screen revealed “a small amount of amphetamine” in Hastings’s blood, which was “consistent with possible intake of methamphetamine many hours before death." However, the amount detected was “unlikely to have an intoxicative effect at the time of the accident.” Additionally, “marijuana was present in the blood…indicating intake hours earlier.”

[burnodo]

29. marijiana registers for 3 months

no way in HELL anyone could determine when it was taken

[Socal31]

37. 3 months in your blood?

You can estimate when something was taken by the amount found in the blood. "Hours earlier" is not saying "He smoked a joint @ 10:05PM"

[burnodo]

39. 3 months in your blood. Yes

That's why there's an industry for masking marijuana use among prospective employees

[Socal31]

42. NORML says 3-7 days.

What is your source?

http://www.canorml.org/healthfacts/drugtestguide/drugtestdetection.html

[burnodo]

45. Did you only read what you wanted to?

Drug Test Detection Times for Marijuana

How long do drug tests detect marijuana? There is no simple answer to this question. Detection time depends strongly on the kind and sensitivity of the test employed; the frequency, dosage, and last time of use; the individual subject's genetic makeup, the state of one's metabolism, digestive and excretory systems; and other random, unknown factors.

The basic drug test types and their approximate detection times are shown in the table below.

Urine Blood Hair Saliva
Marijuana - Single Use 1-7+ days 12-24 hrs Doubtful
Not validated

(0 -24 hours?)

Marijuana - Regular Use 7-100 days 2-7 days Months
Amphetamines 1-3 days 24 hours
Cocaine 1-3 days 1-3 days
Heroin, Opiates 1-4 days 1-3 days
PCP 3-7 days 1-3 days
The most popular kind of drug test is the urine test, which can detect marijuana for days or weeks after use. Note that urine tests do not detect the psychoactive component in marijuana, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), and therefore in no way measure impairment; rather, they detect the non-psychoactive marijuana metabolite THC-COOH, which can linger in the body for days and weeks with no impairing effects. Because of THC-COOH's unusually long elimination time, urine tests are more sensitive to marijuana than other commonly used drugs. According to a survey by Quest Diagnostics, 50% of all drug test positives are for marijuana.

[Socal31]

49. No, I read what pertained to the report.

It was a blood test, so urine and hair results would not apply here.

[Heddi]

51. did YOU read your own link?

7-100 days in the URINE. 2-7 days in BLOOD.

Autopsies run blood tests for drugs, not urine.

[HooptieWagon]

101. Thats what I've always heard...

for past 40 years.

[jberryhill]

41. That's really neither here nor there

Whether it was present at a level to have an intoxicative effect at that time has utterly nothing to do with the changes it makes to your brain.

I knew coke heads who hadn't touched the stuff in years whose personalities remained permanently shattered.

[They_Live]

63. DMT is kind of odd,

is it in vogue now?? I understand that when you're on it, it's hard to even move because of overwhelming visual hallucinations. It lasts about 20 minutes and then the effect is over rather abruptly. I can't imagine anyone doing that drug on a regular basis, and especially not operating any machinery. Are they implying that he was using this drug at the time of the accident?

[EOTE]

93. The coroner said that he was sober at the time of the crash.

And DMT is found in trace amounts of all mammals, I believe. There are no real tests for the "recreational" or spiritual use of the drug as far as I know. I can tell you that if you are experimenting with either smoked DMT or orally active DMT (in a form such as Ayahuasca), there's no way in hell you'd be driving.

[99th_Monkey]

11. Wow - The Other Shoe Falls.

Hastings was murdered.

[Hydra]

14. Of course he was

The fact that they were hush-hush from the start may as well have screamed it.

If it was so clear cut, it all could have been transparent and over and done with in a few days.

[Cali_Democrat]

18. thank you for putting in the tinfoil hat smiley

I almost thought you were serious.

[99th_Monkey]

23. actually

I am serious, I just wanted to preempt the "nothing to see" crowd.

[Cali_Democrat]

26. ...

[CakeGrrl]

85. I should buy stock in Reynolds or Alcoa.

[HangOnKids]

30. Bam!

Good on you.

[bravenak]

13. It's the meth, yo!

It makes you think way out stuff. Remember Tuco? Cray cray.

[RebelOne]

24. That is so very true.

For years, I had been taking amphetamines to lose weight and I became very paranoid and thought even the Mafia was out to get me. I finally had to go to a psychiatrist. I didn't realize that the pills were causing my paranoia. It took years to recover.

[Aerows]

32. It turns normal people into lunatics

I've never done it, but I've seen the decline of friends who did.

[bravenak]

35. Adderall messed my friend up.

She started digging holes in dirt lots and hiding her ID an SS card in them so the government couldn't track her. I think it caused my Schitzoaffective disorder but the doctor says no. 2 years later and I'm less paranoid but I still am scared of doctors and won't take anything prescribed unless I'm in danger of dying. Paranoia is like living on another planet.

[Aerows]

40. I've known two separate people that were promising and

were in their late 20's. One had a stroke, the other had a heart attack, courtesy of meth. Decent people whose live got ruined, shrunk to the size of a pencil, and pissed away everything they had.

Ultimately, they paid a horrible price, and so did their families and friends when they put them in the ground. It's some ugly, nasty business.

[bravenak]

48. And it ages you so fast.

I've seen twenty year olds who look 50. Missing teeth, bad skin, dry limp hair. We need more and better rehab. If we finally get single payer maybe we can deal with the problems better. I know a guy who recently sold his work vehicle for meth. He used to be so good at his job, working overtime and moving up the ladder and now he's unemployed and running from the police. No insurance, can't get help.

[Aerows]

53. It reduces people to shameful levels

It doesn't matter if they are a reporter, a doctor or a newpaper boy, it just destroys people. I don't understand why people have to make this a conspiracy instead of grasping that simple fact.

And you are right, the way it ages people is horrific. They look like skeletons going through the motions, losing hair, breaking out in pimples, and pretty much looking like death while hyped up higher than a Chihuahua greeting his master at the end of the day.

[JI7]

15. how come his own family accepts it was an accident ?

[Cali_Democrat]

20. They've been paid off by the feds

[JI7]

43. i have seen some actually blame his wife

on youtube comments and some other sites. said she wanted him gone because she wanted someone with more money and other stupid shit.

[CakeGrrl]

86. Yep. "They" got to her just like they

got to John Lewis to keep him in line on the surveillance messaging.

[Polly Hennessey]

19. Keep doing

I agree with Burnodo, kpete. Don't apologize, "just keep doing what you're doing." and thanks.

[kpete]

21. Polly Hennessey

why thank you

I will

Peace, kp

[zeemike]

60. And i agree with both of you.

Don't let them intimidate you into silence Kpete...just keep doing what you are doing.

[quinnox]

22. This article is a good read

I just read all of it, interesting stuff. It is almost like a movie script or something. As to what the truth is, who can say for sure, it all has an aura of mystery surrounding it.

[WillyT]

58. Agreed... Fact Or Fiction... That Writer Is In The Right Town For Future Employment...

[Fire Walk With Me]

31. Ruh-roh. n/t

[Socal31]

38. Hmmm

Princess Di-esque?

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. A new version of Boston breaks

If this is indeed what hapened. What made me curious was the speed the cops declared this a no accident.

[KoKo]

90. LA Weekly Article is a good read. It still leaves some questions

that hopefully can be further explored. I still wonder where he was between when he asked to borrow his friend's car at 12:30 a.m. according to her and when the crash occurred at 4:30 or so a.m.

Also, his brother seems to be very anxious to tie him into higher level drug use in the past months before accident-- but the coroner's report said what was found in his system was not "likely" to have caused the crash.

And, that he moved out to CA and rented an apartment without his wife....but, perhaps her job kept her where she was and so she just visited.

[Aerows]

52. Anyone that is trying to explain that meth

is not damaging, and that there is no way he could have had a car accident after using it is very naive to how damaging a drug it can be. I've known two separate people that destroyed their lives on it and other amphetamines, and they currently reside in the ground in their late 20's.

[MotherPetrie]

54. He had damn good reason to be paranoid, drugs or no drugs.

He was investigating evil weasels who undoubtedly didn't want to be investigated, and they indisputably had the power, ability, and lack of scruples to have him killed to get him permanently out of their hair.

If not being willing to rule out that they did in fact tamper with his car makes me a conspiracy theorist, so fucking be it.

[Raine]

83. Totally agree. nt

[KoKo]

61. I'm hopeful that much more will come out about this. So far...it's

kind of pitiful what LAPD put out there. Which was: "Nothing to See Here...Move Along..because the Guy Had a Relapse and he was a Druggie."

[Z_I_Peevey]

77. Writer Gene Maddaus did quite a good job on reconstructing Hastings' last hours,

something missing from earlier reporting on this tragedy. I appreciated his ability to get interviews with those close to Hastings.

I'd like to hear what those close to him thought of one of his final appearances on The Young Turks, when he urged national security reporters to reveal what they know.

Very impressive article. Everyone should read it all.

[Generic Brad]

62. Is there proof his car had been tampered with?

Thought not.

[99th_Monkey]

64. That his car inexplicably sped out of control to burst into flames is not "proof" enough for you?

no. cars do that all the time.

[Generic Brad]

65. No. It is not.

Drivers on drugs, however, do that all the time.

[99th_Monkey]

66. "traces" does not a 'driver on drugs" make.

You know, don't you, that the coroners report said that there wasn't enough
meth or anything else in his system at the time of death to impair his driving at all.

[Generic Brad]

69. Blah, blah, blah

Argue until you're blue in the face. It may make you feel better but your speculation does not qualify as evidence. If you can't prove his car was tampered with, your arguments are not going to sway me.

[geek tragedy]

67. Cars don't but drivers do. nt

[99th_Monkey]

68. Please see

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3509819

[geek tragedy]

70. Eh, y'all have your religion and no sense trying

to get you to abandon the faith.

[Cali_Democrat]

103. Even if a car bursts into flames

There is still a lot of evidence remaining.

So far there is no evidence to suggest the car was tampered with.

[99th_Monkey]

104. The car's manufacturer claims their cars don't explode like that. nt

[Cali_Democrat]

105. Well, gee

A manufacturer covering their ass and defending their product? This is unheard of.

BTW, can you please provide me with a link to a statement from Mercedes regarding this incident?

Thank you in advance.

[99th_Monkey]

107. Sure. Happily.

At 2:50 minutes

[Cali_Democrat]

108. Sorry.

I can't watch video at work.

Firewall won't let me.

I'll have to wait and view it later.

[99th_Monkey]

113. ok. later. ~nt

[Berlum]

71. I remain skeptical of the official story

despite all the supposed factors buttressing it. I remain skeptical.

Your 'conspiracy whacko' kiss offs are needless, pointless, and in my mind serve only to underline your naiveté.

Hastings' death still smells suspicious.

[senseandsensibility]

72. You should not have to apologize for posting this.

Obviously, I don't know what happened to Hastings or why, and NEITHER DOES ANYONE ELSE. Even if I had facts to prove this source's story was untrue (which no one does), I would just post them. I wouldn't get hysterical and scream
"Conspiracy!" and make fun of them with no refuting facts. So what if some people think it's a conspiracy? Let the chips fall where they may.

[kpete]

73. usually

how I roll

thanks senseandsensibility
you make sense

peace, kp

[MisterP]

89. ah, a fellow Truzzi enthusiast!

[Cha]

74. Yeah, and his wife who had not "relapsed and on drugs for a month before the

crash".. says that it was an "accident".

[DeSwiss]

75. I'm hoping more comes out.....

...even though they've warned-off everyone associated with the case. If truth slips out, it'll more likely be because in the end, we're dealing with ham-fisted idiots.

Here's a report from San Diego 6 reporter Kimberly Dvorak who said that her sources on the police force told her that they were told to keep their mouths shut.

- Like Frank Zappa said, they're starting to take down the scenery.....

K&R

[99th_Monkey]

79. Thanks for that link to the news clip

Yep. No one is talking because they were told not to. Curious minds want to know why.

That Zappa quote is one of my favs.

[ohheckyeah]

80. Great read....

thanks for posting.

[Enthusiast]

84. Kicked and Recommended.

War correspondent Michael Hastings had become concerned that his car had been tampered with.

[MagickMuffin]

88. Hastings died in June NOT April: The person who died in April was Jordanna's fiancée.

In April, a man named Erin Walker Markland drove off a mountain road near Santa Cruz and was killed. The woman who had planned to marry him, Jordanna Thigpen, was devastated. For comfort, she turned to a man who had taken up residence next door. He had been through something similar — years before, his fiancée had been killed.

Just thought I'd post the error, and hopefully you'll be able to correct it.

[closeupready]

94. Sometimes, they really ARE out to get you.

Too much about this story doesn't add up. If that makes me a conspiracy theorist, so be it. K&R

[spin]

106. The mere possibility may make many reporters very hesitant ...

to break a story that might prove embarrassing to those in power or possibly those in organized crime.

Dead men tell no stories.

[blackspade]

114. I'm suspicious,but

I'm reserving judgement until the crash investigation is released and analyzed.
I'm curious why it isn't available yet, anyone know?