Inside the grisly murders of the Osage oil inheritors in Oklahoma, the real-life serial killings that inspired the film 'Killers of the Flower Moon'

Yoonji HanMay 28, 2023, 19:02 IST

A still from the upcoming film "Killers of the Flower Moon," which is based on the real-life murders of the Osage people in the 1920s.Courtesy of Apple

"Killers of the Flower Moon" tells the story of Osage people who were murdered after oil deposits were discovered under their land.
The movie is based on a 2017 book written by journalist David Grann, which explores the killings and investigation of the murders.

The film "Killers of the Flower Moon," which premiered at Cannes and will be released on October 6, was based on the real-life killings of the Osage people in Oklahoma in the early 1920s.

Tantoo Cardinal, Janae Collins, Jesse Plemons, Robert De Niro, Director Martin Scorsese, Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cara Jade Myers and Jillian Dion attend the "Killers Of The Flower Moon" photocall at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 21, 2023 in Cannes, France.Dominique Charriau/WireImage

The film "Killers of the Flower Moon," which premiered at Cannes and will be released on October 6, was based on the real-life killings of the Osage people in Oklahoma in the early 1920s.

The Osage Nation is a Midwestern Native American tribe of the Great Plains. The tribe developed in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys around 700 BC.

A painting by George Catlin depicting the Osage people from the 1860s.Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

In the 19th century, the Osage were forced to leave Kansas for present-day Oklahoma due to treaties with the United States government. The tribe lived under harsh financial conditions, and food, clothing, and medical supplies were in short supply.

Postcard features a photograph of a group of women and children of the Osage Nation, Pawhuska, Oklahoma Territory, circa 1918 - 1922.William J Boag/Oklahoma Historical Society/Getty Images

In the 19th century, the Osage were forced to leave Kansas for present-day Oklahoma due to treaties with the United States government. The tribe lived under harsh financial conditions, and food, clothing, and medical supplies were in short supply.

The Osage Nation's fortunes changed in 1894, when crude oil was discovered under their land. The Osage Allotment Act of 1906 ensured the Osage would retain mineral rights to the land.

President Calvin Coolidge and representatives of the Osage Nation in front of the East Colonnade at the White House, January 20, 1927.Scherer/Oklahoma Historical Society/Getty Images

The Osage Nation's fortunes changed in 1894, when crude oil was discovered under their land. The Osage Allotment Act of 1906 ensured the Osage would retain mineral rights to the land.

But the newfound prosperity of the Osage attracted outsiders who sought to profit off the tribe. During the 1920s, Osage oil inheritors mysteriously died.

Postcard features a photograph of three of men of the Osage Nation as they sit on a bench in front of shop, Pawhuska, Oklahoma Territory, circa 1918-1919.Oklahoma Historical Society/Getty Images

Grann's book "Killers of the Flower Moon" follows the story of Mollie Burkhart, a member of the Osage tribe and one of four sisters who became wealthy from the oil windfall. They all married white men, but Mollie's sisters and family began to die from mysterious circumstances.

Mollie Kyle, played by Lily Gladstone, marries Ernest Burkhart, played by Leonardo DiCaprio.Courtesy of Apple

Grann's book "Killers of the Flower Moon" follows the story of Mollie Burkhart, a member of the Osage tribe and one of four sisters who became wealthy from the oil windfall. They all married white men, but Mollie's sisters and family began to die from mysterious circumstances.

The period was dubbed the Osage Reign of Terror: In the months that followed, more than two dozen people — including white investigators looking into the crimes — were killed between 1920 and 1924.

Anna Kyle Brown, Lizzie Q, and Charles Whitehorn were among the Osage people who were murdered during the Reign of Terror.Vince Dillion/Oklahoma Historical Society/Getty Images; Bettmann/Getty Images; VCG Wilson/Bettmann Archive

The period was dubbed the Osage Reign of Terror: In the months that followed, more than two dozen people — including white investigators looking into the crimes — were killed between 1920 and 1924.

The Osage Tribal Council suspected William Hale, a white power player on the reservation, of the murders. His nephew Ernest Burkhart had married Mollie Kyle, whose sisters, mother, and cousins died, leaving her and Ernest the heirs to the oil rights.

William Hale with his daughter and wife.Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

The Osage Tribal Council suspected William Hale, a white power player on the reservation, of the murders. His nephew Ernest Burkhart had married Mollie Kyle, whose sisters, mother, and cousins died, leaving her and Ernest the heirs to the oil rights.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which was created just a few years earlier in 1908, was tasked with solving the murders. FBI agent Tom White led an undercover investigation and, after gaining the townspeople's trust, discovered how Hale had directed the murders.

A document in the "Hale–Ramsey Murder Case," from the Oklahoman Collection at the Oklahoma Historical Society photo archives.Oklahoma Historical Society Archives

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which was created just a few years earlier in 1908, was tasked with solving the murders. FBI agent Tom White led an undercover investigation and, after gaining the townspeople's trust, discovered how Hale had directed the murders.

In January 1926, FBI agents took Hale, Burkhart, and John Ramsey, a local farmer-cowboy Hale hired, into custody. The three men were convicted and sentenced to life in 1929, but were eventually paroled despite Osage protests.

Robert De Niro plays William Hale, who directs his nephew Ernest Burkhart, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, to murder members of his wife's family for oil rights.Courtesy of Apple

In January 1926, FBI agents took Hale, Burkhart, and John Ramsey, a local farmer-cowboy Hale hired, into custody. The three men were convicted and sentenced to life in 1929, but were eventually paroled despite Osage protests.

Osage Nation leaders and Native actors have spoken positively about the "Killers of the Flower Moon" film, which they said took into consideration their concerns about representation on screen.

Henry Roan, one of the Osage killed during the Reign of Terror, is an ancestor of Jim Gray, former chief of the Osage Nation.VCG Wilson/Bettmann Archive

Osage Nation leaders and Native actors have spoken positively about the "Killers of the Flower Moon" film, which they said took into consideration their concerns about representation on screen.

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Inside the grisly murders of the Osage oil inheritors in Oklahoma, the real-life serial killings that inspired the film 'Killers of the Flower Moon'

The film "Killers of the Flower Moon," which premiered at Cannes and will be released on October 6, was based on the real-life killings of the Osage people in Oklahoma in the early 1920s.

The Osage Nation is a Midwestern Native American tribe of the Great Plains. The tribe developed in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys around 700 BC.

In the 19th century, the Osage were forced to leave Kansas for present-day Oklahoma due to treaties with the United States government. The tribe lived under harsh financial conditions, and food, clothing, and medical supplies were in short supply.

The Osage Nation's fortunes changed in 1894, when crude oil was discovered under their land. The Osage Allotment Act of 1906 ensured the Osage would retain mineral rights to the land.

But the newfound prosperity of the Osage attracted outsiders who sought to profit off the tribe. During the 1920s, Osage oil inheritors mysteriously died.

Grann's book "Killers of the Flower Moon" follows the story of Mollie Burkhart, a member of the Osage tribe and one of four sisters who became wealthy from the oil windfall. They all married white men, but Mollie's sisters and family began to die from mysterious circumstances.

The period was dubbed the Osage Reign of Terror: In the months that followed, more than two dozen people — including white investigators looking into the crimes — were killed between 1920 and 1924.

The Osage Tribal Council suspected William Hale, a white power player on the reservation, of the murders. His nephew Ernest Burkhart had married Mollie Kyle, whose sisters, mother, and cousins died, leaving her and Ernest the heirs to the oil rights.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which was created just a few years earlier in 1908, was tasked with solving the murders. FBI agent Tom White led an undercover investigation and, after gaining the townspeople's trust, discovered how Hale had directed the murders.

In January 1926, FBI agents took Hale, Burkhart, and John Ramsey, a local farmer-cowboy Hale hired, into custody. The three men were convicted and sentenced to life in 1929, but were eventually paroled despite Osage protests.

Osage Nation leaders and Native actors have spoken positively about the "Killers of the Flower Moon" film, which they said took into consideration their concerns about representation on screen.