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Alfred Packer | |
|---|---|
 Packer in 1874 | |
| Born | Alfred Griner Packer January 21, 1842 Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | April 23, 1907 (aged 65) Jefferson County, Colorado, U.S. |
| Other names | John Schwartze Colorado Cannibal |
| Known for | Cannibalism |
| Criminal status | Deceased |
| Conviction(s) | Murder (overturned) Voluntary manslaughter (5 counts) |
| Criminal penalty | Death; commuted to 40 years imprisonment |
Alfred Griner Packer[a] (January 21, 1842 – April 23, 1907), also known as the "Colorado Cannibal", was an American prospector and self-proclaimed wilderness guide who confessed to cannibalism during the winter of 1874. Though no clear or definitive evidence has been found to this day, and despite in-depth research about proof of his deeds,[1] he is one of the four persons historically convicted for cannibalism in the United States. After emerging as the sole survivor of a six-man party who had attempted to travel through the San Juan Mountains of the Colorado Territory, he eventually confessed to having lived off the flesh of his companions, giving more than one version of his account as to the circumstances.
After his story was called into question, Packer escaped jail and hid from justice for nine years. He was eventually tried, convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to death. Packer won a retrial, and was eventually sentenced to 40 years in prison on five counts of voluntary manslaughter.[2][3]
An almost completely fictitious biopic of his exploits, The Legend of Alfred Packer, was released in 1980. A more comedic and heavily fabricated take on the story, titled Cannibal! The Musical, was released in 1993.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "Was the 'Colorado Cannibal' a villain or a victim? You decide". Magazine. June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Nash, Robert Jay (July 11, 1994). Encyclopedia of Western Lawmen & Outlaws. Da Capo Press. Alferd Packer. ISBN 9781569248973. Retrieved January 7, 2012 – via Google Books.[dead link]
- ^ Nash, Robert Jay (August 22, 1994). "Alferd Packer". Encyclopedia of Western Lawmen & Outlaws. Da Capo Press. pp. 250–251. ISBN 0-306-80591-X.