Man-Eater: The Life and Legend of an American Cannibal (Alfred G. Packer)

In February 1874 Alfred Packer staggered out of the Colorado mountains and into the Los Pinos Indian agency. Snowbound and lost, he claimed to have been abandoned by his five companions. But behind the wilderness grime he looked rather well fed. And he had in his possession a skinning knife... When questioned, Packer confessed that four of the group had survived by eating two who had died of exhaustion; later he killed another in self-defence, eating him also. Packer was arrested on suspicion of murder but escaped. That same month, the half-eaten bodies of five men were discovered near Los Pinos... Packer's guilt was assumed, but the law did not catch up with him until 1883. Initially sentenced to death, he received a 40-year jail term. Paroled in 1901, he lived his last years in Denver. Was Packer the flesh-eating monster of myth, or a wretch who acted out of self-preservation? MANEATER tells his story in page-turning prose and also reveals how recent forensic developments may shed light on Packer's long-assumed cannibalism. In the winter of 1873, a small band of prospectors lost their way in the frozen wilderness of the Colorado Rockies. Months later, when the snow finally melted, only one of them emerged. His name was Alfred G. Packer, though he would soon become infamous throughout the country under a different name: “the Man-Eater.”After the butchered remains of his five traveling companions were discovered in a secluded valley by the Gunnison River, Packer vanished for nine years, becoming the West’s most wanted man. What followed was a saga of evasion and retribution as the trial of the century worked to extricate fact from myth and Polly Pry, a once-famed pioneering journalist, took on the cause of Packer. Man-Eater is the definitive story of a legendary crime—a gripping tale of unspeakable suffering, the desperate struggle for survival, and the fight to uncover the truth. In The Winter Of 1873, A Small Band Of Prospectors Lost Their Way In The Frozen Wilderness Of The Colorado Rockies. Months Later, When The Snow Finally Melted, Only One Of Them Emerged. His Name Was Alfred G. Packer, Though He Would Soon Become Infamous Throughout The Country Under A Different Name: The Man-eater. After The Butchered Remains Of His Five Traveling Companions Were Discovered In A Secluded Valley By The Gunnison River, Packer Vanished For Nine Years, Becoming The West's Most Wanted Man. What Followed Was A Saga Of Evasion And Retribution As The Trial Of The Century Worked To Extricate Fact From Myth And Polly Pry, A Once-famed Pioneering Journalist, Took On The Cause Of Packer. Man-eater Is The Definitive Story Of A Legendary Crime--a Gripping Tale Of Unspeakable Suffering, The Desperate Struggle For Survival, And The Fight To Uncover The Truth. Chronicles the pursuit and trial of Alfred Packer, one of a crew of prospectors who, when his group became lost in the snow of the Rockies in 1873, turned to cannibalism