The legendary bank robber John Dillinger, a figure who captivated America during the Great Depression, remains shrouded in mystery even decades after his purported death. Now, descendants of the notorious gangster have come forward with compelling evidence suggesting that the man fatally shot outside Chicago’s Biograph Theater in 1934 may not have been Dillinger himself. Their quest for the truth hinges on a controversial move: exhuming the body buried in Indianapolis’ Crown Hill Cemetery, believed to be Dillinger’s final resting place.
This startling development is underscored by affidavits obtained from the Indiana State Department of Health, shedding light on the potential exhumation of Dillinger’s remains nearly a century after his dramatic demise at the hands of federal agents. Adding another layer to the intrigue, the History Channel has confirmed its involvement, preparing a documentary poised to capture the exhumation process, should it be officially approved.
John Dillinger’s gravestone in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis. The repeated replacement of the headstone reflects public fascination and souvenir seeking around the John Dillinger death site.
While a permit for exhumation was reportedly issued by the Indiana State Department of Health on July 3rd, official approval remains pending. History Channel spokesman Dan Silberman clarified that “full approval for the exhumation has not been granted,” and no date has been set for the procedure.
Fueling the push for exhumation are affidavits from Mike Thompson and Carol Thompson, who identify themselves as Dillinger’s nephew and niece, respectively. In their signed statements, they articulate their doubts about the official narrative of John Dillinger’s death. The Thompsons state, “I have been presented with evidence that demonstrates that the individual who was shot and killed at the Biograph Theater in Chicago on July 22, 1934 may not in fact have been my uncle, John H. Dillinger.” This evidence, they claim, includes discrepancies regarding physical characteristics such as “the non-match of his eye color, the ear shape and protrusion from the head, the fingerprints not matching, the existence of a heart condition, and the apparent non-match of the anterior teeth.” These points of contention raise serious questions about the identity of the man killed that fateful night.
The affidavits emphasize the crucial need to ascertain whether Dillinger actually died in July 1934. “If he was not killed on that date, I am interested in discovering what happened to him, where he lived, whether he had children, and whether any such children or grandchildren are living today,” they assert. Their pursuit is driven by a desire to uncover the truth, even suggesting a potential misidentification by the FBI. “It is my belief and opinion that, if the FBI killed the wrong man outside the Biograph Theater, it is also important to identify the man in the grave at Crown Hill Cemetery.” For the Thompsons, exhumation is the “only means” to definitively identify the individual buried and resolve the lingering questions surrounding John Dillinger’s death. They have granted consent for the process, acknowledging the invasive nature of exhumation, including forensic analysis and potential DNA testing.
However, the FBI maintains its stance that John Dillinger’s death was definitively confirmed in 1934. Chicago’s FBI field office addressed the burgeoning conspiracy theories via Twitter, stating, “If it sounds like a conspiracy theory, that’s because it is. A wealth of information supports Dillinger’s demise including 3 sets of fingerprints, all positively matched.” Despite the FBI’s confidence, the descendants’ claims and the planned exhumation highlight the enduring public fascination and persistent doubts surrounding the events of July 22, 1934.
Adding to the complexity of the exhumation, historical accounts indicate that Dillinger’s grave was fortified by his father to deter vandalism. Historian Susan Sutton notes that the casket was reburied under a protective layer of concrete and scrap iron, topped with reinforced concrete slabs. This formidable encasement could present significant challenges to those attempting to exhume the remains, mirroring the difficulties encountered during the exhumation of another infamous Chicago figure, H.H. Holmes. Despite these obstacles, the pursuit of truth regarding John Dillinger’s death continues, promising to potentially rewrite a key chapter in American criminal history.
