Pat Garrett murdered after killing Billy the Kid

Patrick Floyd Jarvis Garrett, better known as Pat Garrett, is a name etched into the annals of Wild West history. The lawman was born in Cusseta, Alabama, on June 5, 1850. Leaving home as a young man, he eventually found work as a cowboy in Dallas County, Texas, honing the skills that would define his future.

Garrett is most famous for his relentless pursuit and eventual killing of the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid on July 14, 1881. This act was immortalized through his own account in the book The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid, a personal and detailed recounting of his nemesis.

A prominent figure in law enforcement, Garrett’s life’s work extended beyond Billy the Kid, but this chapter has become a cornerstone of American folklore.

Following the death of his first wife, Juanita Gutierrez, Garrett married her sister in 1880.

Cause of death

In a violent turn of events befitting his storied career, Pat Garrett was murdered on February 29, 1908. He was 57. The killing took place near Las Cruces, New Mexico, under murky circumstances.

Theories

There are many theories surrounding Garret’s death. One of the more accepted ones is that Wayne Brazel, a local rancher, killed him in a dispute. Brazel claimed he acted in self-defense, stating that Garrett had threatened him over a land issue. After turning himself in, Brazel was acquitted following a brief trial.

Another theory tells how those with financial or personal grievances towards him orchestrated his death.

Nevertheless, definitive proof of a conspiracy has never been established for any of the theories, and many believe that the murder may have involved conspiracy or political motives.

Burial

Garrett’s final resting place is in the Old Fellows Cemetery in Las Cruces, where he was laid to rest.

The debates and conspiracies surrounding his death are a testament to his enduring legend, forever intertwined with the mythos of the American Old West.