Trail Off Tuesdays: The Mummified Outlaw

Send us a textDeath isn't always the end of one's journey, as proven by the bizarre tale of Elmer McCurdy. After being killed in a 1911 shootout following a failed train robbery in Oklahoma, this unremarkable outlaw embarked on an extraordinary posthumous adventure that lasted over six decades.When no one claimed his body, an enterprising funeral director embalmed McCurdy and turned him into a paying attraction. What followed defies belief—his corpse was sold, traded, and displayed across America in carnivals, freak shows, and haunted houses. This macabre journey finally ended in 1977 when authorities buried McCurdy under two feet of concrete, ensuring he would remain at rest. Follow Clue Trail for more bizarre historical tales that fell through the cracks, and share your thoughts on this outlaw who couldn't stay out of the spotlight—even in death.Support the show