An IT expert within the Bush administration was killed in a plane crash over the weekend when his single-engine airplane went down just short of the Akron, Ohio, airport where he was trying to land. Michael Connell has made headlines recently for his alleged part in the rigging of both of George W. Bush's presidential elections, and mentioned to friends over the last few weeks that he feared his life was in danger.

According to a news report at Yahoo.com "A tipster close to the McCain campaign disclosed to [VelvetRevolution.com] in July that Mr. Connell's life was in jeopardy and that Karl Rove had threatened him and his wife, Heather. VR's attorney, Cliff Arnebeck, notified the United States Attorney General , Ohio law enforcement and the federal court about these threats and insisted that Mr. Connell be placed in protective custody.

"VR also told a close associate of Mr. Connell's not to fly his plane because of another tip that the plane could be sabotaged. Mr. Connell, a very experienced pilot, has had to abandon at least two flights in the past two months because of suspicious problems with his plane"

Community activist Web site FreePress.org calls the death "suspicious [and] disturbing," outlines the case building against Connell and also notes that other IT experts connected to the Republican party have received death threats as well.

Connell, a married father of four, was widely considered to be one of Bush's top advisors in matters of IT and technology. He developed several software and data management systems for the federal government and also designed the Web sites of several prominent members of the GOP.

Despite conspiracy theories that suggest otherwise, Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Eric Sheppard says weather conditions at the time of the crash were deteriorating quickly and there is "no reason to believe at this point it was anything other than an unfortunate crash."