Thrasher was considered one of the most prolific drug smugglers throughout the 70's and 80's.

Dealing only in marijuana, Thrasher was a debonaire pilot and devoted family man who lived the life of a movie star and always one step ahead of the feds.

The life he lived took its toll though, surviving deals gone bad, unfortunate landings, and even a nearly fatal stint in a Mexican prison.

But staying true to his nickname 'The Squirrel', Wally was never caught. With feds hot on his tail, he vanished into the South American winds, never to be seen again.

FBI agents Don Lincoln and John Gisler were hot on Wally's tail.

The evidence in this case led to the arrest of over a dozen international conspirators,

the largest drug-bust the Eastern US has ever seen, and the downfall ofthe 'The King of Cocaine' Roberto Suarez-Gomez.

After an associate crashed Thrasher's plane packed full of marijuana

into the Virginia mountains, the Squirrel knew it was time to turn tail.

He was last seen disappearing into the South American wind to never be seen again

and supposedly dying in a plane crash that "burnt his body to ashes."

Months after the crash, his wedding ring that was rescued from the wreckage

was delivered to his wife, undamaged.

Wally Thrasher is succeeded by his wife Olga and two children

Montana, his son, in an ironic turn, became a police officer in North Georgia

but wants to carry on the life of the legend that was his father.