It’s for a good cause now Crime prompts song for research

The song has been getting some local radio play.

THE VINDICATOR/W BOX

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

LIBERTY — A trio of local musicians turned the details of a high-profile crime into a song, picking up a few laughs and raising money for cancer research.

The song “Dumb as Dillon” has been featured on local radio and has sold more than 150 copies locally. The creators of the song said they have performed live on radio as well.

Verse one:

“The plot went off like clockwork

too easy to be real

wait until Black Friday

the money’s there to steal.”

Federal prosecutors say Roger Lee Dillon, his girlfriend Nicole Boyd, and his mom, Sharon Lee Gregory — none of whom had a criminal record — stole $7.4 million in cash and checks from Armored Transportation Systems here, where Dillon had worked as a driver for about nine months.

On Nov. 26, when the company had cash from the busy post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend, someone entered the building using another employee’s security code — then re-armed the system 24 minutes later.

Five days after the heist, Boyd, Dillon and Gregory were arrested at a mobile home about 250 miles away in Pipestem, W.Va.

The arrest became the topic of local conversation for days. Brenda Rider of Austintown said that constant conversation is what led her and two friends — Alan Matavich of Poland and Mike Talanca of Newton Falls — to create a satirical song about the failed getaway.

“Alan was coming home from work listening to talk radio when the three of them were arrested, and all these words started coming to his mind. He called me with the lyrics. I wrote the music and we went to the studio and recorded it,” she said.

The song “Dumb as Dillon” had been born.

Verse four

“Disable the surveillance cam

then lock the place up tight

get the money, and got to jumpin

took off in the night.”

Rider said the song was eventually picked up and broadcast over Y-103/K-105 and 570 WKBN. She said the public has been purchasing the song on CD for about $5 per copy with all proceeds going toward the Toys for Tots campaign and the Raising Our Commitment to Cancer Choir. Those interested may call (330) 360-3300 or send a check for $5 plus $3 shipping to request a copy at 14 North Anderson, Austintown, OH 44515.

The response, Rider said, has been very good.

“I can’t believe it,” she said. “I get five to 10 checks a day in the mail with people asking for a copy of the song. This helps make lemonade out of lemons.”

Verse six

“To West by God Virginia

safe back deep in the woods

just lay low for a month or two

then life would be really good.”

Rider said she realizes that some may take issue with the comic slant on the plight of the captured suspects, but she said they too should be happy to help raise funds for a worthy cause.

“I know we are making fun at someone else’s expense, but hey, what they did was just dumb and it’s good to laugh sometimes,” she said.

Verse eight
“The feds circled that old double wide

tucked back in the hills

they caught Dillon, Nicole and mom

and recovered all the bills.”