Did Butch Cassidy Really Die in 1908? The San Vicente Deception

Did Butch Cassidy Really Die in 1908? The San Vicente Deception

The history books say Butch Cassidy died screaming in a Bolivian shootout in 1908. But in 1925, a man walked into his sister’s kitchen in Utah and told her exactly how he escaped. Today, we open the grave, check the DNA, and reveal the truth about the Wild Bunch's greatest trick.

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About This Investigation: For over a century, the San Vicente shootout has been accepted as the final stand of the Wild Bunch. But new evidence suggests the body in the grave wasn't Butch Cassidy. From the testimony of his sister Lula Parker Betenson to the mysterious manuscript of William T. Phillips, we analyze the clues that suggest the legendary outlaw returned to America to die of old age. This history documentary explores the forensic evidence, the DNA test results from Clyde Snow, and the theory that Butch stole the identity of William T. Wilcox.

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🔍 KEY SOURCES:
San Vicente Shootout (1908):
History.com - "The Mysterious Deaths of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"
Wikipedia - Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid entries
Washington Post (1992) - "Shootout: Digging Up The Real Story" - Daniel Buck & Anne Meadows research
Lula Parker Betenson's 1925 Visit:
"Butch Cassidy, My Brother" (1975) - Lula Parker Betenson with Dora Flack
KSL.com - Percy Seibert false identification story
Find a Grave Memorial - Lula Betenson (1884-1980)
Utah State Archives - Lula Betenson biographical records
William T. Phillips/Wilcox Mystery:
Spokesman-Review (July 22, 2012) - Larry Pointer admission
Deseret News (2011) - "Butch Cassidy Imposter Exposed"
CBC News (Aug 15, 2011) - "Bandit Invincible" manuscript analysis
Wikipedia - William T. Phillips entry
1991 DNA Exhumation:
History.com - Clyde Snow forensic investigation
Chicago Tribune (1995) - "Unraveling the Butch and Sundance Mystery"
GoNomad - Gustav Zimmer DNA identification
Post-1908 Sightings:
Biography.com (Sept 2025) - Bill Betenson's 20 documented sightings
8NewsNow (July 2017) - Josie Bassett, Elzy Lay, Joyce Warner testimonies

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