In a bizarre twist of fate, the mummified remains of Elmer McCurdy, a notorious bank robber from the early 20th century, were discovered in 1975 at an amusement park in Long Beach, California. This peculiar revelation came to light when a television crew, filming an episode of "The Six Million Dollar Man," accidentally stumbled upon the truth. What was thought to be a wax mannequin turned out to be the preserved body of McCurdy, a man whose life and death were as unconventional as his posthumous journey.
Elmer McCurdy's life was marked by a series of ill-fated criminal endeavors. Born in 1880, McCurdy's foray into crime was characterized by a string of unsuccessful robberies. His most infamous heist occurred in 1911 when he attempted to rob a train in Oklahoma, mistakenly believing it carried a substantial sum of money. The robbery yielded a mere $46 and a few jugs of whiskey. McCurdy's criminal career was abruptly ended later that year when he was shot and killed by law enforcement officers.
Following his death, McCurdy's body was embalmed with an arsenic-based preservative, a common practice at the time for unclaimed bodies. The undertaker, seeing an opportunity, decided to exhibit McCurdy's body as a sideshow attraction, charging curious onlookers a nickel to view "The Bandit Who Wouldn't Give Up." Over the years, McCurdy's remains changed hands numerous times, becoming a macabre fixture in various traveling carnivals and sideshows.
By the time the 1970s rolled around, McCurdy's body had been largely forgotten, relegated to the role of a mere prop in an amusement park funhouse. It was during the filming of a television show that a crew member inadvertently discovered the truth. While repositioning what was assumed to be a wax figure, the mannequin's arm broke off, revealing human bone beneath the layers of paint and plaster. This startling discovery prompted an investigation, ultimately leading to the identification of the long-lost outlaw.
The story of Elmer McCurdy is a testament to the strange and unpredictable paths history can take. From a failed bank robber to a sideshow curiosity, and finally to an accidental television star, McCurdy's posthumous journey is as fascinating as it is eerie. Today, his remains rest in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where he was finally laid to rest in 1977, bringing an end to a saga that spanned over six decades. This unusual tale serves as a reminder of the curious intersections between history, entertainment, and the enduring human fascination with the macabre.
