Butch Cassidy died in Bolivia in 1908, during a gunfight at the Agua de Sedas (also referenced as the San Vicente area near Tupiza). The most widely cited account held by many historians is that he and the Sundance Kid were killed in a shootout with Bolivian authorities, with Cassidy possibly firing his last round and/or killing Longabaugh first before taking his own life; both men's bodies were found with gunshot wounds and were buried in San Vicente cemetery. However, there has long been speculation and alternate theories suggesting Cassidy survived or died later in Utah or elsewhere, based on later purported graves and DNA claims. Key points to consider:
- The canonical version: a Bolivian shootout in 1908, with Cassidy and Sundance reportedly killed; bodies buried in San Vicente, Bolivia. This remains the standard account in most histories and reference works.
- Alternate theories persist: some researchers and documentaries have proposed later deaths in the United States (notably Utah) or other locations, based on grave-site investigations, DNA tests, or circumstantial narratives. These theories are controversial and not universally accepted.
- Contemporary sources and documentaries have revived interest and debate, but no universally accepted new consensus has emerged to overturn the Bolivia narrative.
If you’d like, I can pull up specific sources or summarize the major competing theories with dates, key evidence, and the current scholarly consensus.
