Jean Baptiste (grave robber)
Jean Baptiste | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1813 |
| Disappeared | 1862 (aged 49) Fremont Island, Utah, U.S. |
| Status | Disappeared; fate unknown |
| Other names | Grave Robber of Salt Lake City |
| Occupation | Gravedigger |
Jean Baptiste (c. 1813 – unknown) was a grave robber in 19th-century Utah. His crimes were uncovered in 1862 when the body of outlaw Moroni Clawson was exhumed and found stripped of its burial clothes. Baptiste was exiled to Fremont Island in the Great Salt Lake, and his ultimate fate remains unknown.
Early life
[edit]Jean Baptiste’s early life is poorly documented. The 1860 U.S. census lists his birth year as 1813, and some sources speculate he was born in Venice, Italy, though this has not been confirmed. He emigrated to the United States in the mid-1850s and lived briefly in Australia during the gold rush. While in Australia, Baptiste encountered missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and converted to the faith. He later donated property for a chapel used by LDS missionaries.[1]
By 1859, Baptiste had settled in Salt Lake City, where he worked as a gravedigger.[2]
Discovery of crimes
[edit]In January 1862, police officer Henry Heath paid for burial clothing and supervised the burial of outlaw Moroni Clawson. When Clawson’s body was later exhumed by his brother George, it was discovered stripped of its burial clothes, raising suspicions of grave robbery.[2]
Heath and cemetery sexton J.C. Little began investigating and eventually searched Baptiste’s home. There, they found boxes containing stolen burial clothing and other items, including approximately 60 pairs of children’s shoes, a dozen pairs of men’s shoes, funeral shrouds, and infant clothing. When confronted with the evidence, Baptiste initially denied the accusations but later confessed.[3]
To ensure a thorough investigation, Heath sought advice from Probate Judge Elias Smith, who directed him to conduct a detailed search of Baptiste’s home. This investigation revealed that Baptiste had likely been robbing graves for at least three and a half years, primarily targeting the graves of women and children. Some estimates suggested that he had robbed as many as 300 graves. Baptiste also admitted to having committed similar grave robberies while living in Australia.[1][2]
Exile and disappearance
[edit]Public outrage over Baptiste’s crimes led city officials to exile him rather than impose the death penalty. Brigham Young, president of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addressed the community and reassured them that the thefts would not affect the resurrection. He explained that the bodies of the dead would rise "in their glory" regardless of missing burial clothing. Young also suggested that families could reclaim their loved ones’ remains if they wished but emphasized that it was not necessary.[2][3]
Fearing potential mob violence, city officials decided to secretly transport Baptiste at night to Antelope Island. However, concerns about the shallow waters surrounding the island allowing for an escape led to his relocation to the more isolated Fremont Island in the Great Salt Lake.[2]
Three weeks after his exile, cattle herders visiting Fremont Island found signs that Baptiste had killed a heifer, likely for food or leather. The roof and sides of a cabin on the island had also been dismantled, possibly to construct a raft. Despite searches, Baptiste was never seen again.[2]
In March 1893, hunters near the Jordan River discovered a skeleton with an iron shackle around its leg. Although some speculated that it could be Baptiste’s remains, police confirmed that he had not been shackled during his exile, leaving the skeleton’s identity unresolved.[2]
Legacy
[edit]Baptiste’s story continues to attract attention, particularly because of the mystery surrounding his disappearance. In 2011, his life was dramatized in the film Redemption: For Robbing the Dead, directed by Brigham Young University professor Tom Russell. The film portrayed Baptiste’s crimes, trial, and exile while incorporating fictionalized elements, such as the claim that he was tattooed before his banishment.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Devitry-Smith, John (1993). "The Saint and the Grave Robber". BYU Studies Quarterly. 33 (1): 23–44.
- ^ a b c d e f g Yvette D. Ison (March 1995). "Unsolved Mysteries in Utah—The Bizarre Case of Grave Robber Jean Baptiste". History to Go. Utah Division of State History. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Twila Van Leer (May 30, 1995). "History of Grave Robber is Buried in Mystery". Deseret News. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ Carole Mikita (April 7, 2012). "Notorious S.L. Grave Robber Hits the Big Screen in Story of "Redemption"". Deseret News. Retrieved August 24, 2024.