The Billy the Kid DNA Investigation

In the summer of 2003 three men, (Lincoln County Sheriff Tom Sullivan, Mayor of Captian in Lincoln County Steve Sederwall and De Baca County Sheriff Gary Graves) announced a new investigation into the death of Billy the Kid.

Using the newest in DNA evidence gathering techniques, the team would exhume the bodies of Billy the Kid and his mother, Catherine Antrim, to prove that Billy the Kid was buried in Fort Sumner Cemetery. This would clear Pat Garrett’s name and show that he did, in fact kill Billy the Kid. They would also test this DNA against claimants of the mantle of Billy the Kid Brushy Bill Roberts and John Miller to lay these stories to rest.

Since the announcement of the investigation in 2003 the matter has become a major controversy in New Mexico and throughout the country. Legal battles have ensued with issues that still have not been resolved.

The Death of Billy the Kid

The story of the death of Billy the Kid is one of the most famous stories of the Old West. In July of 1881, 3 months after his harrowing escape from prison (and two months after he was supposed to have been hanged), Sheriff Pat Garrett and his deputies were searching for the Kid. According to sources the Kid was still in the area of Fort Sumner, and it was Garrett’s intention to find him.

On the night of July 14th, 1881, Garrett went to the home of ailing Pedro Maxwell, a friend of Billy the Kid’s. According to reports, while sitting in the darkened room with Maxwell Billy the Kid entered the room. Not recognizing Garrett in the darkness the Kid as “¿Quien es? ¿Quien es?” (“Who is it? Who is it?”) . Garret recognized the voice as belonging to the Kid, drew his pistol and shot him in the chest.

The body was then quickly examined on the floor of Maxwell’s room. Shortly after it was moved to a carpenter’s bench on the Maxwell property for a more thorough investigation. A coroner’s jury was called, who determined that it was in fact Billy the Kid. The body was carried away by the people of the town who loved Billy the Kid and was buried not long after.

Where is Billy the Kid Buried Now?