The Untold Saga of Billy the Kid: Unraveling the Legendary Outlaw's Crimes, Myths & Mysterious Demise

Summary

"Billy the Kid" MGM+ series offers a sympathetic portrayal of the infamous Old West outlaw's upbringing, crimes, and legacy - but it may not be entirely accurate.

The elusive story of Billy the Kid is shrouded in mystery, leaving uncertainties regarding his place of birth and the demise of his father. To bridge these unknowns, the show's creators resorted to using their own creative imaginations.

Billy the Kid was compelled to turn to a life of lawlessness as a result of being left parentless at a tender age. He aligned himself with numerous gangs, ultimately rising to prominence during the Lincoln County War, only to meet his demise at the hands of Pat Garrett when he was merely 21 years old.

The MGM+ series Billy the Kid portrays the captivating tale of the infamous Old West outlaw William H. Bonney with a mix of truth and fiction. Set in the expanding frontier of the late 1800s United States, the Western series closely follows the rise and fall of one of the most notorious and murderous figures of that time. Billy the Kid has been depicted in various films and TV shows throughout cinematic history, notably in the 1973 revisionist Western film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sam Peckinpah. This MGM+ series delves deep into the controversial figure's upbringing, crimes, and enduring legacy in a sympathetic manner.

Certain aspects of Billy the Kid's true story remain shrouded in mystery due to a lack of recorded information, such as his precise birthplace. It is presumed that Billy was born to Irish Catholic parents in either September or November of 1859, somewhere in New York. The exact circumstances surrounding his father's death remain uncertain, intentionally left ambiguous in the first season of Billy the Kid. Additionally, the first season depicts his younger brother Joe dying from tuberculosis, although in reality he lived to the age of 67. Only a few known photographs of Billy the Kid exist, requiring show creator Michael Hirst (known for Vikings) and his writing staff to fill in the gaps and craft a compelling yet slightly inaccurate narrative.

Billy The Kid's Real Name & Aliases Explained

William H. Bonney, known as Billy the Kid, gained fame and notoriety under various aliases as he grew older. Born Henry McCarty, his mother Catherine remarried a man named William Henry Harrison Antrim after his father's death. The family relocated to Kansas, where Joe took on Antrim's surname, and later moved to New Mexico, where Catherine died and Antrim abandoned the boys.

In the first season of Billy the Kid, young Henry McCarty briefly went by the name Kid Antrim before adopting the alias William H. Bonney. During his time with Jesse Evans and his gang, he was known as William H. Bonney until Pat Garrett popularized the iconic nickname "Billy the Kid." While it is believed that the press played a significant role in popularizing the name, it was the increasing bounties for Billy's capture in numerous New Mexican counties that spread his infamous moniker across the Old West, solidifying his legendary status.

Billy The Kid Became An Outlaw After Being Orphaned At Age 15

Billy the Kid was forced into a life of crime due to his orphan status at the age of 15. Initially, he resorted to petty theft for sustenance and robbed a Chinese laundry, resulting in theft charges and imprisonment. However, Billy, then known as Henry McCarty, managed to escape from jail merely two days later, thus becoming a fugitive. Although the real-life McCarty sought refuge from Antrim, this fact is conveniently omitted by Billy the Kid. Unfortunately, McCarty's relationship with Antrim deteriorated when he stole guns and clothes from him, leading to Antrim ejecting him from his quarters.

Desperately seeking shelter, McCarty fled to Arizona and acquired employment as a cattle rancher. However, in addition to his legitimate work, he also indulged in gambling his earnings through card games. It is worth noting that he continued using his given name, Henry, in 1876 when he began working as a ranch hand for the esteemed rancher, Henry Hooker. Regrettably, McCarty soon returned to a life of criminality by stealing horses from American soldiers in the region. Despite his unlawful actions, McCarty earned a remarkable level of popularity and possessed a friendly demeanor, earning him the moniker "Kid Antrim" among his peers.

Billy The Kid's Time With The Regulators & Lincoln County War Explained

In 1877, Henry McCarty fully embraced his new identity as William H. Bonney. During the same year, he found himself in a confrontation with a local blacksmith and unintentionally shot him in self-defense. This incident caused Bonney to flee from Arizona by stealing a horse from the Apache tribe and making his way to New Mexico. It was in New Mexico that he crossed paths with a gang of cattle raiders and joined forces with Jesse Evans. Bonney settled in New Mexico and eventually started working for John Tunstall, a prominent Englishman who had a strong interest in owning and controlling Lincoln County, New Mexico.

In season 1 of Billy the Kid, Bonney briefly collaborated with Jesse's gang, led by Lawrence Murphy, James Dolan, and John Riley. However, after discovering that Murphy was prepared to kill numerous innocent natives in order to seize control of Lincoln County, Bonney switched sides and aligned himself with Tunstall. Determined to lead an honest life under Tunstall's guidance, Billy the Kid became a member of the Regulators, along with Charlie Bowdre, George Coe, and Tom O'Folliard. Their purpose was to safeguard and uphold Tunstall's interests. The Lincoln County War officially commenced in February 1878 following Tunstall's murder by Murphy's gunslingers. It concluded in July of the same year with the death of Tunstall's lawyer, Alex McSween.

Billy The Kid's 1881 Arrest & Escape Explained

Despite supporting the losing side in the Lincoln County War and becoming one of the most wanted fugitives in the United States, Billy the Kid miraculously survived. Alongside his fellow Regulators, O'Folliard and Bowdre, they managed to evade law enforcement until November 1880. However, their luck ran out when Pat Garrett and his men caught up with them in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. O'Folliard was fatally shot during the encounter, while Bowdre was killed and Bonney captured just a month later. Bonney was taken to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in April 1881.

During the Lincoln County War, Bonney was convicted of killing a Sheriff but managed to escape while attending to his personal needs. Legend has it that he slipped out of his handcuffs and overpowered lawman James Bell, seizing his gun and shooting him in the back. He then broke into Pat Garrett's office, armed himself with a loaded shotgun, and killed another lawman named Bob Olinger. Freeing himself from the chains on his legs, Bonney acquired a horse and rode out of Lincoln, New Mexico, seemingly singing.

Billy The Kid Was Killed By Pat Garrett In 1881 At Age 21

Billy the Kid's life came to an end when he was just 21 years old, as Pat Garrett successfully took him down. Garrett, accompanied by two deputies, managed to locate Bonney's whereabouts a mere three months after his escape. Acting on rumors that Bonney was still lingering in the vicinity of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, Garrett visited Bonney's acquaintance named Pete Maxwell. Maxwell disclosed that Bonney had paid him a visit earlier in the day, prompting Garrett and his men to lie in wait at the house, hoping for his return. Bonney eventually came back that night, and it was then that Pat Garrett fired a fatal shot, striking him in the chest and claiming his life.

Did Billy The Kid Survive His Gunshot Wound? Rumors & Legends Explained

Following Billy the Kid's reported demise, Pat Garrett gained his own local notoriety as he cashed in on the rewards for Bonney's murder from the Governor of New Mexico. Speculation soon spread, suggesting that Billy the Kid may have actually survived and that Garrett spared him due to their previous association and friendship. These rumors sparked numerous individuals to falsely proclaim themselves as the real Billy the Kid, although most of these attempts at impersonation met with failure. While the historical record only confirms Billy the Kid's death at the hands of Pat Garrett, it is widely accepted as the cause of demise for the infamous outlaw, despite the absence of definitive evidence.