Debunking Brushy: The Absence of Billy the Kid's Death Photo.

Texas artist Buckeye Blake created this model of a proposed sculture to be placed at the grave of Billy the kid. Ft. Sumner refused the offer.

By Josh Slatten 

The absence of a death photograph of Billy the Kid has been a subject of curiosity and has given rise to conspiracy theories, particularly fueled by Brushy Bill's story. At first glance, it may seem reasonable to assume that Pat Garrett would have desired a death photo as evidence to support his claim. After all, we have death photos of notable figures such as Jesse James, the Dalton boys, and even the Clanton brothers following the gunfight at the OK Corral. So, why isn't there a death photo of Billy the Kid?

The answer to this question is rather straightforward, albeit somewhat disheartening. Unlike towns such as Tombstone, Coffeyville, and St. Joseph, Missouri, Fort Sumner was merely a small farming community located in a remote area. During that time, and even at present, Fort Sumner did not have the luxury of photography studios or similar establishments. It is essential to emphasize this point unequivocally: Fort Sumner did not have a resident photographer available to capture a death photo of Billy the Kid.

One may argue that the only known image of Billy the Kid was taken in Fort Sumner, and they would be correct. However, that photograph was taken by a traveling photographer who happened to pass through the area and fortuitously captured the only known photograph of Billy the Kid.

Now, let's consider the distance between Fort Sumner and the nearest photographer in July 1881. The town of Las Vegas, New Mexico, would have been the closest location to find a photographer who could take a death photo of Billy. Fort Sumner and Las Vegas are situated just over 100 miles apart. Those familiar with horses can attest that an average horse can travel approximately 50 miles in a day. Therefore, for someone from Fort Sumner to bring back a photographer to take the picture, it would have required a two-day ride to reach Las Vegas. Once in Las Vegas, they would have needed to allocate a full day for resting their horse while also attempting to locate a photographer willing to undertake the two-day ride back to Fort Sumner. In total, if all went according to plan, it would have taken someone from Fort Sumner around five days to return with a photographer and capture the image.

Furthermore, let us not overlook the fact that we are discussing the month of July. For those unfamiliar with the scorching temperatures of Fort Sumner during this time, it is worth noting that it can be one of the hottest places on Earth. Though said with a hint of jest, average temperatures well exceeding 100 degrees make it utterly impractical to preserve a deceased body for nearly a week solely for the purpose of capturing a photograph. Additionally, it is worth asking ourselves if it would be desirable to photograph the appearance of a deceased individual who has been exposed to such high temperatures for an extended period.

In conclusion, the absence of a death photograph of Billy the Kid can be attributed to several factors, including the lack of a resident photographer in Fort Sumner, the considerable distance to the nearest photographer in Las Vegas, and the impracticality and unfavorable conditions surrounding the preservation of a body in the scorching New Mexico summer.