Johnny Ringo’s Grave: A Notorious Outlaw’s Final Resting Place

Johnny Ringo, one of the most infamous outlaws of the Old West, died under mysterious circumstances in the remote hills of southeastern Arizona. Visiting his grave, near Turkey Creek in the Chiricahua Mountains, is a fascinating stop for Wild West enthusiasts. 

Who Was Johnny Ringo?

Born on May 3, 1850 in Green Fork, Indiana. Johnny Ringo’s life would take him out west where he gained notoriety as a feared gunslinger, often associated with the infamous Clanton faction and the events leading up to the legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Although he was not present at the shootout itself, Ringo was an adversary of both Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, fueling speculation about his death.

The Mysterious Death of Johnny Ringo

On July 4th, 1882, Johnny Ringo was drinking heavily during Tombstone’s Independence Day. He left town for a couple of days loaded up with liquor for the ride. Cochise County Deputy Billy Breakenridge saw him two days later near the South Pass of the Dragoon Mountains. He later recalled that “Ringo was very drunk, reeling in the saddle.” He said he attempted to get Ringo to follow him back to the Goodrich Ranch, but “he was drunk and stubborn and went on his way. I think this was the last time he was seen alive.” 

On July 13, 1882, Johnny Ringo was found dead, slumped against a tree with a bullet hole in his right temple. His revolver was still in his hand. His boots and horse were missing. He was buried nearby. 

The coroner’s report indicates Ringo’s Colt Single Action Army .45 revolver had five cartridges. A knife cut was found at the base of his scalp, as if “someone had cut it with a knife.” His horse was located eleven days later, a couple of miles away with Ringo’s boots still tied to the saddle.

Who killed Johnny Ringo?

The official cause of death was ruled as suicide, but many theories suggest otherwise. At the time the Tombstone Epitaph newspaper observed, “Many people who were intimately acquainted with him in life have serious doubts he took his own life.”

The Earps suspected Ringo of taking part in the December 28, 1881, shooting of Virgil Earp, that crippled him for life, and the March 18, 1882, murder of Morgan Earp while he was shooting pool in a Tombstone saloon.

Some believe Wyatt Earp murdered him as revenge for Morgan’s killing. For years, Wyatt Earp denied killing Ringo. But late in life Wyatt confided in both his wife Josephine and his biographer John Flood that he had tracked Ringo into the mountains and shot him. 

Others claim Doc Holliday gunned him down. Earlier that year, Holliday and Ringo had a heated exchange and appeared to be headed towards a gunfight, before both getting arrested. The Holliday theory was romanticized in film. “I’m your huckleberry,” Holliday tells a crazy-eyed Johnny Ringo in the famous scene.

Truth be told, Johnny Ringo had plenty of enemies and if he was murdered, it could have been by a whole cast of shady characters or rival outlaws. 

Robert Boller, who was a member of the coroner’s jury, wrote in 1934, “I showed where the bullet had entered the tree on the left side. Blood and brains oozed from the wound and matted his hair. There was an empty shell in the six-shooter and the hammer was on that. I called it suicide fifty-two years ago; I am still calling it suicide. I guess I’m the last of the coroner’s jury.”

Whether it was suicide or murder is likely lost to history and will continue to be debated. One thing is sure, visiting Johnny Ringo’s grave is certainly worth it. 

Johnny Ringo’s Grave 

We pulled into the tiny dirt parking lot in the early afternoon. We had spent all morning exploring nearby Tombstone. His grave is located on private property, and there is a sign asking for visitors to be respectful when visiting. The site is a modest but intriguing landmark.  It’s a short walk to Johnny Ringo’s simple headstone.  There is an Arizona State Historical Marker that gives a little bit of information about Ringo and his death. Other than that, the site is only Ringo’s grave. 

Visiting the Site

To visit Johnny Ringo’s grave, travelers must navigate dirt roads leading into the Chiricahua Mountains. The grave is in a peaceful, shaded area, adding to the eerie atmosphere surrounding his death. Despite its remote location, the site continues to attract visitors intrigued by the legend of Johnny Ringo.

Whether he took his own life or met his end at the hands of another, Johnny Ringo’s grave stands as a silent testament to the turbulent and violent era of the Wild West.