What a 91-Year-Old Man Has Been Keeping in His Basement Got Him a Visit From the FBI

[old steel]

When Andi Essex got an eyeful of Don Miller’s gigantic basement collection of artifacts he’s acquired from his travels around the world, she was enthralled.
“It’s unreal,” Essex told WISH-TV (http://wishtv.com/2014/04/02/fbi-surrounds-home-in-rush-county/) in Indianapolis, adding that the “full skeleton is what blew my mind” and that her “favorite” was Miller’s piece of Hitler’s bunker.
http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fbi-investigates-artifacts-4-e1396543805509.jpg (http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fbi-investigates-artifacts-4-e1396543805509.jpg)Image source: WISH-TV

The 91-year-old is a veteran, former teacher, and was part of the Manhattan Project which created the atomic bomb — and over eight decades has traveled to more than 200 countries, collecting and bartering for artifacts along the way.
“He’s just a very interesting, interesting guy,” Essex told WISH.
Apparently the FBI agrees.
Federal agents took over Miller’s home in Waldron, Ind., about 35 miles southeast of Indianapolis, on Wednesday because they believe some of his artifacts may violate several treaties and could have been “acquired improperly.”
“Over the last several months, an FBI investigation has determined that Mr. Miller may have knowingly and unknowingly collected artifacts, relics and objects of cultural patrimony in violation of several treaties federal and state statutes,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Jones told WISH (http://wishtv.com/2014/04/02/home-video-shows-artifacts-in-rush-county-home/).
Jones said some statutes and laws from the last several decades may not have been in effect when Miller collected some of the items, adding that it’s “our duty to ensure they are properly identified, safeguarded, collected and stored in a manner that allow us to eventually to return them to those Native American and other nations and cultural groups who have legitimate rights to ownership.”
While Miller invited the agents inside his home and told WISH that everything is rightfully his, officials are making sure in a big way. A command station, trucks, and huge tents surround Miller’s house, along with crime scene tape, as they comb through his artifacts.
“He is being cooperative and so far everything is going well,” Paul Bresson, FBI spokesperson, told WISH.
The FBI added all artifacts Miller possesses legitimately will be returned to him; the agency wouldn’t confirm or deny if criminal charges are being filed.
Jones said the FBI will turn over its findings to the U.S. Attorney’s office once the investigation is complete.


http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fbi-investigates-artifacts-e1396543957460.jpg (http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fbi-investigates-artifacts-e1396543957460.jpg)Image source: WISH-TV

http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fbi-investigates-artifacts-3-e1396544035715.jpg (http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fbi-investigates-artifacts-3-e1396544035715.jpg)Image source: WISH-TV

“I have never seen a collection like this in my entire life except in some of the largest museums,” IUPUI Professor of Anthropology Larry Zimmerman told WISH.
The FBI noted that no one is in danger and that they want to return artifacts to their rightful owners and places of origin if necessary — which would be a disappointment to neighbors who’ve viewed Miller’s collection with a sense of awe.
“I had even asked him, ‘Can I bring my Grandpa? Can I?’” Essex recounted WISH after her tour. “He was like ‘Oh, sure! Just call me. Yeah, we’d love to show him through here.’ Because you know, anybody who interested who’s a history buff would love to see some of the stuff he has.”
http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fbi-investigates-artifacts-2-e1396544127202.jpg (http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fbi-investigates-artifacts-2-e1396544127202.jpg)Image source: WISH-TV

“He was just one of those guys that you meet once in your life, and he has a huge impact on you, and you just never forget him,” Melissa Kleiman told WISH.
“He was just one of the most interesting guys I’ve ever met. Loves to tell stories of his travels, and he’s been all over the world.” Among the countries he’s visited are Haiti, New Zealand, China, and Greece.
When she heard that the FBI was conducting an investigation of his collection, Kleiman told WISH she was “flabbergasted.”
http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fbi-investigates-artifacts-5-e1396544267780.jpg (http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/fbi-investigates-artifacts-5-e1396544267780.jpg)Image source: WISH-TV

“I’m just thinking about this wonderful man that I had met three years ago, and I’ll never forget him and all the stories he told us. I just can’t imagine him doing anything wrong on purpose.”


http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/04/03/what-a-91-year-old-man-has-been-keeping-in-his-basement-got-him-a-visit-from-the-fbi/

[Spectrism]

Fucking FBI has nothing else to do? It seems there are too many of them and they are overpaid. They might investigate the destruction of America. Or, they might look into a certain illegal alien pretending to be president of the US. Nahhhh.... let's mess with this guy who has worked hard to collect interesting stuff.

[Serpo]

Remember ,they get paid by the hour...............

[Glass]

what kind of tents are those?

[palani]

what kind of tents are those?

Hazmat?
Biowarfare

[Glass]

Hazmat?
Biowarfare

Don't know but I'm thinking they look useful. I'd like to get something like a large MilSpec tent. Sleep a few people. String a couple together for a temp accom while building a house or some such. I like the ones that have concrete/cement impregnated in them. Pump up and spray with water. Wait until it sets. Presto.

[mick silver]

why do they need all that stuff they have around the house just to get the stuff out of the house , look like some high tech stuff there

[palani]

look like some high tech stuff there
left over from the movie ET.

[Glass]

left over from the movie ET.

the guy sounds like he's been everywhere on earth. Perhaps he's been somewhere else?

there was a song about "I've been everywhere man" but it only included places in Australia. actually no, it was adapted for other countries.

Ok so it seems that songs been every where too.
The song was a number 1 hit in Country Music in November 1962 in the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_in_country_music#No._1_Hits) for the recording artist Hank Snow.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27ve_Been_Everywhere#cite_note-1) The song was also recorded by Lynn Anderson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Anderson) (USA 1970), Asleep at the Wheel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asleep_at_the_Wheel) (USA 1973), Johnny Cash (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Cash) (USA 1996), Chip Dockery (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chip_Dockery&action=edit&redlink=1), Ted Egan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Egan), Little Jan Buckner of Wendy Bagwell & The Sunliters (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Little_Jan_Buckner_of_Wendy_Bagwel l_%26_The_Sunliters&action=edit&redlink=1) (USA 1972), the "Farrelly Brothers" from the television series The Aunty Jack Show (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Aunty_Jack_Show) (Australia 1974, a parody version), John Grenell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grenell) (NZ 1966), Mike Ford (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ford_%28musician%29) (Canada, 2005), Rolf Harris (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Harris) (UK 1963), Clifton Jansky (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clifton_Jansky&action=edit&redlink=1), The Sunny Cowgirls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sunny_Cowgirls) and the Statler Brothers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Statler_Brothers). Harvey Reid also included the song in his Dreamer or Believer album. Original singer Lucky Starr (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Morrison) released an EP called "Lucky's Been Everywhere," which contained four different versions: United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, and Australia (Festival Records FX-10.485 (Australia)).

[Dogman]

the guy sounds like he's been everywhere on earth. Perhaps he's been somewhere else?

there was a song about "I've been everywhere man" but it only included places in Australia. actually no, it was adapted for other countries. Ask and u will receive!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4epAJRPMw&feature=kp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4epAJRPMw&feature=kp

[Glass]

Aussie version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20oqyMVbss0

I like Johhny Cash. Folsom Prison. Burning ROF. I loved the highway men. awesome.

[govcheetos]

Agnut? :p

[Cebu_4_2]

Same shit just made it into social networks:

FBI operation underway at Rush County home By Kylie Conway Updated: Thursday, April 3, 2014, 1:48 pm Published: Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 11:58 am

WALDRON, Ind. (WISH) – FBI agents took over a Rush County man’s home on Wednesday. Dozens of police cruisers, an FBI command station, several tents and crime scene tape litter the block surrounding the home of Don Miller.
Over the decades, Miller has traveled to some 200 countries collecting and bartering for artifacts. He tells CBS News everything is rightfully his, but he’s fully cooperating with the FBI, which believes some of his possessions may violate several treaties.


RELATED COVERAGE | Home video shows artifacts in home (http://wishtv.com/2014/04/02/home-video-shows-artifacts-in-rush-county-home/)

They also believe some if his items could have been acquired improperly. But, nothing Miller has ever had has been a secret.
Chopper 8 flew over Miller’s home on Wednesday. The video shows the sheer number of resources the FBI has pulled for this investigation. Patrol cars litter the road, a command center, and massive tents surround Don and Sandra Miller’s Waldron, Indiana home.


ONLINE EXTRA | Aerial photos of the scene (http://interactives.wishtv.com/photomojo/gallery/11632/1)
BONUS VIDEO | Chopper 8 flies over the home (http://wishtv.com/2014/04/02/video-chopper-8-flies-over-rush-county-home)

“My husband called and said, ‘Andi, Don Miller, he is, the FBI’s there.’ And I’m like, ‘Why? Why? Leave him alone! He’s done so much for people,’” said neighbor Andi Essex.
http://i0.wp.com/beta.wishtv.com/sites/default/files/sites/14/2014/04/don-miller.jpg?resize=160%2C240 (http://i0.wp.com/beta.wishtv.com/sites/default/files/sites/14/2014/04/don-miller.jpg)Don Miller (Provided Photo/Rushville Republican)

Essex’s company did some work in Miller’s home a few years ago.
“It was crazy stuff like that. But, it’s unreal. The full skeleton is what blew my mind and the Indiana artifacts that he had,” said Essex.
They were so mesmerized by his collection they wanted to come back.
“And I had even asked him, ‘Can I bring my Grandpa? Can I?’ He was like ‘Oh, sure! Just call me. Yeah, we’d love to show him through here.’ Because you know, anybody who interested who’s a history buff would love to see some of the stuff he has,” said Essex.
For the second day the FBI was in Rush County combing through Miller’s possessions.
In a brief conversation with CBS, Miller said he invited agents in and says everything he has does belong to him and they were all collected during his travels to some 200 countries.
“He is being cooperative and so far everything is going well,” said Paul Bresson, FBI Spokesperson.
The FBI stresses that no one is in any danger. They’re trying to get artifacts back to their rightful owners and places of origin. Artifacts neighbors say have always been a sense of wonder for the community.
“Hitler’s bunker I think was my favorite. Yeah, the piece of the bunker,” said Essex.
Miller was featured in a four part series in the Rushville Republican. (http://www.rushvillerepublican.com/)
Among this veteran’s travels and collectibles, he also was a local teacher and was part of the Manhattan Project where he helped make the atomic bomb.
“He’s just a very interesting, interesting guy,” said Essex.
This investigation is developing. The FBI says they’re trying to separate what is in breach of any treaty or what was acquired improperly to get those things back where they belong. Everything else will be returned to Miller.
The FBI wouldn’t confirm or deny any criminal charges.

[chad]

he had a piece of something that nobody was "supposed to have." ufo, giant skeleton, egyptian type artifact from north america, something.