rattlesnake jake

A ghost story, an Old West shootout, a historical mystery, and an episode of CSI all rolled into one. We share the dramatic tale of Rattlesnake Jake and Buckskin Owens, two outlaws who attempted to terrorize the citizens of Lewistown, Montana, on July 4th, 1884, only to find themselves on the wrong end of a hail of bullets. But the story does not end there. When Susan Craun, a Forensic Anthropology graduate student at the University of Montana, discovered that a local museum had displayed a skull purported to be the remains of Rattlesnake Jake for decades, she embarked on a quest to verify its authenticity. Susan joins us to share her compelling findings and provide insights into working with the potential remains of a local legend.

Read Susan Craun’s master’s thesis: Case of Historical Forensics: The Identification of Rattlesnake Jake

If you liked this episode, you might also enjoy:

Episode 141 – Solving the Somerton Man Mystery
Episode 128 – The Very Strange Afterlife of Elmer J. McCurdy