The Sheriff Pat Garrett Murder Site lies in the desert east of Organ Mountain High School, near Las Cruces, New Mexico. This desolate location was once known as Mail-Scott Road. Here, on February 29, 1908, Sheriff Pat Garrett met his tragic end at the hands of Wayne Brazel. Under a solitary creosote bush, you’ll find a plaque that describes this fateful incident and marks the date of Garrett’s demise1.
In 1908, two brothers named William and Emmett Isaacks discovered Garrett’s lifeless body in this very spot. Brazel and Carl Adamson had left it there after the fatal shooting. The brothers later memorialized the location with a stone marker adorned with a cross. This modest tribute stands as a testament to the historical significance of the event.
Recently, Garrett’s grandson, Scott Davis, and great-great-grandson, Owen Davis (aged 12), paid their respects at the site. Escorted by the Friends of Pat Garrett historian group, they connected with the past. Historian David Thomas even led a reading of the preliminary hearing of Brazel, vividly bringing the events of 1908 to life for the listeners.
Pat Garrett is renowned worldwide for his role in killing Billy the Kid in 1881. He served as the former sheriff of Doña Ana and Lincoln counties. The stone marker, reinforced with concrete in 1965 to prevent displacement, now bears an additional plaque installed by the Friends of Pat Garrett group in 2021. Notably, a wooden New Mexico Official Scenic Historic Marker referencing the general area of the killing can be found near 4500 Bataan Memorial East, close to Jornada Road1.
While theories of conspiracy and murder plans persist, none have been definitively substantiated. Historian David Thomas delved into Pat Garrett’s life extensively, resulting in the book titled “Killing Pat Garrett, The Wild West’s Most Famous Lawman – Murder or Self-Defense?”1. This remote desert site remains a poignant reminder of a pivotal moment in New Mexico’s history. 🌵