Excavator of Possible Sean Flynn Grave Opens ‘Flynn’s’ Bar

One of the men who claimed to have found the possible remains of photojournalist Sean Flynn considers himself a look-alike of the missing man’s father, Errol Flynn, and only two months ago opened a bar in Preah Sihanouk City called Flynn’s.

Keith Rotheram said yesterday that his bar was named for both the father and the son, though he said he felt a closer affinity with the “very colorful” Errol Flynn, who is remembered for his swash­buckler movie roles and freewheeling lifestyle.

British-born Mr Rotheram, 60, who runs two guesthouses in Preah Sihanouk City, and Dave Mac­Millan, a 29-year-old Australian who lives in Vietnam, claimed over the weekend that they have found what may be the bones of Sean Flynn, who disappeared while covering the Cambodian conflict in 1970.

The remains have since been sent to a US government agency for identification.

Mr Rotheram said he opened Flynn’s, a bar at his Golden Rooster Resort, about two months ago. The name is now on a neon sign at the bar, explained the long-time expatriate, who moved to Cambodia eight months ago after living in Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam.

Mr Rotheram said he’s been in­terested in the disappearance of Sean Flynn for years and plans to decorate the bar with memorabilia of the missing war photographer.

Mr Rotheram also believes he looks a bit like Errol Flynn, who became famous for his role in 1935’s “Captain Blood” and other movies.

“When I was younger, I looked very like him,” Mr Rotheram said by telephone. “Family always called me Keith Flynn.”

The claim by Mr Rotheram and Mr MacMillan that they have un­covered what may be the remains of Sean Flynn has made headlines around the globe.

Mr Rotheram said yesterday that he had been misquoted in an article by UK newspaper The Inde­pendent as saying that the story behind their hunt for Sean Flynn’s bones would “be for the highest bidder.”

“Of course it’s a misquote,” Mr Rotheram said yesterday. “We’re not doing it for the money. I don’t need any money. I’m a wealthy man.”

Mr Rotheram said that he and Mr MacMillan have spent be­tween $10,000 to $15,000 on the roughly two-month excavation that uncovered human remains, and that they hope to recoup some of that money with a documentary film they are making about their dig.

He also said that their effort was funded to a small degree by Sean Flynn’s half sister, Rory Flynn, and noted that the remains might yet turn out to be those of someone other than Sean Flynn.