Lynn’s Story and Reaction

Sometimes in an investigation, there’s just so much to say, you could easily fill an hour on television. This is the case with our reports on a fatal boat crash in Lake County last year and whether the wrong man is now facing charges.

I want to tell you more about the main victim. 51 year-old Lynn Thornton had just retired as chief investigator for the State Dental Board -- she hadn’t even received her first check.

One of her co-workers wrote to us, “Lynn was a dedicated peace officer for the State of California for nearly 30 years. She believed in the justice system and everything it stood for. As an Investigator for the Department of Consumer Affairs she excelled and was driven to protect the people of California.”

To Mark Weber, the owner of the sailboat, Lynn was his future. The two met on a blind date – they were set up by friends who thought they were a great match. Mark and Lynn were engaged at the time of the crash April 29th, 2006. Weber tells me now, “It’s very difficult to deal with, you know, plans you had for the rest of your life are gone, the person you planned on spending the next 30 years with are gone.”

What we didn’t have a chance to report is that Lynn’s 24 year-old nephew from Texas had a kidney disease, and happened to go into kidney failure the day before the accident. Lynn was a registered organ donor who often talked about donating to her nephew. Lynn’s brother e-mailed us today to say his son received one of Lynn’s kidneys May 4th of last year and is doing fine: “Several other organs of Lynn's were donated to other recipients. Losing Lynn was a terrible tragedy and I would give anything if we could have her back with us, but the fact that she was able to give life to (my son) and others give some comfort and is also a testament to the kind, loving, and generous person Lynn was. Mark remarked in the report that ‘she was an angel’ and she truly was. Lynn was dearly loved by all her family, friends, and co-workers.”

We’re receiving many phone calls and e-mails on our first report – the second airs tonight at 6pm. Here’s a sample:

Lake County Resident: “Your segment touched on the good old boys lifestyle here in Lake County. They really protect their own. It was nice to see someone finally listens to what is happening here in Lake County. Most people here are afraid to say anything. I guess it is the same in a lot of other places. It is a shame people do not even stick up for their neighbors any more. Our justice system is getting off track.”

Viewer: “I saw your report last night on the Lynn Thornton tragedy. Excellent! I can't believe that D.A. It's a wonder he can find his way home each day with those blinders he has.”

Lynn Thornton’s Friend: “That was a great story on Lynn's death. I was ‘one’ of Lynn' s many best friends. Not only best friends but co-workers for about 10 years plus. How can that D.A. say the running lights were not on? That is an out right lie. How can Jon Hopkins say, 'I don't know' if Lynn would have died if Perdock's boat was going at a safe speed? I myself will get on the same sail boat and hit me at 5 mph, which is safe speed and I bet Hopkins I won't even get a bruise much less dying.”

Northern California Boater: “As for that night regarding lights being on or off etc. I've seen the lake on dark nights and my biggest issue with this whole thing is with all of the lights around the shores of this lake - add smooth water reflecting lights - the small running lights on any boat would be very difficult to make out especially at the high speeds the Sheriff was operating his boat. If the high speed runs at night were common place for the Sheriff it is amazing he hasn't killed anyone else. If he had struck a log or some other object and killed one of his own passengers this whole thing would be very different. If he had struck an anchored sailboat this whole case would be very different. Instead he hit a sailboat which was probably going slower than 5mph. As for a sailboat being able to avoid a high speed boat approaching from behind or for that matter spot them with enough time to do something is a whole other thing. Which is why all vessels aproaching another vessel from behind are the responsible party for keeping clear of the vessel they are approaching.”

What’s your take? Watch our reports, view the slide show, and post your comments here.

Comments

[Kathy]

As a retired police officer I can tell you that I am totally disgusted by the lack of investigation by the Sheriff's Dept. They are spending valuable investigation time and probably costing the taxpayers money in overtime building their cover up story. There is absolutely no excuse for what has been going on. Where is the Attorney General? This needs an experienced investigator with no ties to the parties involved. What a sham.

[Tracian Gibson]

In Lake County we have a Sheriff's Officer that is facing several charges of lewd behavior with a child. Apparently this started when the alleged victim was 14 and continued until the age of 16....Why in the world does the local papers ignore such issues?

Is it any wonder that the spin locally is so different than what is real?

I understand that there is or will be a civil suit against Perdock...I can't help but wonder if this is why the DA's office filed charges against Dinius

[Konocti Bay resident]

As a resident of the cove where the accident occured, I frequently go boating both day and night in the same area. I would first like to say I am sorry for the family of Lynn Thorton, they suffered a terrible loss. Since I didn't see the accident, I can't comment on it as others apparently can. I do know that the night prior to the accident, I saw a sailboat go past the end of my pier at night, with no running lights on at all. It was barely visible and I was shocked. I thought that was incredibly foolish, and an definitely an accident begging to happen. Lights can also be turned on and off I believe, so possibly all are right in their comments about what they saw. What matters is how they were at the time of the collision.

[Craig A. Stankiewicz]

Hopkins is correct; A local jury will decide, not the media.
Mr. Dinius, who already lost a dear friend, will most likely be found not guilty.
Yet the problem is that the DA/Sheriffs department will have accomplished their goal; To smokescreen the truth and protect thier own whom is responsible.
Citizens must be very careful, and potential jurors should never forget.

[Agnes]

Someone should look into personal use of vehicles and property of the Sheriff's Department. Perdock seems to use his vehicle for personal and family use even during the hours he is working--even gives family members rides

[Wilma]

It would be interesting to now if Perdock showed up for the deposition this week in Sacramento or if it was cancelled????

[Tracian Gibson]

According to Latitude 38:

The deputy has since filed suit against Weber and Bismarck, claiming they caused his divorce and his emotional distress

What? Is this the deposition that Perdock was going to?

http://www.latitude38.com/letters/200707.html

[dws]

Thank you Dan, I grew up with Mark Weber and have known him since we were elementary school kids. I can assure you that Mark has a heart of gold and in this whole ordeal, he not only lost his love but he almost lost faith in the judicial system. Growing up in the valley, we always heard about how corrupt Lake County Sheriffs are and this once again shows the truth. Mark's friends are those who have values and ethics and they would most certainly stand up to the truth...Perdock doesn't have those same values or ethics, he should be embarrassed to be wearing a policeman's uniform. Please continue with this investigation to bring forth the truth and place a trust back in the system.

[Concerned Citizen]

If warranted, the family of the deceased probably could file a wrongful death law suit against the sheriff's department and Perdock, and then they could notice their depositions, as well as all of the witnesses who saw Perdock driving recklessly (and the sailboat's running lights on.) All of these statements would be furnished under oath. It would be very interesting to see if Perdock takes the fifth at his deposition and then how quick the DA drops their case. The investigation of this case was obviously bungled (either negligently or intentionally). Either way, the matter should be forwarded to the Cal A.G. for further investigation.

[Jennifer, Lake Co. X 25 yrs]

I'd like to first offer My sorrow to the victim's family, And to all of the person's involved in this tragedy. As a boater and a resident of Lake County I am sorry that our community is drawing the media attention in such a negative manner. I like most, am not involved and did not witness the accident but my opinion is this report and backlash seems to be as one sided and biased as people are claiming the county officials of being. As I watched the news program I could only think What is this reporter thinking? Is he intentionally trying to be misleading. There are so many incorrect point's I'm not sure where to begin. 1st point is the "Local Yacht club" pictured that the Sail boat had an "evening dinner" at is nothing more than what local's call a "dive bar and grill" Stiff drink's- beer and burger's and cook your own steak Sunday's, Now it's a great place and ton's of fun but Yacht club???" not even close. #2. Of course the Sheriff officer is not talking why didn't you air the standard "NO Comment" instead of editing it out to to misled the public ?.#3 and this is just for fun, Why did your station choose to edit out the numerous person's interviewed that did not share your biased point of view?. #4 When "re-creating the accident" Why did you choose a camera view 30 yards off the road side of the lake when that was not even close to the area or condition's for the night of the accident? again, Editing is a wonderful option to have, don't we wish we all had it?. I'm not here to judge either side I'm just saying that if the public relies on Dan Noyes for the truth we really are lemmings. Foot note. Why are we overlooking that people were Drunk and still drinking and admitted they had no running lights on. Did I miss something or does alcohol no longer affect one's judgment?

[Cam Lewis]

It is a travisty of justice. As an former Coast Guard Officer and Rule of the Road instructor, the earlier poster was correct about all the rules the deputy violated. The sailboat operators defnitely violated the boating while intoxicated laws and probably should be charged as such but Perdock is the direct cause of the death by operating in an unsafe manner. His own comments are damming. He should be the one charged with manslaughter.
Yes, it is doubtful any jury in the world would convict Darius but it should never get that far. The DA and everyone in the investigating depart should be fired immediately.

[bill]

Has the word NIFONG been used with this tragic case yet?

[49 Years boating on Clear Lake]

Living in Lake County for almost 50 years, with most of those spent on the lake, I am saddened to see this story being turned into a worse mess.

The captain was very wrong - dead wrong, in this case - if he did not have his boat's navigational lights on!

I see it all the time on the lake, and it always amazes me how stupid these boaters are to risk their lives & others - for what reason would you boat at night without lights?? - maybe the alchohol the people on the sailboat had consumed made them forget about turning on their lights. That is the real tragedy here.

There is no speed limit on a lake this large. Anyone with half a brain knows better than to leave the safety of a dock or berth and head out into boating lanes without their navigational lights on - it's against the law.

Sound carries very well on water, so I doubt very much that the sailboat did not hear such a large boat approaching, unless they were well under the influence and that slowed down their reaction time, if any. A boat on this lake just does not appear out of nowhere & w/out sound - it's impossible unless the sailboat had loud music playing, but then again, that would be their mistake.

I don't have a problem with boating laws as they are, nor do I have a problem with folks drinking on the lake within reason. I do, however, have a problem when it comes to people not owning up to their mistakes, as in boating w/out navigational lights on.

It is so very easy to see another boat's navigational lights at night, no matter what your speed is. Come up this way - we would be very happy to show you and your crew the waters at night.

People that fish on the lake, via boats, at night - sometimes they turn off their lights to fish...when they hear a boat approaching, you see their light come on suddenly...not really the smartest idea, but at least they find their light switches in time.

You should all be aware that many people are upset over the loss of life in this accident, but you can't blame someone just because he happens to wear a badge - do you all think that this didn't affect him? Good grief, I can't imagine the nightmares he and his passengers must have gone through. Same with the sailing party, but it seems they are now thinking that they were in the right? No way.

[Tracian Gibson]

IF everything is so on the up and up..why did the statements of the other witnesses only get included AFTER this report????

I LOVE Lake County...I have lived here most of my life...but I am not blind to the obvious 'special treatment' some get over others...

Ask the family of Zack....

[DK]

Regarding the post by Concerned Citizen; what does the Yaht Club have to do with anything? Regarding your Foot note: Why are we overlooking that people were Drunk and still drinking and admitted they had no running lights on. Did I miss something or does alcohol no longer affect one's judgment?
Thats a good question, why didn't they give the officer Perrock a blood alcohol test on the spot? Why was that overlooked?His speed boat rammed a sailboat and killed someone!
As for the running lights...I guess you have not been paying attention...THEY WERE ON ACCORDING TO 9 WITNESSES!
Talk about one sided, the DA could not even admit that speed could have been a factor? Give me a break. The DA and the sheriff should be facing charges. What a disgrace! I know what has been going on over the last year and "one-sided" is right...only it has been one-sided against the victim!

[concerned]

I cannot believe the comments of "Bill" in this blog... "The sailboat should have had its' lights on"? It sounds as though several witnesses said that they saw that the sailboat HAD its' lights on.
Moreover, a cigarette boat driving at least 45 miles an hour, which is equivalent to 60 miles an hour in a car against a sailboat? COMEONNNNNNNNN!!!

Also, I heard in a commercial on safe boating that the owner of a vessel is in charge of that vessel. Was that Dinuis' boat? Why is he being charged? I am not saying that the owner of the boat is at fault, but for crying out loud, the Deputy, it appears did not even submit to an alcohol test until the next day???? What type of law enforcement is running there? I love Lake County too, but don't give it a bad name!!!!
Doesn't take a rocket scientist-----Cigarette boat traveling at 45 miles an hour against a sailboat.

[Acquaintances]

We knew Lynn and she was what everyone is saying, a super special lady. It is unbelievable the way this has been handeled. We watched in horror early on as the innocent people in this tragedy were accused of her death. We prayed that somehow someway the light would shine on this and expose the law enforcement corruption all the way up to the DA.
For them to knowingly divert this being fully aware it would destroy these innocent men, is sick. Thank You KGO and Dan Noyes for exposing all the very questionable aspects of this. It truly makes one wonder just how many others people in Lake County have been wrongly accused and had their lives destroyed. Please don't walk away from this, dogged it until the end. Justice must prevail.

[Tracian Gibson]

A poster spoke of lemmings...fair enough...but what do we call those that believe everything that the DA and Sheriff's department dishes out...my guess is sheeple...

At the very least lemmings band together to create and continue LIFE...

Sheeple just follow what is easy..and that gets them to the next greener pasture regardless of the consequences..

perhaps one should read some of Perdock's statements, and take into account HE IS SUING those that lost a loved one...

Sheeple...that follow blindly, which is exactly why MY county is in such distress...

I respect many of those that wear a badge, those that disgrace it, put all those good, decent officers at risk..and that this 'lemming' will not sit idly by and allow.

[49 Years boating on Clear Lake]

Cigarette boat vs. sailboat?? BOTH are allowed on the lake, which is Calif.'s largest, natural lake. I forgot to add that this really probably just boils down to some defense attorney smelling & looking for some moolah to be made. Unless the folks in the sailboat were plain rip-roaring drunk, I don't know why they would place themselves so unsafely on the water. If you are in a SLOW MOVING boat, AT NIGHT, you just don't put yourself in that kind of danger, with or without lights.

Perhaps Mr. Perdock was going too fast(legally, he wasn't), but he was only going too fast in the small chance that some idiot would be running a very slow sailboat w/out any lights, out in the lake - that is beyond craziness! Perhaps the sailboat captain was more than drunk & forgot about his lights, but an experienced captain would never do that in the first place, in his right mind. If he's not in his right mind, it's his own fault - no one forced him to drink alchohol. Yes, Mr. Perdock could/should have been slower, but, as I hear it up here, the sailboat had won an award at a Regatta here earlier that day & was out celebrating at what you called a "yacht club"*. I don't think the sailboat did this on purpose (no lights), but nor did Mr. Perdock. We'll probably wind up hearing that the next person to be sued in this case will be the sailboat captain and owner. That would also be a shame - all parties have suffered enough - get the attorneys out of the money trough.

*Why do you call the bar & grill that you photographed as the place where the sailboat patronized earlier that night, a yacht club? That makes it sound like an upscale place, when everyone in this area knows it as the spot to go have drinks, dance, and grill your own steaks outside in your flip-flops and shorts & let your hair down? I don't understand how you cannot tell the difference because it is so obvious. Heck, the place is pretty well worn down & shabby! Yacht club?? Are you deliberately trying to mislead in your story because that is where the saiboat was prior to the accident? You said you came up here...did you not visit that place yourself? Course, just maybe we shouldn't put so much faith in what reporter's have "reported" as in the statements made in our local papers about the sailboat running w/out lights, according to fishermen witnesses...I haven't heard them mentioned here.

[Tracian Gibson]

Please post where you get you're legal information about the 'legal limit' and tell me that a speed boat that literally uses a sail boat as a ramp is not 'going to fast'

Perhaps your fight should be with the Coast Guard and the safe boating practices...

I repeat...sheeple, until of course the WOLF comes for you...

[anonymous]

THANK YOU DAN NOYES!!!! Perdock and his D.A. boss are hopefully feeling the stress that the victims' families have been going through for over the past year. All of the lies and efforts to brush this under the rug are now in the spot light. Speed kills - plain and simple. And for those of you who posted idiotic comments about no running lights on the sailboat are as dumb as a box of rocks - 9 WITNESSES SAW RUNNING LIGHTS! I have heard story after story about the Lake County good old boy sheriff's department and it is simply unbeliebvable how these guys get away with cover up after cover up. Well, the clock is ticking now boys and the spotlight is on you! National news is coming up on you as fast as Perdock was speeding in his boat!

[Former Clear Lake Resident]

What is wrong with "49 years boating in Clear Lake" when he posted his statement that "legally Perdock wasn't going too fast"???? Are you related to Perdock or the D.A.???

[Lake County Resident]

Please know there are more people in Lake County who are and have had their lives ruined by what goes on here in the justice system--someone really needs to take a look at what goes on here. Please if you have a problem or want justice--write to your Congressman or to the Attorney General -- I know I will--All facts need to be brought out in all cases--

[DK]

Hello to 49 years boating on Clear Lake. First of all, I don't believe the defense attorney for Bismark is out to make some "moolah". He is defending and innocent man until proven guilty. Bismark was a friend of the victim, Lynn Thornton, and has been unjustly accused of her death. You stated yourself Mr.Perdock was going "too fast". You honestly think he should get off? Have you seen the pictures of the sailboat? Perdock has been charged with nothing. He is getting away with murder.
And who the heck cares about your so called "Yacht Club" is that really the issue here. I don't care what they serve or don't.
F.Y.I. the sailboat captain and owner are being sued, and guess by whom, Yep, Mr. Perdock himself. Claims they broke up his marriage, emotional stess etc.. Wonder why?
And for local papers reporting, come on. The truth, they can't print the truth. Nine, I repeat, NINE witnesses said the cabin and stern lights were on. Why would Lake County print that?! The sailing party doesn't think they are in the right, just not in the wrong!
You must be realted to Perdock or Hopkins?

[Clear Lake Boater and resident]

Clear Lake at night is dark, with or without a moon, and if you don't know the lake, you probably shouldn't boat at night at all. I've seen/heard comments here that indicate the sailboat had lights on and didn't have lights on. I almost hit a sailboat one night that had it's lights on, but they were so dim I thought the boat was much further out in front of me than it actually was. I'm not even sure what type of lights sailboats have for night sailing, but all power boats have lights that are easily spotted if they are on at night.

This tragedy is getting blown way out of proportion. A life has been lost and I'm certain that ALL involved have suffered. I personally know Perdock and consider him to be a responsible, caring member of our community. He does have some responsibility in this accident because he was operating his boat at an unsafe speed under the circumstances. And he should step up and accept that. I think every time I've seen him in his boat on the lake(daytime) it was moving at a fast speed. And I suppose that's what his boat was built for. Does he have responsibilty here, yes. Should he be charged with murder or manslaughter, no. But neither should the person piloting the sailboat at the time. I would wager that even if the sailboat had it's lights on, they would not have been visible soon enough for Perdock to avoid the sailboat, especially approaching from the rear.
And if the sailboat heard and/or saw the power boat coming on them, it probably didn't have time to get out of the way.

The big question is not WHO should face charges but should ANYONE face charges??

The DA made a comment in the news story about the "person who is operator has a responsibility to make sure they're operating in a safe manner"-this applies to BOTH boats and the operators, not just the sail boat!! Whether you're on the highway or the lake you should NEVER operate at a speed higher than it is safe, regardless of any speed limit. And I always heard if you rear end someone you usually get a ticket for failure to control speed to avoid a collision. Perdock and the DA are certainly aware of this. And there may not be ANY safe speed to operate a sailboat or a power boat if you're drunk!!

Perdock left a message and stated he was operating safely and obeying the law while the sail boat operator was not. Perdock needs to fess up to the fact that he was driving too fast for the conditions and was a contributor to this tragedy. And maybe attornies being involved will prevent him from ever saying so.(between attornies and news reporters who knows where this will go!!)

Unfortunately, I feel we have DA's that tend to focus on certain types of crimes. Add to that the fact that he may be trying to protect a respected member of the Sheriff's Department and the community only adds fuel to the fire. No one should be charged here. All involved have suffered and will continue to suffer. Isn't that enough of a price to pay??