You can find Killers of the Flower Moon: Oil, Money, Murder and the Birth of the FBI” by author David Grann on your favorite bookstore, including Amazon.com and Amazon UK.

The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

In the 1920s, the Osage Nation in Oklahoma became the center of one of the most sinister crimes in American history. David Grann’s riveting book “Killers of the Flower Moon” chronicles the story of how members of the Osage tribe were systematically murdered one by one after oil was discovered beneath their land, making them rich beyond imagination. As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI was brought in to uncover the chilling conspiracy behind the killings.

The Osage Oil Boom

In the late 19th century, the Osage were driven from their ancestral lands in Kansas onto a rocky, presumably useless reservation in northeast Oklahoma. But in 1897, oil was discovered beneath their new reservation, transforming the tribe into spectacularly wealthy individuals overnight.

Each Osage was granted a “headright” – essentially a share in the profits from the oil being pumped from their land. Some Osages were collecting over $30,000 a month, equivalent to over $400,000 today! The tribe became known as the richest people per capita in the world.

As word of their wealth spread, opportunists and schemers began descending on the Osage territory, hoping to marry into headrights or trick the Osages into signing away control of their fortune. The Osages needed help managing their money, and many allowed white guardians to control their headrights.

As “Killers of the Flower Moon” underlines, this would prove to be a deadly mistake.

Mysterious Deaths Begin Targeting the Osage

In 1921, the body of a young Osage woman named Mollie Burkhart was discovered, shot in the head and left in a ravine. In the months that followed, more Osage with substantial headrights began dying under suspicious circumstances. One by one, the Osage were being targeted and eliminated.

Some were shot, others poisoned. Bodies were found dumped by the side of the road or left in burning cars. No one in law enforcement seemed interested in seriously investigating the deaths, likely because so many powerful men had motive and means.

The Reign of Terror Against the Osage

By 1925, over two dozen Osage had been murdered or died under mysterious circumstances. Most victims were married into the family of Mollie Burkhart, which had substantial oil wealth.

It was clear the Osage were being targeted in a sinister, systematic reign of terror. Yet with law enforcement unwilling to conduct serious investigations, the killers continued their bloody work unimpeded.

Wealthy white ranchers and businessmen sought to gain control of the Osage’s fortune, either through murder or manipulation. Guardians ripped off their charges, while others schemed to marry Osage women and inherit their oil money.

But under the Osage “parcel system”, headrights could not legally pass to non-Osage – sparking a sinister plot to kill off inheritors until the headrights defaulted to allies.

The FBI Gets Involved

As David Grann unveils, by 1925, the Osage death toll had risen to over 24, with at least two attempted murders. When one victim survived, she raised alarm bells, and the Bureau of Investigation (later renamed the FBI) finally took serious interest.

Former Texas Ranger Tom White was put in charge of the case, assembling an undercover team of investigators. They tracked down leads, interviewed witnesses, and pieced together evidence.

To infiltrate the community, FBI also recruited Tom White’s son-in-law Ernest Burkhart, a white man married to Mollie Burkhart’s sister. Burkhart became a mole, gathering evidence and confessions that would unravel the entire murderous conspiracy.

Killers of the Flower Moon uncovers a Sinister Conspiracy

Through Burkhart’s covert work, FBI learned that powerful local businessman William Hale had masterminded the murderous plot. Hale had enlisted his nephew Ernest Burkhart along with a gang of criminals to systematically target and eliminate the Osage.

The goal was to inherit their oil wealth by removing all other inheritors. By marrying an Osage woman, Burkhart had insider access to isolate targets while Hale used his clout to impede investigations.

David Grann describes a sinister conspiracy involving respected officials and prominent businessmen. The revelations sent shockwaves through the community and captured national attention.

Justice is Finally Served

In 1926, Ernest Burkhart confessed to his role in the plot, implicating Hale and others. Burkhart was sentenced to life in prison. William Hale was convicted of murder and also sentenced to life.

Multiple conspirators received lengthy prison terms for their roles. Altogether, over a dozen people were either convicted or outright implicated in the Osage murder plot.

Mollie Burkhart, who had tragically lost much of her entire family to the scheme, got some measure of justice. Thanks to the efforts of the FBI, the chilling conspiracy that David Grann tell us in “Killers of the Flower Moon” was finally exposed.

The FBI Rises to Prominence

The Osage Murders case established the FBI as an elite national law enforcement agency. Utilizing undercover agents, surveillance, informants and forensic evidence, they were able to solve a complex murder conspiracy local authorities had failed to untangle.

J. Edgar Hoover, the ambitious head of the Bureau, leveraged the FBI’s success investigating the Osage Murders into greater power, resources, and autonomy. In succeeding decades, the Federal Bureau of Investigation would grow into one of the most powerful agencies in the United States.

But the Osage themselves had paid a terrible price for this expansion of federal law enforcement. Over two dozen lives had been brutally taken by greedy opportunists seeking to steal away their oil fortune. It was a tragic chapter in the history of the American West.

Killers of the Flower Moon: Legacy of Tragedy and Greed

The sinister conspirators behind the Osage Murders went to terrible lengths to exploit and control the tribe’s oil wealth. Through a methodical campaign of elimination, they sought to inherit fortunes that were not theirs.

Ultimately, over two dozen Osage lost their lives in this campaign of greed and murder. The full toll of the tragedy is impossible to quantify, as the plot robbed entire families of their loved ones.

Despite belated justice, the sorrow and damage could never be fully undone. Dark memories lingered of those terrible years when the Osage lived in fear, not knowing who could be trusted – or who might kill them next.

The murders revealed an especially ugly side of American corruption and ambition. But it also highlighted the Osage’s resilience and perseverance in the face of persecution.

As a new generation of Osage thrives today, they have not forgotten the painful lessons learned during the oil boom that decimated their elders through exploitation and violence. The Osage continue pushing forward, while still honoring the memory of those whose lives were cut short by the greed and prejudice of others.

Though scarred by tragedy, their culture lives on.

Conclusion

David Grann’s stunning work of non-fiction reads like a thriller novel. But the Osage Murders conspiracy was all too real – an unimaginable betrayal targeting Native Americans who had found unimaginable wealth and power after centuries of dispossession.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” sheds light on a shadowy plot driven by prejudice and greed. It led to the rise of the formidable FBI, but left the Osage Nation crippled by the tragic loss of its elders and leaders.

The killings represented a sinister effort to control Osage fortune, but also acted as a spark that helped mobilize the federal government against corruption and conspiracy at local levels nationwide. Ultimately, it is a sobering reminder of the destruction that can ensue when hatred and opportunism infect men’s hearts – and the resilience forged in those who survive.

FAQs on Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

What was the Osage Murders conspiracy about?

The Osage Murders conspiracy was a sinister plot in the 1920s to gain control of the oil fortunes belonging to members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered on their reservations, the Osage became extremely wealthy, with each tribal member receiving a “headright” granting them shares in the oil profits. However, opportunists soon hatched a plan to marry into Osage families, then systematically kill off inheritors in order to seize their headrights and oil wealth.

Over the course of several years, dozens of Osages were murdered or died under suspicious circumstances, with local officials unwilling or unable to seriously investigate. It was an unimaginable betrayal targeting Native Americans who had become some of the richest people per capita in the world.

How did the FBI get involved in solving the case?

Due to the lack of substantive action by local law enforcement, the newly established Bureau of Investigation (later the FBI) took over the case in 1925 after several Osage raised urgent concerns and alarm over the ongoing murders. Former Texas Ranger Tom White was put in charge, assembling a team of undercover agents to infiltrate the community and gather evidence. White had his son-in-law Ernest Burkhart befriend and gain the trust of the masterminds. Burkhart eventually became a mole, eliciting critical confessions and evidence that exposed the full extent of the conspiracy. The FBI’s use of undercover work and forensic evidence-gathering proved far superior to local approaches.

Who were the main conspirators behind the Killers of the Flower Moon?

The mastermind of the entire murderous plot was William Hale, a powerful local rancher, along with several extended family members and associates. Hale enlisted the help of his nephew Ernest Burkhart, who had married into the Osage family, to identify targets and assist in isolating and killing them off. Several other prominent local ranchers and oilmen played critical roles in carrying out the murders or covering them up. The conspirators aimed to inherit the Osage oil fortunes once all other inheritors had been eliminated from families.

Why did the murders described in “Killers of the Flower Moon” go unsolved for so long?

The deaths went unsolved for several years largely because local law enforcement displayed little initiative in seriously investigating or pursuing leads. There was also likely corruption and willful blindness, as various officials and businessmen profited from the plot or had ties to the culprits. Additionally, the isolated, tight-knit nature of the community likely made witnesses afraid to come forward for fear of retribution. The FBI finally applying proper investigative techniques cracked through the culture of secrecy and corruption that had allowed the killings to go on for so long.

How were the Osage ultimately impacted by the tragedies?

The Osage community was profoundly devastated, with families losing multiple loved ones and inheritors. The plot robbed them of elders, leaders, and prosperous members of their tribe. Though the FBI brought some conspirators to justice, the damage had been done. The murders showed how opportunists would go to unthinkable lengths to seize and control the Osage’s newfound oil wealth. Culturally and psychologically, the lingering effects of the brutal crimes haunted the Osage for generations. But they proved resilient in rebuilding and maintaining their nation despite the traumas inflicted by greed and hate.

Did the FBI’s work help strengthen the agency moving forward?

Yes, solving the high-profile Osage Murders conspiracy greatly boosted the FBI’s prestige and demonstrate its skill, establishing it as an elite national law enforcement body. FBI director J. Edgar Hoover leveraged the case to acquire more federal resources, power, and autonomy in the ensuing decades. The FBI was able to solve a complex, multi-layered case that local law enforcement had failed at, proving its superior forensic and investigative capabilities. Going forward, the FBI would rise to be one of the preeminent law enforcement agencies in the country.

What techniques did the FBI use to solve the case?

The FBI’s undercover work, surveillance, informants, and early forensic evidence gathering were critical in unraveling the complex murder plot. They pursued leads more doggedly and rigorously than local law enforcement. ERnest Burkhart’s role as an inside informant was especially key, helping the FBI infiltrate the conspiracy. Wiretapping and surveillance also helped build a web of evidence. The FBI proved more thorough and sophisticated than local agencies that had written off the deaths.

How extensive was the murder conspiracy ultimately found to be?

The FBI investigation ultimately concluded that there were likely over two dozen individuals who were either directly involved in the Osage murders or assisted in covering them up. William Hale was the director, while Ernest Burkhart acted as his inside liaison and enforcer, carrying out many of the early killings. But the conspiracy included various levels of corrupt officials, Rancher hirelings, family members, and connections in town who enabled the plot and failed to seriously investigate. David Grann shows a web of complicity that was massive.

Could the Osage murders happen again today?

While highly unlikely due to contemporary law enforcement techniques and cooperation, the underlying graft, prejudice and opportunism that motivated the Osage murders endures in various forms. Indigenous communities still suffer from exploitation, violence, and manipulative schemes aiming to steal their resources and profit off them. However, awareness of diversity and inclusion makes overt conspiracies less prevalent. And advanced forensics and DNA testing would dissuade complex murder plots. While not immune from corruption, transparency and technology have minimized the chances of such brazen, large-scale criminal conspiracies targeting Native Americans and their resources. David Grann, among the other purposes, wrote Killers of the Flower Moon for dispelling any chance to get another “Osage”.

What lasting lessons does the tragedy impart about corruption and prejudice?

The Osage Murders expose how even respected public figures will justify unthinkable crimes when greed and prejudice take hold. The plot relied on degrees of local corruption, insider manipulation, opportunism and cultural biases against Native Americans allowing the killings to go overlooked. It is a stark lesson in how evil can fester when people turn a blind eye and encourage or exploit divisions against marginalized groups. Integrity and compassion in institutions and communities are vital to protect the vulnerable. The Osage tragedy highlights the need for equality, inclusion and ethical responsibility at all levels of society.