Butch Cassidy’s Haunted Past: A Ghostly Encounter in St. George

The Haunting Tale of Butch Cassidy’s Time Behind Bars

Join us on our St. George Ghost Tours, where history and hauntings intertwine! Along the way, you’ll encounter the lingering spirits of legendary figures—one of the most infamous being Butch Cassidy himself. After a stint in Sheriff Gus Hardy’s jail, nestled in the heart of Ancestor Square, Butch vowed never to set foot in that cell again. What happened behind those iron bars that left such a lasting impression on the legendary outlaw? Dare to join our tour and uncover the chilling truth for yourself?

Butch Cassidy, born Robert LeRoy Parker on April 13, 1866, in Beaver, Utah Territory, was the eldest of 13 children to Mormon pioneers Maximillian Parker and Ann Campbell Gillies. Raised on a ranch near Circleville, Utah, young Robert developed strong ranching skills. As a teenager, he became acquainted with Mike Cassidy, a local rancher and cattle rustler, who influenced his path into a life of crime. In honor of his mentor, Robert adopted the alias "Butch Cassidy."

Cassidy's criminal career began with minor offenses, but he soon escalated to more serious crimes. On June 24, 1889, he and his associates robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, Colorado, escaping with approximately $21,000. Following this, Cassidy purchased a ranch near Dubois, Wyoming, which some believe served as a front for clandestine activities.

Despite attempts to maintain a façade of normalcy, Cassidy's criminal endeavors continued. In 1894, he was arrested in Lander, Wyoming, on charges of horse theft and possibly for running a protection racket among local ranchers. He was imprisoned in the Wyoming State Prison in Laramie, serving 18 months of a two-year sentence before being released and pardoned in January 1896 by Governor William Alford Richards. This period in Wyoming was pivotal for Cassidy, solidifying his network and laying the groundwork for the formation of the "Wild Bunch," the infamous gang that would later execute some of the most notorious robberies in the American West.

In the mid-1890s, Cassidy formed the "Wild Bunch," a gang notorious for their bank and train robberies across the western United States. Key members included Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, known as the "Sundance Kid," William Ellsworth "Elzy" Lay, and Harvey "Kid Curry" Logan. The gang's operations were marked by meticulous planning and a network of hideouts, such as the Hole-in-the-Wall in Wyoming and Robbers Roost in Utah.

Facing increased pressure from law enforcement and the relentless pursuit by the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, Cassidy and the Sundance Kid fled to South America in 1901, accompanied by Sundance's companion, Etta Place. They initially settled in Argentina, purchasing a ranch in the Cholila region. Despite attempts to lead a lawful life, they reverted to their criminal ways, committing several bank and train robberies in Argentina and Bolivia. The exact circumstances of Butch Cassidy's death remain a subject of debate. It is widely believed that he and the Sundance Kid died in a shootout with Bolivian authorities in November 1908 near San Vicente, Bolivia. However, various reports and family accounts suggest that Cassidy may have survived and returned to the United States, living under an alias. These claims, though intriguing, lack definitive evidence.

Butch Cassidy's life has been romanticized in popular culture, most notably in the 1969 film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. His legacy endures as a symbol of the outlaw era in the American West.