Gibsland, Louisiana – Ninety years after the fatal ambush of Bonnie and Clyde by law enforcement officers, the controversial request to have the notorious crime duo buried together has resurfaced. Despite their brutal crime spree that claimed the lives of nine law enforcement officers, two of their surviving relatives are fighting to fulfill the couple’s final wish for a joint burial.
Originally, Bonnie Parker was buried separately from Clyde Barrow in Dallas’s Fishtrap Cemetery, just a mile away from where Barrow was laid to rest. However, 11 years later, she was moved to Crown Hill Memorial Park to be buried next to her mother, Emma. This was a decision that did not align with the couple’s wishes, as they had expressed a desire to be buried together fearing that they would be captured and killed one day.
Rhea Leen Linder, Bonnie’s niece, and Buddy Barrow Williams, Clyde’s nephew, have been advocating for the two criminals to be buried side by side. Despite their efforts, they have faced resistance in fulfilling the wish. This led Williams to author a memoir, “Growing Up Barrow,” giving insight into the family’s perspective on the matter.
Historian Brad Dison, who has been in contact with the relatives, attested to their ongoing battle to have Bonnie reinterred next to Clyde at Western Heights. However, they have encountered legal and emotional roadblocks in their pursuit of honoring Bonnie’s final wish.
The debate over the burial site has also sparked controversies, with both sides presenting their arguments. DeWayne Hughes, an official from Crown Hill cemetery, has upheld Emma’s wish to have Bonnie buried next to her instead of Clyde. Additionally, a group advocating for cemetery restoration has voiced concerns that moving Bonnie’s grave could impact tourism.
Throughout their story, Bonnie and Clyde have been the subject of movies and books that portrayed them as glamorized outlaws. Despite this, their violent crime spree and their subsequent deaths at the hands of law enforcement have left a legacy riddled with controversy. The fallout from their climactic end continues to impact the decisions surrounding their final resting places.
Ultimately, the debate over Bonnie and Clyde’s burial serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding individuals who find notoriety through crime and violence. Although their wishes have yet to be honored, the ongoing battle over their final resting place highlights the enduring fascination with their story and the impact of their crime spree on American history.