Osage Murders

By jbeermann

  • Early 1920's

    Early 1920's
    The Osage Nation, having become wealthy due to oil discovered on their land, begins to experience a series of mysterious deaths and murders

  • 1921

    1921
    Anna Brown, an Osage woman, is found dead in a ravine. Her death is initially ruled accidental but later suspected to be murder

  • 1921-1923

    1921-1923
    Several more Osage individuals, including Henry Roan and Lizzie Q, die under suspicious circumstances. The deaths are often ruled as accidents or due to natural causes, but suspicions of foul play grow.

  • 1924

    1924
    The newly formed FBI, led by J. Edgar Hoover, takes over the investigation. Tom White, a former Texas Ranger, is appointed to lead the case.

  • 1923

    1923
    The Osage Tribal Council formally requests federal intervention in the investigation of the murders.

  • 1923

    1923
    Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman whose family members are being killed, becomes increasingly alarmed and seeks help.

  • 1925

    1925
    Tom White and his team uncover a conspiracy involving local businessmen, law enforcement, and even family members of the victims. They discover that William Hale, a prominent local figure, orchestrated the murders to gain control of the Osage wealth.

  • 1926

    1926
    William Hale, his nephew Ernest Burkhart, and others are arrested and charged with the murders.

  • 1929

    1929
    After a series of trials, William Hale and Ernest Burkhart are convicted and sentenced to life in prison. This timeline covers the major events depicted in the book and highlights the extensive conspiracy and the role of the FBI in solving the case.