November 28 2025
Okay, I asked for it, and I got it: some of my favorite passionate history hounds weighing in on whether John Ringo committed suicide, or was he murdered? Here are my favorite responses, so far:
Daily Whip Out: "John Ringo's Last Bender"
Based On The Evidence: Suicide or Murder?
"In my opinion, the evidence is overwhelming that Ringo shot himself, though I think there is a minuscule chance of another shooter. My main goal was to determine if Wyatt Earp could have killed him, and I am convinced that did not happen."
—Casey Tefertiller, author of "Wyatt Earp: The Life Behind the Legend"
"Perhaps we'll never know for sure, but given what we currently do know - from the positioning of the body to Ringo's condition and state of mind at the time - the reasonable conclusion is that the gentleman took his own life. Reasonable conclusions are never definitive, and can, of course, change with new evidence or considerations. But that's the current story I'm stickin' to."
—James Townsend, host of the new podcast "Forever West"
"Having suffered bipolar depression exacerbated by drinking, I'm convinced Ringo killed himself. He showed all the signs, including the threats to commit suicide. I understand the case against...but that ignores his state of mind at the time."
—Mark Boardman, editor of The Tombstone Epitaph
—Old Vaquero Saying
Wasn't his body found in the crook of a tree in Cochise County not far from Willcox?
ReplyDeleteI've read where he had recently visited his sisters in California and it was not a warm welcome. Sounds like he was pretty much rejected by his family. I think he may have had a previous letter from one of his sisters on him when his body was found. If he already had issues then feeling scorned by his family would almost certainly make him feel all alone. I can see where that would easily turn into suicide. Sad. Mark TW Maniac 235
ReplyDeleteI don’t think there’s any doubt that he killed himself. There’s too much evidence pointing to that.
ReplyDeleteThe last book on Ringo I read said the freighter that found Ringo was the one who killed him as he knew him in as an opponent in the Mason County War. He shot him while he was asleep and when he saw Ringo's body hadn't been discovered the following day he rose the alarm.
ReplyDelete