Some of the stories we cover for this show take a toll. You get into something, and you think it’s for a little while, and you end up being swallowed by your fascination and taken down rabbit holes you never thought you’d be in. Over the years, we’ve received a ton of requests for us to cover one story in particular. Ever since we took that pit stop in 1865 to visit the story of John Wilkes Booth, the fever has been burning. Our next story is a monster with so many twists and turns, that theory and fact seem to have become transparent. What a fun place to begin.

It's important to us to convey the history of our subjects in a way that allows our audience a deeper understanding of their historical significance. Perhaps no other case will convey that better than our next subject. We’re about to explore the life, legacy, infamy and history of perhaps the biggest outlaw in all of history. 

This is the story of what happened (or didn’t) on April 3rd, 1882 in St. Joseph, Missouri and how a figure clouded in polarization could become even more polarizing after his death, when in 1951, another man arrives on the scene in Granbury Texas, far from where he made his name, claiming to be the real Jesse James. What happens when theory casts a shadow on history?

He’s known by many names. Icon. Outlaw. Legend. Robinhood. Murderer. But who was Jesse James, really? And could his story have lasted far longer than history officially records? 

Oh, and one more thing. If Jesse James was ever in Granbury, maybe he ran into a certain other figure that we’ve discussed extensively on this show. You’d be surprised at what you uncover when you follow the evidence, wherever it leads. 

Welcome back to Vanished and our multi part series on the outlaw Jesse James. 

Pinkertons maim Frank and Jesse James’ mother @ History 

Quantrill’s Bones @ American Heritage