The Grave and Death Place of Johnny Ringo

[@roydaigle8196]

Hats off to the land owner for setting it up so people can visit the site. Great Video

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

We agree!

[@Q2-iswatching]

That is very, very nice of the owners of the property to let people come on to property and check things out.I commend them.I appreciate people like that

[@ldg2655]

And to take the expense to fence the rest of the property out.

[@jerrycarney1209]

"Why Johnny Ringo, you look like somebody just walked over your grave."

[@cheekseparator]

"you're no daisy"

[@donthomas4793]

Fights not with you holiday.

[@barrygearheart7000]

I beg to differ

[@MerryKayMilam]

Ringo should have been left for Buzzard food!!!

[@trhall2213]

Why Johnny Ringo, you look as if Todd just...walked over your grave.

[@searkpslendorman]

Talking to Gary was pure GOLD! WOW, thanks so much for this rare interview!

[@neilpk70]

I didn't realize what a beautiful place that was before. Kinda peaceful. Thanks Dave!

[@Rick_King]

I'd love to see Ringo's body exhumed. Modern forensics could tell us things like the angle of the bullet, whether there was evidence of powder burns on the skull, and possible other details. I personally think he committed suicide, Sure, he'd had a beef with Buckskin Frank, but for Leslie even to find Ringo at this remote location seems a stretch. The last person known to have seen Ringo alive was Deputy Billy Breckinridge, who said the man was extremely drunk. Ringo had talked about suicide, and the fact was that his world was gone. His friends Curly Bill, the McLaury Brothers, and Billy Clanton were all dead, his sisters had rejected him, and he may have felt he had no reason to go on. I think all the chain link fencing is new. When I was up there a few years ago, it seems it was a lot more open. Excellent video!

[@alexejnemov]

At about 3pm on July 13, ranch hands at a nearby ranch heard a shot. On July 14 seated in "a bunch of five large black jack oaks growing up in a semicircle from one root, and in the center of them was a large flat rock which made a comfortable seat." He was "not more than 700 feet from Smith’s house" in West Turkey Creek Valley, near Chiricahua Peak in Arizona Territory. His body had already turned black from the desert heat. His feet were wrapped in strips of cloth torn from his undershirt. Ringo had lost his horse with his boots tied to the saddle. The coroner's report noted that "He had evidently traveled but a short distance in this foot gear." There was a bullet hole in his right temple and an exit wound at the back of his head. The fatal wound was upward at a 45-degree angle between the right eye and ear. His revolver was still in his right hand. According to the coroner's report, Ringo's Colt Single Action .45 revolver held five cartridges; the hammer rested on the empty chamber. A knife cut was found at the base of his scalp, as if "someone had cut it with a knife." His horse was found eleven days later about 2 miles (3.2 km) away with Ringo's boots still tied to the saddle. The coroner’s jury report does not mention the presence or absence of powder burns. Furthermore, Ringo's body was already turning black due to decomposition. Robert Boller, a member of the coroner's jury, wrote in 1934, "I showed [James Yoast] where the bullet had entered the tree on the left side. Blood and brains [were] oozing from the wound and matted his hair. There was an empty shell in the six-shooter and the hammer was on that. I called it a suicide fifty-two years ago, I am still calling it suicide. I guess I’m the last of the coroner’s jury."

[@lostsoul660]

Thanks again Dave for yet another great video and thank you Gary for allowing people to come out and see this historical site.

[@fatboy2011]

It is always nice to talk with the old folks that know the history. I have traveled around the that area a good bit. Camped up Turkey Creek many times. Just a gorgeous part of Arizona.

[@KevinSmith-yh6tl]

Fascinating! I've always heard stories about Ringo's grave site ever since I was a kid. This episode is definitely going in my Library. Thanks Guys.

[@Brenda-fp5te]

Fascinating, loved the owner giving some history info. What a nice man. Thank you for doing this vedio, it's appreciated.

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@RetiredDuke]

Great episode Dave!! Amazing piece of history. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

[@fredtaylor9792]

Going out of their way to let people view the site is just amazing. I hope to make it out there some day. We visited Tombstone when I was a kid.

[@blackpowderfirearmenthusia3194]

Awesome, thank you, very cool.

[@ellymeerleveldt614]

Awesome story Dave and Gary, thanks so much for this piece of history👌🤠🇺🇸

[@randymarkel4952]

Well done, thanks for sharing. The land owner is very cool for sharing with the public, I hope future vistors are as respectful as you were.

[@kdranchaz3240]

That is such a breathtaking slice of Heaven here in southern AZ. I believe Gary’s wife’s family originally homesteaded that ranch. They have a series of ponds stocked with fish that are filled by Turkey Creek adding to the inherent beauty. Their daughter Tobilynn Smith was a friend of mine and she passed away much too young in August of 2022 and I believe she is buried there in the family cemetery. Tobilynn was going to give me a guided tour of all the history including the original house where Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday once stayed over. Unfortunately I never got the chance to go see it all. Oh the stories that ranch could tell….

[@Q2-iswatching]

That would have been so cool if you could have gotten with her and done that that would have been a good time

[@johnraines4825]

This was great to see. Been in that area a few times but never been to this site. Thank you for this video. Appreciate it.

[@Thedailysideshow]

Great video, Thanks for posting it. I’m going to visit his gravesite someday & pay my respects to him.

[@DramaMustRemainOnTheStage]

Its amazing that the tree is still there almost 142 years later..❤

[@mercedithcompala8148]

Loved watching this again 👍🪶🌵

[@chuckram2188]

When I was there 6 years ago that fence surrounding the area wasn't there yet and unfortunately I didn't get to meet the owner. It's a nice bike ride from Tucson, the whole area is worth a trip. I rented a Harley in Phoenix. Carry a lot of water if you go.

[@alexejnemov]

Deputy Billy Breakenridge saw him around 6. July near Dial's Ranch in the South Pass of the Dragoon Mountains. He later wrote that "Ringo was very drunk, reeling in the saddle." He encouraged Ringo to follow him back to the Goodrich Ranch, but "he was drunk and stubborn and went on his way.

[@angelamcfadden0215]

I love your Tombstone videos but I think this is my favorite video yet!! Thank you so much for continuing to do these awesome videos that share the amazing history of southern Arizona!

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

You are so welcome!

[@robertolramirez8748]

Great video. I flew out with my son to the Tombstone film's 30th anniversary this past June and drove straight to Johnny Ringo's gravesite from Tuscon airport. Long journey but well worth it. It will always remain a mystery as to how he died.

[@bkellyphotography1030]

Awesome Video !!!! He was also born in my home state of Indiana !!!

[@markhurley983]

i want to go now... owners are fine folks for letting people to come.. and hats off to all the respectful people that visit..

[@garrywilliams4449]

I like this head stone. We put a friend in the ground and got a big rock for his headstone. We dug his grave and covered him up. May he rest in peace.

[@chickinpickin1]

Fantastic Vid and info. Huge part of Az. history. Thank you both!

[@josephbingham1255]

Great video and you got a special tour. On the other side of the mountain is the ghost town and cemetery of PARADISE. The printing press used to make the Tombstone Epitaph newspaper and still on display inside is reported to have been moved to Tombstone from there where it was used first. Some people might still live there. I was at the little country post office in PORTAL years back when a family from PARADISE came down on their weekly trip to pick up their mail.

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

I’ve been wanting to go check out Gayleyville but I don’t think there is anything left to see.

[@corymcewen5943]

Incredible that tree still stands or better yet, surprised it's not bigger than that after 140 plus years.

[@billierenfro705]

I was thinking the same thing……I’m assuming the desert conditions keeps it from growing at a rapid pace but just a guess

[@mercedithcompala8148]

Absolutely outstanding...thank you and Scott for sharing this amazing place that is still one of history's moments that is talked about and so many endless questions...wow💯💥🏜👍

[@randyjerrett3385]

Thank you, it’s really nice

[@dennishunt787]

Thanks for video

[@davidlard8490]

Very interesting. Yes we shall never know. Earp and Holliday were suppose to be in Colorado when it happened. Thanks a lot for this video.

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Our pleasure!

[@celticnorthman3615]

Cool video, enjoyed it!!

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Thanks for watching!

[@robertphillips1262]

If ya turn on captions when the old timer is talkin ya can read what he sayin pretty darn good.

[@carlclink9993]

I had visited the grave site over 25 years ago. The late Paul Cool took my wife and I there. At that time there was nothing absolutely nothing there. I don’t even remember seeing a headstone . Now I have to dig through pictures to find the ones from our visit.

[@KidYuma1880]

Thanks Dave for history where Johnny Ringo grave, thanks for Mr Graham letting people visit on his land. I agree please be respectful don’t leave trash why ? If people keep doing that, maybe they won’t anymore that would be shame. Hard to believe Ringo’s exact grave. Thanks

[@robertabrams8562]

Great video…loads of history on Gary’s land! No I wanna research Johnny Ringo (I’ve heard the name many times, but don’t know anything about him)!

[@GarrettYarbrough]

Interesting 😊 😐 I'm from South Georgia, where Doc holiday is from. ☺️

[@scotttilson8876]

They should use some kind of a machine that sends vibrations into the ground to prove there really is a skeleton under those rocks. Ringo’s body could’ve been moved to some other place and buried. They should use some kind of seismic tool to prove that there is actually a skeleton there.

[@dennishunt787]

Amazing

[@fuzzybutkus8970]

Hi, I’m Johnny Ringo” I’m the man in camo and flesh tones and the fashion police are likeHell Hounds on my trail.”

[@alanhope1190]

I’ve read that the suicide gun, a Colt single action .45 with 7.5” barrel, serial number 222 still exists.

[@azborderlands]

I heard old man Clanton’s death sight isn’t too far from my home town of Morenci AZ, up the way from mule creek.

[@tooter1able]

How cool to meet the owner!!!

[@redxgear9815]

Saw a documentary a couple years ago that a relative of Ringo's, who is an attorney, claims that she examined the court documents regarding Doc Holidays Colorado court appearance at the time of Ringo's death. She claims that the legal verbiage that they used in that time frame indicates that Doc may not have actually appeared in court, but was represented by council in his stead. If this is true, not only does it make it possible for Holliday to be in Arizona at the time of Ringo's death, it lends credibility to the assertion that Holiday killed Ringo. With the allibi of "being in court" out of state, it would have removed all suspicion of his involvement. I'm sure the info I cited at the beginning of my comment could be found for corroboration.

[@Pays2Win]

Fascinating stuff. Maybe it’s better we don’t know, leaves the imagination open.

[@TheSpaghetti64]

Any chance you'll try and visit the site of Galeyville.

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

I’d like to but I hear there is literally nothing left. Not even foundations.

[@TheSpaghetti64]

@@Desert.Sky.Adventures You'd have to take the jeep as the road is pretty rutted. Their are mine openings on the hillsides so you'll know when you are there. Like you said there are few if any foundations and it's on private land.

[@dks13827]

Any water in the creek?

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Didn’t look like it.

[@dks13827]

what did he say was the name of the area in years past ?

[@dks13827]

Gary Graham Pearce, AZ Age: 82

[@CraigMack-k6o]

Beautiful c7

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Thanks!

[@CraigMack-k6o]

@@Desert.Sky.Adventures you're welcome

[@onelittlelamb4030]

I was thinking that maybe Wyatt Earp the movie was a more accurate portrayal of Wyatt Earp and that wide or maybe told more of the truth about what happened but unless they just added Johnny Ringo in that final scene and they really was a shootout like that or it’s just simply a lie altogether Which is disappointing. Someone needs to make a movie like the movie, White Earp that is to the best of our ability from the best historical records. Exactly what happened with wider… In this mystery of Johnny Ringo, can it actually be confirmed that Doc Holliday and/or Wyatt Earp were actually in Colorado for the court date because we know they missed lots of court dates and did not show up for lots of hearings, especially in early years… If it can’t be proven that they were actually in Colorado, they could’ve made their way back down and killed all the Cowboys and picked them off one at a time like the movie suggest And if I’m not mistaken, a lot of these Cowboys were picked off one at a time throughout the years, but again, I don’t know that, I would have to do historical research to confirm that… You make a lot of enemies when you have no morals, so that guy could have just killed him because he was upset about the gambling thing… And I think it would’ve been hard for Wyatt to show up in that town without anybody knowing he was there. Also, that guy might’ve embarrassed him by rearranging his clothes, or someone also might have robbed him…

[@charlescomly1]

Ringo was on a four day binder drinking every moment he was awake, people who knew him said he was depressed, accounts i have heard was he wasnt wearing a hat and had a bullet hole in his temple exiting above the left temple, as well as his gun in hand. Im convinced he killed himself and Leslie taking credit.

[@WhispersFromTheDark]

Rest in peace Johnny. You are not forgotten.

[@rickypierce1028]

another awesome video!!

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Thanks for the visit!

[@Panic42000]

His boots were found on his horse. He was probably trying to walk and find his horse and just said screw it and ended it.

[@dougn4087]

It looks a lot different than it did when we found it in 1969. Some one piled more stones on it.

[@briancooper2112]

Ringo want some aspirin? Opps to late.

[@denisejames6015]

I just watched a TV show called tombstone and according to the show, a judge shot and killed him an Ringo was unarmed.

[@ArnoldWilliams-ge6jg]

Very interesting.I will have to visit the site when I go to Tombstone.Thanks!

[@cindykeselowski899]

Fascinating, thank you

[@thebarbers2273]

What's in a date...I joined the U.S Navy on July 13th 1982 after witnessed a murder...strange

[@jimbosvidbits6166]

I wonder why he just wasn't moved to a Tombstone cemy?

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Back in those days it took 2 days at least to get to Tombstone. Long way to carry a body. And there’s no money in it.

[@lalalisa9307]

He is probably directly under the rocks because the ground was probably really hard in that part of the country

[@BB63]

What happened to his side arm.

[@dennishunt787]

Where is turkey creek exactly?

[@Kenmurrillo1229]

Way cool video your friend is correct where ringo was found the branch on the left fell within the last ten years. I think his horse got away from him. Many thanks to the sanders now grahm family to allow visitors. His body was bloated been there a couple of days...one mans opinion p.s. would never see stuff like this, thanks for the memories. ❤tombstone a.t

[@onelittlelamb4030]

So apparently one of two things, he committed suicide or that guy killed him. I think he was killed by that guy…

[@karawill4346]

I'll be your huckleberry

[@Mr100741]

I read that when Ringo's body was found it was already blackened and in a state of decomposition. Therefore it made sense to bury his corpse right where it was found.

[@RedneckPrincessofTacticoolness]

Is that the Wyatt Earp ‘Ok Corral’ performer?

[@Kenmurrillo1229]

Yes seems like a nice fella 👍

[@dennishunt787]

Land owner has real good memory

[@Mike_Greentea]

Archeologists need to dig the site. But if there wasn’t nothing there why would the land owner let people in for free. They have nothing to gain. It’s a mystery that hopefully will be solved one day!

[@1949rangerrick]

He was probably not buried in any kind of box, just placed in the ground. Highly unlikely there would be anything left to find. Nature takes its course. Still a cool place to visit, been there several times.

[@ricknone4686]

Wonder why they didn't pry bullet from tree , probably wouldn't have known ballistics of bullet but caliber size should have been known? Would have gave a clue on gun that killed him? I bet todays technology could have told exact ballistics of bullet and at what distance it entered his body by the depth it went into tree, couldn't have been very deep buried into tree considering every thing was pretty much black powder!

[@scottchenoweth4937]

Is there a way to send the Grahams a few bucks ($$$) to help them keep this site maintained? I plan to go there at the end of the year, but they deserve a way to afford to keep it going.

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

There’s a donation box at the site.

[@scottchenoweth4937]

@@Desert.Sky.Adventures Thank you.

[@philipcollins5440]

U mean Doc Holliday didn't kill Ringo???😊

[@alexejnemov]

I dont think Leslie did it, he confessed the killing while in jail for killing his wife. He probaly wanted some of Earp's auras to fall good for him.

[@alexejnemov]

Since he had several liquor bottles for the ride and was seen extremely drunk round the time leading up to hes death mabye he had strapped himself to his horse for not falling off, but he did and thats why hes boots was strapped to hes horse when recoverd.

[@kimsumner9443]

Is his remains really there?

[@DramaMustRemainOnTheStage]

What an interesting man Mr Gary Graham seems to be Too bad you didnt get into a better conversation with him. I bet he has some history to tell

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Sorry it didn’t meet your standards. You can always drive out there and talk to him yourself.

[@loug2414]

One shot in the temple? Doesn't sound like a shot fired in a dispute.

[@timtrax918artisan8]

I guess no one has done ground pentertraiting radar to see if a grave is beneath those stones. It just seems so many old west folks have been dug up or something. This is private property so maybe not. Honestly I think I will beleive whats shown in this video, RIP Johnny Ringo

[@RobertwithTrueCrimePodcast162]

i think it was Doc Holiday

[@alanbrown8584]

I always thought Doc holiday killed Johnny Ringo?

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Only in the movie Tombstone.

[@RobertBailey-y3h]

I think Ringo killed himfelf, by the Popeye thesis ( enough is enough, and enough is too much)--Bob Bailey in Maine

[@christinegrant5008]

Tomb stone is a great bucket lisr place.

[@onelittlelamb4030]

Good report…

[@MrRainrunner]

My understanding was Ringo was drunk...which would explain some/most of the questions. He would not be thinking rationally.

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Nobody knows for sure.

[@onelittlelamb4030]

We know what happened, it’s in the movie Tombstone…

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

What happened in the movie tombstone is 100% what did not happen.

[@artisaprimus6306]

I guess people gave verified that Ringo is really under that pile of rocks?

[@jimbosvidbits6166]

Wonder if he was buried with his guns?

[@JasonKinevich]

Imagine back in those days riding your horse in the middle of nowhere and see a post office

[@Kevin15301]

Where is Ringo's gun?

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

I could be mistaken…it’s been several months since I went in to the tombstone gun fighter museum, but I believe he has it there.

[@alvindaughtry2168]

If Wyatt Earp had killed him , it seems to me Wyatt would have said so since he lived untill 1929 and wrote some books. Not sure.

[@TP-vu3tc]

Nice that someone would put up the cost of a chain linked fence.

[@cosmiccowboy3063]

His horse wasnt found with him. The rags was on his feet becausr his boots were on the horse becausrle he was passed out dyunk. He wrnt looking for his horse hence the rags on his feet.

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Except nobody can prove that as nobody knows for sure.

[@nutek1026]

When I was first there, the stones on the grave were white but people kept stealing them as souvenirs! B-T-W, Wyatt Earp killed Ringo with his .45-60 Remington rifle.

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

He must have had the worlds fastest horse.

[@nutek1026]

Wyatt and Doc, who were staying in Colorado at this time, took trains, stagecoaches, and horses to make their way back to Arizona. They met their friends at a spot near Hooker’s Ranch. A short time later they all rode toward Galeyville and then tracked down Ringo who was camped up in Morse Canyon near Turkey Creek. It was part of his vendetta for Ringo’s involvement in the murder of Morgan

[@Desert.Sky.Adventures]

Where does this info come from? Wyatt was reportedly seen in Sacramento a few days before based on what I read. Gary confirmed it as well.

[@nutek1026]

It is from a monograph “The United States of America v The Cowboys” by Don Taylor, Old West Research & Publishing, 2006. Remember that at this time, Wyatt was still a U.S. Deputy Marshal for Southern Arizona Territory, appointed by and helped by U.S. Marshal Crawley Dake.

[@DeborahCunningham-ei9vc]

If he killed his self were was his boots.they had to have been somewhere.