Frequently Asked Questions

Updated: Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:48pm (GMT)

This is a list of frequently asked questions about the case and investigation.

Did Kung Fu Guy die?

Nobody knows.

  • Blythe claims that the "cops pulled him out of the dumpster behind the dojo" and that the last he heard, "he was in Salem, VA in the mental lockup there"[1].
  • Dennis' son, who was 7 or 8 at the time, said "yes he did survive and he was taken out of the dumpster the next day by the police"[2].
  • The Dumfries police said, "it was definitely not a homicide" but any records would have been destroyed years ago[3].
  • Medical professionals are divided over the exact injuries KFG could have suffered and whether they would have been fatal, critical or simply temporary[4][5][6].
  • A number of martial arts experts have said similar injuries have been witnessed and not been fatal[7].
  • Another police detective recalls seeing him limping a few days after the incident[8].
  • Police originally said he didn't die but now they aren’t so sure. They have been examining information on unidentified bodies recorded during that time but haven't turned up anything yet[9].

Only a positive identification of the victim and his whereabouts today or details of his death will resolve this question.

Was Kung Fu Guy homeless?

No idea. Blythe's accompanying text supplied on his YouTube channel implied he was a homeless guy eating leftover pizza and making a nuisance of himself[10]. Chuck Feldbush, a retired police detective said "he was a vagrant who lived in the woods near the dojo"[8]. A YouTube user who claimed to live in the area said "He was not 'mentally challenged'... He was a doper who hung around the shopping center picking pockets and stealing food."[11] However, it's thought that KFG did possess some fighting skills[9], he does hold his own for a few minutes and even floors Dennis at one point. He also appears to be quite well dressed for a homeless guy, bearing in mind it's the mid 80s in Dumfries, Virginia.

Was he mentally challenged?

Don't know. He seems lucid in his sentence construction and a firm believer in Jesus Christ who he claims as his master. Whether a devout Christian is a mental patient depends on your own personal beliefs. However, he thought he possessed some skills, volunteered to 'teach' at Blythe's dojo and didn't immediately walk away the first time Dennis made contact. Therefore, it's probably more likely that he suffered from some minor condition such as Asperger's Syndrome or similar[12].

Did the local police cover up the incident?

Don't know. Blythe claims that he can do whatever he wants in his dojo and seems to be proud of his dojo's reputation for being a little crazy[13]. One of Blythe's students was Connie Jett, the wife of the local sheriff[14]. It has also been suggested that Blythe knew many of the local police officers due to his bodyguard activities[15].

Why did Bobby Joe Blythe post this video in the first place?

No idea, speculate away but it seems like it was a trophy video. Other people have claimed that they've been shown the video before by Blythe and copies have even been provided to them[16].

Why is this crime so important 25 years after the fact? Isn't there a statute of limitations?

Legal minds say that the statute of limitations can be argued depending on the circumstances of the case[17]. The crime also took place at Blythe's dojo in Dumfries, Virgina. Virginia doesn't have a statute of limitations for felonies[9] so any crime could result in charges being brought against Blythe, Dennis or others that were present and did nothing. Another victim has also come forward since this video surfaced and police have also been told about another incident where a student may have chased somebody through the dojo's parking lot[9]. If police can identify more victims or uncover more videos it could demonstrate that this was standard operating practice for Blythe, as suggested[18].

When did this crime happen?

According to Blythe's narration on the video[19], it was recorded on 13th December 1984 around 7pm. There is no corroborating evidence but it seems that the timeframe based on the clothing, age of Blythe, etc is correct.

Who else is in the video?

We know Blythe and Dennis were the main participants but there are a few more bystanders. Bullshido have some names but they're not releasing them to the public. We know there's a woman present that shouts "TV! TV!" at one point and "John" is also called out at one point. We also see fleeting shots of the bystanders. It's also possible that some of the Napa Auto Parts guys were present.

Has Bobby Joe Blythe said anything?

No. He seems to be in hiding but is still contactable via email[20].

Has anybody been charged yet?

Prince William County Police are working with California Police and hope to gather enough evidence from victims and spectators to bring charges soon[21].

Was this a homophobic attack or a hate crime?

Possibly. Blythe uses the word faggot on a few occasions in another video[13] and says, "If any person touches you, in any way, he's either a faggot or he's stupid. Hit him." Other legal minds have suggested that it's not a hate crime, or not unless other evidence points to that conclusion[22][23]. Others have suggested it was more likely to be a culture clash between a man from the "Motown" generation and Blythe's history as a Vietnam veteran[24].

Sources

  1. J4KFG - 'Jesus Taught Me' Video - The Aftermath [link]
  2. ColdFire$'s post on Bullshido [link]
  3. Inside Nova - 1984 beating video hits Internet [link]
  4. platon20's post on Bullshido [link]
  5. tcsenter's post on Bullshido [link]
  6. See Charles' comment on News Around the Globe [link]
  7. War Wheel's post on Bullshido [link]
  8. Washington Post - 1980s Video of Beating Gets New Life on Internet [link]
  9. Inside Nova - Police seek man in viral 1984 video [link]
  10. J4KFG - 'Jesus Taught Me' Video - The YouTube Posting [link]
  11. YouTube - Klaatubarradanicktoh's comment [link]
  12. 4tk8de's post on Bullshido [link]
  13. YouTube - Bobby Joe Blythe NEW VIDEO SECRET LECTURE [link]
  14. littleoldme's 'clarification' post on Bullshido [link]
  15. littleoldme's post on Bullshido [link]
  16. Yahoo! Answers - Bobby joe blythe?jesses taught me video? [link]
  17. JohnGabriel's post on Bullshido [link]
  18. sambosteve's 'on a regular basis' post on Bullshido [link]
  19. LiveLeak - Mentally Challenged man seriously beaten, possibly to death. [link]
  20. ColdFire$'s 'The Real Bobby Joe Blythe' post on Bullshido [link]
  21. 9News / WUSA - More Victims Suspected In Karate Beating [link]
  22. ScarletLaw's 'nothing to indicate it was race based or motivated' post on Bullshido [link]
  23. ScarletLaw's 'no evidence of a hate crime' post on Bullshido [link]
  24. Catherine's post on Bullshido [link]