Buzz
Typically, when someone passes away, their story is relayed through newspapers or media channels popular at the time. However, these reports aren’t always reliable. In some cases, errors are made, while in others, key details are intentionally omitted to create a different story. Here are a few examples from history that illustrate this.
10. Davy Crockett
You’ve likely heard of Davy Crockett, the legendary figure known as the King of the Wild Frontier. He allegedly 'killed a bear' when it was the right thing to do, all while only three years old. His fame grew even more when Walt Disney adapted his tale into a movie that depicted his heroic defense of the Alamo. Crockett is often remembered as the last man standing, rifle in hand, as Mexican forces overwhelmed the Alamo. But it turns out, Disney’s portrayal might not have been entirely accurate.
Lt. Col. Jose Enrique de la Pena bore no ill will toward Crockett or the Texans. In fact, one might argue that de la Pena had more affection for them than for his superior, General Santa Anna, whom he openly mocked as a euphemism for the male genitalia. De la Pena kept a diary that was lost for over a century, only resurfacing in 1955. This diary made a striking claim: Crockett didn’t die in a heroic final stand, rifle in hand, but instead surrendered and was executed the following day, alongside other men who had also given up. De la Pena wrote, “Among them,” was one of considerable stature, well-built with regular features, whose face bore the marks of hardship, but naturalist David Crockett [sic], widely known in North America for his adventurous exploits.”
Ramon Martinez Caro, Santa Anna’s personal secretary, wrote an account in 1839 that mirrored these claims: “Among the 183 dead, five were discovered by General Castrillon hiding after the attack. He immediately brought them before His Excellency, who had arrived by then. When Castrillon presented the prisoners, he was reprimanded severely for not executing them on the spot. He then turned his back on Castrillon, as the soldiers stepped out of rank and attacked the prisoners until they were all killed... We all witnessed this cruelty, condemned by humanity, yet carried out as described. This is a harsh truth, but I cannot leave it out.”
American historians, particularly those sympathetic to Crockett, swiftly dismissed de la Pena’s diary as a fake. The argument suggests that it was a forgery based on Caro’s account of the massacre, with Crockett’s name being added by a forger in the 20th century. The diary became public just as Crockett’s American revival took off in 1955, coinciding with the release of the Disney movie. So which account is accurate? Disney’s version, or the 2004 Alamo movie that follows de la Pena’s interpretation?
A further account ties these versions together: George M. Dolson wrote a letter to his brother in 1836, shortly after the battle at the Alamo, which echoed both the de la Pena and Caro accounts. Dolson claimed that Crockett was indeed captured and executed. A New Orleans newspaper confirmed the same story three weeks after the event. The versions that align with the 1955 Disney film are based on reports from Mexican soldiers who said one particular soldier was hard to bring down, though no one could definitively say that it was Crockett. However, the evidence points to the fact that the Mexicans detained and executed Davy Crockett after the battle.
9. Cassie Bernall
The Columbine High School shooting in 1999 left behind many haunting stories, but none more striking than the contrast between the killers' heartless actions and the unwavering faith of one of the victims. At the time, reports claimed that Eric Harris held a gun to Cassie Bernall and asked her if she believed in God. She reportedly answered calmly, “Yes.” He then shot her in the head. Her resolute faith became an emblem of defiance, and her mother published a book about her. However, this entire conversation never occurred.
The truth was revealed in the September 24, 1999 edition of the Rocky Mountain News, which accurately described how Bernall was murdered. Dylan Klebold, the second shooter, struck a table, uttered the word “Peekaboo,” and found Bernall and Emily Wyant hiding. Without a word, Klebold shot Bernall in the head. There was indeed a conversation about God, but it involved Valeen Schnurr, not Bernall. Schnurr cried out, “Oh, my God, oh, my God, don’t let me die,” as she bled from 34 shotgun wounds. Klebold asked her why she believed in God. She explained that she was raised that way. Klebold reloaded his gun but did not shoot her again.
The original story came from a Salon.com article. If you wish to be generous, you could say some details were misremembered, but the truth remains: Cassie Bernall never had the chance to answer before Klebold ended her life.
8. Laika
One of the most well-known dogs in modern history had humble beginnings on the rough streets of Moscow. This female mutt, Laika, rose to fame when she became the first living being from Earth to journey into space. Scientist Vladimir Yazdovsky, knowing the inevitable end awaiting her, brought Laika home just days before the mission to play with his children. She was never meant to return, as there was no plan for her to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. The official account claimed that Laika survived for a few days before being euthanized via a pre-programmed injection.
However, the Soviet government’s narrative was not entirely truthful. In 2002, the real story came to light. The official account made it seem like the experiment had been more successful than it actually was, as Laika passed away only a few hours after launch. The capsule was designed to maintain a stable temperature, with a fan to activate if it exceeded 15°C (59°F). But the fan malfunctioned, and the capsule became dangerously hot. About five to seven hours into the flight, Laika’s life signs ceased. She had died from overheating. Her pulse rate spiked dramatically after liftoff but settled once in weightlessness. However, Laika clearly endured significant stress as it took a long time for her to stabilize. Instead of passing away peacefully, Laika likely suffered throughout her time in space before dying painfully in a malfunctioning spacecraft.
7. Cleopatra
At Mytour, we're all about debunking myths surrounding famous individuals, like when we revealed that Cleopatra resembled a less glamorous Bea Arthur rather than the iconic Elizabeth Taylor. At least we can say for sure that her death by asp is a well-established part of history, right?
The first account of Cleopatra’s suicide method comes from the writer Strabo, who lived during her time. Unfortunately, he didn’t clarify much, mentioning that it was either a snake or a poison ointment. Historians gravitated towards the snake theory because, let's face it, using an Egyptian cobra for suicide sounds much more dramatic than simply rubbing poison on yourself and waiting around.
Recent research suggests that one of Strabo’s reports is likely accurate, but it’s not the snake theory. Christoph Schaefer, a professor of Ancient History at Trier University, asserts that Cleopatra did not die from a snakebite. His studies—based on other sources describing her death as swift—discount the asp theory. A bite from an Egyptian cobra isn’t always deadly, and the process takes hours as paralysis slowly sets in. Given that Cleopatra had two handmaidens accompany her to the afterlife (why not?), the idea that all three would line up to be bitten by asps and die is improbable. Plutarch, the historian, tells us that one of the handmaidens was still alive when Octavian’s men found Cleopatra’s body. This alone disproves the asp theory; the three women would have been paralyzed before dying. Additionally, cobras release all their venom in one bite, making the idea of three separate bites impossible. Schaefer, collaborating with a German toxicologist, concluded that Cleopatra likely died from hemlock, mixed with wolfsbane and opium.
There are contemporary accounts of Cleopatra's death by asp, but “contemporary” is a relative term. Most of these accounts come from 50–100 years after the event, and at that time, the snake suicide was seen as a more symbolic act for an Egyptian queen. It wasn’t until the 15th century that artists began depicting Cleopatra’s end with the snake. Shakespeare also included the asp legend in his play Antony and Cleopatra. However, the reality is that poisoning, as reported by Strabo, was likely the true cause of Cleopatra’s death.
6. James Garfield
James Garfield is often remembered today primarily for being one of the four U.S. presidents to be assassinated, but there’s another lesser-known fact about him: He could write in both Greek and Latin at the same time, thanks to being ambidextrous. His tragic death took the nation by surprise, as he was only four months into his presidency when he was shot.
The reality, however, is that it wasn’t the assassin’s bullet that killed Garfield. It was the doctors who hastened his demise. On July 2, 1881, Charles Guiteau shot Garfield while he was waiting for a train in Washington, D.C. Guiteau managed to shoot him twice, once in the arm and once, fatally, in the spine. Immediately after the shooting, doctors scrambled to remove the bullet from his spine using unsterilized fingers, probes, and other improvised tools. The doctors believed that removing the bullet was the key to saving Garfield, oblivious to the fact that their methods were making him worse. This was largely because many of them didn’t believe in germs. Although Joseph Lister in England had introduced antiseptic practices nearly 20 years earlier, American doctors rejected the idea and relied on more traditional remedies like brandy to ease the President’s suffering.
For 80 days, President Garfield endured immense suffering. He couldn’t eat and lost between 35 to 60 kilograms (80 to 130 pounds). The assassin himself later said, “I shot him, but doctors killed him.” And surprisingly, he was right. The assassin, who believed it was his divine mission to kill Garfield, was correct in his own way. Thirty-one years after Garfield’s death, President Teddy Roosevelt was shot by an assassin. Unlike Garfield, doctors left the bullet in Roosevelt, and he lived with it for the rest of his life. If the doctors had simply left Garfield’s bullet alone, Guiteau would likely have failed in his assassination attempt, and Garfield might have survived.
5. The Challenger Crew
For many North Americans born between the late 1960s and 1980s, the Challenger disaster marks their first “flashbulb memory”—the moment when they first learned about the Space Shuttle Challenger’s tragic explosion. On January 1986, just 73 seconds after liftoff, the Challenger crew met their end. Or did they?
NASA’s official version doesn’t explicitly indicate the exact moment of the astronauts’ deaths. To most observers, the massive explosion seemed like confirmation that the crew had died instantly. However, the explosion originated from the solid rocket booster, and the crew’s capsule actually soared upwards to nearly 20,000 meters (65,000 feet) before falling into the ocean three minutes later. Some of the emergency air bottles were activated, suggesting that not all the crew perished immediately. It’s plausible that all seven astronauts were still alive when the capsule crashed into the water.
Upon impact with the water, the cabin was crushed, and the crew’s bodies became tangled in the wreckage. Dr. Joseph Kerwin, director of Life Sciences at Johnson Space Center, stated in 1986 that despite how dramatic the explosion appeared on television, it wasn’t powerful enough to have caused the crew’s deaths. Pilot Michael Smith, who was last heard saying “Uh oh” in the Challenger’s final communication, had his air activated for him, as the bottle was located behind his seat—he couldn’t have activated it himself. Due to minimal damage to the cabin floor, it depressurized slowly rather than abruptly. The evidence points to the catastrophic impact with the ocean as the true cause of death for the Challenger crew, not the explosion.
4. Elvis
For those of a certain age, Elvis Presley’s death might be their first “flashbulb memory”—a moment where you clearly remember where you were when the news broke that The King had passed away. Many also believe the infamous rumor that he died on the toilet. The official autopsy, however, stated that Elvis died from a heart attack. Yet, his extensive prescription drug use likely didn’t help matters, and many suspect that the actual cause of his death was an overdose.
The truth is, Elvis didn’t die on the toilet as commonly thought. He was found on the bathroom floor, fully dressed. While there’s no doubt that Presley had abused prescription drugs for years, most experts agree that one key factor was responsible for his death: constipation. The average person’s colon measures about 120–150 centimeters (4–5 ft) long, but Elvis had a colon that stretched an impressive 275 centimeters (9 ft). Colon cleansing is often promoted today, but in reality, it’s unnecessary for most people because the body doesn’t typically store waste for such extended periods—unless you’re Elvis, who had stool that had been in his system for four or five months, clinging to the walls of his colon.
Elvis suffered from bowel paralysis, which is exactly as it sounds: a difficult time passing stool. The strain from trying to force a bowel movement puts unnecessary stress on the heart. To alleviate his abdominal discomfort, Elvis relied on codeine and hydrocodone, which are known to exacerbate constipation. When you combine the effects of prescription drugs, an enlarged heart, and the added strain on his body, it became clear that these factors culminated in his death. Yes, Elvis did have a heart attack, but the true cause was his severe constipation, not the drugs.
3. Kitty Genovese
The tragic and senseless murder of Kitty Genovese remains one of the most analyzed cases in modern history. As many are aware, up to 38 witnesses stood by and did nothing as a young woman was brutally attacked and murdered in plain sight. The actions—or lack thereof—of these bystanders have sparked countless debates about human nature, the coldness of urban life, and whatever theories psychologists may have to offer.
On March 13, 1964, in Queens, Genovese was indeed viciously attacked. Winston Moseley assaulted her just after 3:00 AM, while she was returning home from her job. Robert Moser, who lived across the street, heard the commotion and shouted, causing Moseley to flee. A 14-year-old boy also witnessed the attack and immediately told his father, who called the police. A man was seen fleeing the scene, and a woman was seen staggering away.
Despite the phone call to the police, they failed to respond. Moseley, noticing that no help was on the way, turned back and found Genovese unconscious outside her building’s entrance. He then proceeded to stab and rape her. It was during this second assault that Genovese ultimately lost her life. The New York Times first reported that 38 people had witnessed the crime (though they also mistakenly mentioned three attacks, rather than the two that actually took place). Karl Ross, a friend of Genovese, had watched from his doorway. Ross, who was paranoid and an alcoholic, slammed his door shut when Moseley saw him, then crawled out of his window to a neighbor’s apartment. After a long delay, he called the police, but by then it was too late—Genovese was already dead.
The residents of Kew Gardens were often seen as monsters. Sophie Farrar, a tenant on the upper floor, hurried down the stairs, desperate to save Genovese. Unfortunately, by the time she arrived, it was too late. Farrar's brave attempt is largely forgotten. What remains etched in memory is the fact that 38 people stood by, doing nothing. In reality, only one person truly did nothing (ignoring the police), while at least four others tried to help save her life.
2. Che Guevara
The details of Che Guevara’s death have always been clouded in political conflict. Those who wear his image on their shirts like to believe in the version where Che remains defiant, facing the barrel of a gun without fear. Meanwhile, those on the opposing side prefer to recall the image of a frightened, pleading Che begging for his life in his final moments. But we're not here to pick a side. Instead, this is a deeper dive into how he was captured and the role the Americans played in discovering his whereabouts.
In the 1960s, the United States was staunchly anti-communist, willing to do almost anything to prevent more countries from falling under the influence of Communism. In an unlikely twist, the CIA teamed up with a Nazi. According to filmmaker Kevin McDonald, the US government enlisted Klaus Barbie, the notorious Gestapo officer, who was then hiding in Bolivia, to assist in capturing Che. Barbie and the US had a shared enemy: Communists. One of Barbie’s roles during World War II had been to sabotage the French Resistance, and now the US sought his expertise to disrupt Guevara’s efforts to bring Communism to Bolivia. This may not be as outlandish as it sounds. Barbie held significant sway in Bolivia and was protected by pro-Fascist forces, making him the perfect person for the US to turn to if they wanted intelligence on the situation.
Guevara’s life came to a tragic end in 1967. Klaus Barbie took great pride in claiming responsibility for the plan that led to Che’s capture. Even Fidel Castro himself believed that the Nazi and the Americans had a quiet agreement to bring down the revolutionary figure.
1. Alexander Hamilton
It remains the most notorious duel in American history; the sitting Vice President gunned down one of the most prominent political figures in the United States. Aaron Burr became a social outcast afterward (not that he was ever particularly virtuous, considering he tried to form his own country at one point). Alexander Hamilton is remembered as a noble figure who allegedly shot into the air, while Burr is depicted as a cold-blooded murderer.
Following the duel, Hamilton’s allies swiftly intervened, claiming that Hamilton had no intention of harming Burr. They presented letters—including one to his wife—which painted a picture of a humble man devoted to peace. This narrative is what’s largely preserved in history. However, a 1976 analysis by Smithsonian Magazine examined the weapons used in the duel, revealing a surprising discovery: the pistols had a hair trigger. In simpler terms, this means that even the slightest movement would cause the gun to discharge. Since Hamilton was the one who selected and provided the guns, he must have known they had hair triggers, whereas Burr likely did not. Using such a feature during a duel was a breach of etiquette and considered dishonorable. The trick with a hair trigger is to fire prematurely, hoping to strike your opponent before they react. If Hamilton had truly aimed to shoot in the air, a hair trigger would have been unnecessary. Burr later reported that Hamilton’s shot came so close it grazed his ear, nearly taking off part of his head. Burr’s advantage was the slower, more deliberate trigger pull, which made his aim more controlled.
Hamilton took the first shot, but in his rush to gain the upper hand on Burr, he fired a fraction too early and to the left. The moment he missed, Hamilton probably knew his fate was sealed. Since Hamilton’s shot missed, the hair trigger didn’t affect Burr’s shot; Burr now had the time to carefully aim and fire. While the manner of Hamilton’s death remains unchanged, the context surrounding it shifts. Aaron Burr doesn’t emerge as the villain in this duel—he was merely returning fire after Hamilton’s shot nearly decapitated him using a dishonest weapon.
+ Rasputin
The name Rasputin is infamous: the Russian mystic who served as an advisor to Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Tsarina Alexandra, as well as being a surprisingly skilled dancer in Just Dance. This Rasputin, often seen as a healer, was infamous for surviving numerous attempts on his life—being poisoned, shot, and drowned.
But Rasputin’s death may not have happened the way most people think. The British Secret Service was likely involved in his assassination. According to Andrew Cook, one of the key players in Rasputin’s murder was Oswald Rayner—a friend of Prince Felix Yusupov, the man responsible for the killing. Rayner was, in fact, an agent of the British Secret Service. Rasputin had a bullet wound to the forehead, which Cook claims is characteristic of a professional assassin’s work. It’s possible that Rasputin was indeed poisoned, shot, and thrown into a river, but according to retired Scotland Yard detective Richard Cullen, after Rasputin showed faint signs of life, Rayner fired the final shot to end him. Autopsies revealed that Rasputin had been struck by bullets from three different guns, with the fatal shot coming from a British agent’s weapon.
