Third Set of Gunshot Remains Found in Search for Tulsa Race Massacre Graves

A new discovery has emerged from the ongoing search for the victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, as a third set of remains with a gunshot wound has been uncovered at the Tulsa cemetery. State official Kary Stackelbeck revealed that the remains were found in an area where 18 Black men killed in the massacre are believed to have been buried. This development comes following the exhumation of three sets of remains during the latest search.

Third set of remains found

The newly discovered remains were confirmed to have a gunshot wound and have been transferred to the forensic lab for analysis. This finding adds to the growing body of evidence being collected from the site, shedding light on the brutal events that transpired during the tragic massacre. Stackelbeck emphasized the significance of this discovery, underlining the meticulous analysis that the remains will undergo.

Previous Identification and Analysis

Not long ago, the first identification of remains previously exhumed during the search revealed that they belonged to World War I veteran C.L. Daniel from Georgia. Through the utilization of DNA from descendants of his brothers, the forensic experts at Intermountain Forensics were able to establish the identity of the remains. However, despite the identification, no gunshot wound was found in Daniel's fragmented remains, and the cause of his death could not be determined, according to forensic anthropologist Phoebe Stubblefield.

Grave Sites and Forensic Examination

The remains exhumed during the current search constitute a portion of the approximately 40 graves that have been discovered, as confirmed by Stackelbeck. These findings align with the documented criteria for the burial of massacre victims, drawing from contemporaneous newspaper articles, death certificates, and funeral home records. Furthermore, the individuals were found to have been buried in adult-sized, wooden caskets, a detail that conforms to the historical accounts of the burials.

Historical Context: The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre

The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre stands as a harrowing testament to the long-ignored history of racial violence in the United States. Triggered by a white mob, the massacre resulted in the deaths of as many as 300 Black people over the course of two days. The violent upheaval decimated the prosperous community of Black Wall Street and led to the forced internment of thousands of Black residents overseen by the National Guard. The unearthing of these graves serves as a poignant reckoning with this dark chapter in American history.