Mikel Knight Street Team Member Found Dead in Nashville
(Note: This is an updated version on a story originally posted on 12-10-15)
32-year-old Dustin K. Finley, a street team member for country rapper Mikel Knight, was found dead in Nashville on Sunday, December 6th. Beloved by many and known by the nickname of “Q,” friends and family took to the Kentucky native’s Facebook page to offer their condolences, and remember their fallen friend.
Born Oct. 15, 1983 in Ashland, Kentucky, Finley was known as a big University of Kentucky fan who enjoyed watching Kentucky basketball games. He studied HVAC at Mayo Technical College, graduating in 2005. He joined Mikel Knight’s “Maverick Dirt Road Street Team” in July of 2014, traveling the United States in motorhomes and vans to sell Mikel Knight CD’s to individuals face to face. Finely was working with the street team at the time of his passing.
There is no definitive word on how Dustin Finley died, though according to Mikel Knight’s management, it is suspected to be an overdose. According to Nashville police, they were not notified of the death, but the Medical Examiners Office did conduct an autopsy on Finley. Any results from the autopsy will not be available for six to ten weeks. The family was notified of the death by the Medical Examiner after they identified Finley. Dustin’s sister, Brandi Finley-Webster has been coordinating funeral arrangements for her brother. “Who would have ever thought that just a couple days ago, we would be making these preparations. It’s a shame that I’m in this position, that could have been prevented,” she said on Facebook.
Saving Country Music reached out to Brandi Finley-Webster for a statement from the family, but she said they were still working to obtain all the facts surrounding Dustin’s death before before they would be willing to speak publicly. Saving Country Music also reached out to Mikel Knight and 1203 Entertainment for statements, but the requests were not responded to. However a statement was posted on Mikel Knight’s website on Friday (12-11):
We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Maverick Dirt Road Street Team member, Dustin “Q” Finley, due to an apparent drug overdose. News of this magnitude is especially difficult to process during the holiday season, therefore, we humbly extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Dustin’s family and closest friends back in Ashland, Kentucky. Perhaps most importantly, we consider this situation a learning opportunity for other MDRST members, as well as kids and adults from every walk of life. Drug abuse is a very real issue in every community, and no one is immune to its reach and impact. It affects the rich as well as the poor, and it’s colorblind. It is a lifestyle choice that only limits your quality life opportunities. The MDRST’s mission is to provide a second chance to young adults who have struggled in their lives by offering employment opportunities, encouragement and a sense of belonging. It is the sincere hope of founder, Mikel Knight, and the entire staff that Dustin felt embraced and supported during his time with the company and will be greatly missed.”
Thomas Hairston SVP/GM MDRST
Funeral services for Dustin Finley were held at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, at Caniff Funeral Home in Westwood. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donations be made in Dustin’s name to Caniff Funeral Home, 528 Wheatley Road, Westwood, KY 41102. A Go Fund Me account has also been set up to help pay for funeral arrangements.
Mikel Knight and his Maverick Dirt Road Street Team have been embroiled in controversy in the past for deaths of street team members. Taylor Robert Nixon and Robert Joseph Underfinger III were both killed in a June 16th, 2014 accident in Texas in one of Mikel Knight’s street team vans. Driver fatigue was considered the cause of the accident. Another former street team member named Ky Rodgers was injured in an accident involving driver fatigue, and later gave a harrowing account of his time working for Mikel Knight.
There is no information that either Mikel Knight, 1203 Entertainment, or the Maverick Dirt Road Street Team were in any way involved or responsible for the death of Dustin Finley at this time. Saving Country Music will try to provide updates as more is known about Dustin Finley’s passing.
READ: The Sound of Deception: Country Rap’s Mikel Knight & His Notorious Street Teams
December 10, 2015 @ 7:52 pm
Not to belittle this guys death at all which is sad, but Trigger this is simply a click bait post. A lot of kids his age die everyday and you don’t post about them. Just because he works on a “street team” doesn’t mean you should use his death for page clicks.
December 12, 2015 @ 9:17 am
I appreciate the concern Castor Troy.
There is nothing I take more seriously than reporting on the deaths of individuals. With the circumstances surrounding this case, I felt I had a moral obligation to report on this story and inform the public of the details of Dustin Finleyn’s death, especially when regarding the amount of rumor and misinformation swirling in the public, and because of the amount of individuals reaching out to me and others looking for more information. It is the most solemn responsibility of the media to report on stories that can be a matter of public safety, and to make sure to report on it in an impartial manner. Whether it results in “click bait” or not is inconsequential, though if it makes you or others feel any better, at this point, this particular story has in no way received an elevated level of “clicks” compared to other stories, or average stories, whatsoever.
As for what it has to do with music, it has very little to do with music. But it has to do with people, and people dying, which in my opinion is more important than music.
I think everybody needs to appreciate that this story may be just beginning, and there may be information that for various reasons may not be contained in this story, but may make the posting of this story that much more imperative, and ignoring the story that much more irresponsible.
December 12, 2015 @ 7:51 pm
When are they going to stop this man!!?
February 26, 2016 @ 8:05 am
I use to work with him aswell. But we do have an FBI case on him. I have had not just myself but others I worked with report him not only to FBI bit also to labor trafficking. I had some friends on the road that were killed in a van on the high way bc if we weren’t working we were getting beat bc we weren’t making him money. We only got 4 hours of sleep during the nite. We slept in the vans in walmart parking lots.
I would hope anyone who sees this that use to work with him would reply.
December 13, 2015 @ 2:01 pm
Trig
This story is fascinating for so many reasons. This dude and his ‘operation’ mixes Insane Clown Posse, ol skooll traveling medicine shows, all those kids forced to sell candy bars, and Jonestown. Of course he plays almost zero shows. His only fans are those slaving his CDs, and I’m sure they’re on a constant revolving door cast. The few live clips I found on YouTube look like empty rooms with a few random folks staged to act as ‘the audience’.
Have any of your readers ever seen this guy or seen adverts for a show?
Of course, the best part of this story is the utter stupidity and gulability of the public. His operation must be somewhat successful to keep a few RVs and vans fixed and fueled 24/7, and it’s only means of income are selling cd’s to idiots at the WalMarts. Losers wanting purpose preying on other losers wanting purpose.
Finally, any truth to the rumors that Kane Brown was Mikel’s #1 seller 6 months running in 2014? Just sayin……
December 12, 2015 @ 10:21 am
Castor Tony-You realize this is a country music page and this event is related to a person in country music? Granted, Mikel Knight isn’t much of a person, nor his his music actually country (or even music for that matter..), this is still relevant. If anything, it’s exposing the farce that is Mikel Knight’s career, as well as exposing the danger he presents.
Also, 32 years old isn’t a “kid” and most “kids” who die every day have no connection to country music.
December 13, 2015 @ 2:49 pm
This guy doesn’t need any press whatsoever. It’s like giving ICP the time of day.
Like I said I’m sorry about the kids death and all, but you don’t see Trigger posting about me and the deaths in my family because we enjoyed Country music. The guy was simply a band aid, a fan of the music who liked the artist more than the rest of us. He doesn’t need his death publicized.
December 13, 2015 @ 4:21 pm
Well, you’re a nobody who doesn’t work for a lunatic in the country industry. The point is, Knight is hiring questionable folk to do his bidding and this brings attention to it.
If Mikel Knight’s cult is around, watch yourself.
December 13, 2015 @ 1:54 pm
Mister Troy:
What you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard.
At no point in your rambling, incoherent response, was there anything that was even close to what can be considered a rational thought. And everyone on this thread is now dumber for having read it.
I award you no points. And may god have mercy on your soul.
December 13, 2015 @ 2:45 pm
So glad we are doing Billy Madison quotes now.
December 14, 2015 @ 10:18 am
We need to have a running tally of how many times this comment has been re-commented on this board. Then we need to take it to Facebook.
Today the comments section, tomorrow the internet.
December 12, 2015 @ 10:16 am
This whole Mikel Knight thing seems like a terrible cable rip off of Breaking Bad. Why can’t the law do anything about this criminal?
December 12, 2015 @ 8:08 pm
It will catch up with him eventually.
December 12, 2015 @ 8:20 pm
Hopefully soon. These street thugs are way out of line harassing people. Some approached my brother in Michigan and he told them to fuck off, but my brother is also burly. Innocent people are in danger around them.
December 12, 2015 @ 6:54 pm
My condolences go out to his family. Its entirely possible that his death is 100% unrelated to Mikel Knight. But since many of us have read all the other posts about him and his “team” it certainly seems relevant to me. Just today a buddy of mine took a picture of the Mikel Knight RV and vans in Gainesville, GA and tried to tell me he bought me a CD…he had seen where I shared some of the previous stories on Facebook.
December 13, 2015 @ 11:33 am
I think it was this man who tried to sling “Mikel Knight” CDs to me at a retail store I used to manage. I told the guy, “sorry, but country and rap are two things that don’t belong together.” But he was nice to me about it and didn’t try to pressure me too much. Sucks that he OD’d though. Condolences to his family. Probably was due the crazy numbers they have to meet. Just my two cents.
December 14, 2015 @ 7:40 am
Maybe his MP3 player got stuck on Sam Hunt. 3 Sam Hunt songs in a row is enough to kill anyone
December 16, 2015 @ 6:15 pm
Too bad another member of the cult has died, and I find it quite rude, and curious, that co-workers immediately named an OD as the cause. Whether true or not, that’s not their place to speculate.
A MK tour was advertised for Summer (apparently didn’t happen) and then was ‘postponed’ til Fall. Apparently didn’t happen then either. He is slick, that’s for sure.
As far as financial backing to keep those crappy vehicles on the road from parking lot to parking lot…I have read that his family has money, and it wouldn’t surprise me. How else can you explain him keeping up this farce on income from CD sales? No concert ticket sales, no merchandise sales. Curious.
I look forward to the day, and the news, when this dangerous circus has finally gone belly-up and been disbanded.
September 19, 2016 @ 11:43 am
I don’t think it’s too much speculation when they found him in a stairwell with a needle hanging out his arm and tied off still….
April 22, 2016 @ 11:30 am
This Micheal knight dude is a fucking clown and when they got that pistol pulled on them ran like the bitches they are right out if town