In the spring of 1874, a remarkable tale of survival and mystery began to unfold in the rugged wilderness of Western Colorado. Alfred Packer, a 31-year-old prospector, arrived at the Los Pinos Indian Agency with a harrowing story of abandonment and solitary survival in the San Juan mountains. He claimed that after departing from a larger expedition with five companions, he was left behind when his feet became too frozen to continue. For two and a half months, he allegedly survived alone before making his way to civilization.

However, Packer's account quickly aroused suspicion. Despite claiming destitution, he appeared well-fed and was seen with a surprising amount of money and possessions belonging to his missing companions. When confronted by other members of the original expedition, inconsistencies in his story mounted. Eventually, under questioning, Packer admitted that his companions were dead—though he maintained that most had died naturally, with only one, Shannon Bell, being killed in self-defense when Packer feared becoming Bell's next meal.

Key Takeaways

Alfred Packer's survival story raised immediate suspicions when he arrived at the Los Pinos Indian Agency looking well-fed after a supposed ordeal.
Despite claiming poverty, Packer was observed with significant funds and possessions belonging to his missing traveling companions.
Under pressure from witnesses and evidence, Packer eventually confessed that all five of his companions had died during the expedition.

Alfred Packer's Journey to Los Pinos

In April 1874, a haggard figure emerged from the Colorado wilderness and arrived at the Los Pinos Indian Agency. This man was Alfred Packer, a 31-year-old prospector who appeared at the agency carrying minimal possessions: a rifle, knife, coffee pot, and satchel. Upon his arrival, Packer immediately requested whiskey before settling down to recount his ordeal.

Packer explained to the agency staff that he had joined a prospecting expedition led by Robert McGrew, traveling from Salt Lake City to Breen Ridge, Colorado in late 1873. Having limited resources of his own, he had offered $25 and his services as a guide familiar with the region. The journey proved challenging from the start, with January snowfalls obscuring the Old Spanish Trail and forcing the group to navigate by compass.

The expedition faced numerous hardships before even reaching the San Juan mountains:

Dwindling supplies
Damaged wagons
Near-starvation of their draft animals

Fortunately, the group encountered Chief Ouray's Ute camp along their route. The chief generously provided shelter and supplies, even inviting them to remain until spring thaw. While most accepted this offer, Packer claimed that he and five others departed on February 9th to continue their journey.

According to Packer's account, his feet became severely frostbitten, preventing him from keeping pace with his companions. This allegedly led to the difficult decision for the group to leave him behind with only a rifle and minimal supplies. After recovering sufficiently to travel, Packer stated he spent 2.5 months surviving independently in the mountains before reaching Los Pinos.

General Charles Adams, the agency leader, initially accepted Packer's tale but soon harbored doubts. Several observations raised suspicions:

Suspicious Elements Details Physical condition Packer appeared well-fed despite claiming near-starvation Behavioral concerns Showed signs of mental instability Prior knowledge Adams had encountered other McGrew party members who arrived starving Priorities Packer showed more interest in alcohol than food

Despite these concerns, Adams had no proof of dishonesty. When Packer claimed poverty, Adams offered him employment, which Packer declined. Instead, he expressed a desire to return to Pennsylvania where friends could support him. To fund this journey, he sold his Winchester rifle to an agency employee for $10.

Packer stayed at Los Pinos for approximately three weeks before departing for Saguache, about 40 miles southeast. Rather than seeking passage home or employment, eyewitnesses reported he spent his time drinking and gambling. The Fremont County Record later noted that Packer was seen displaying substantial cash—peculiar behavior for someone who should have had minimal funds.

The situation grew more suspicious when other McGrew party members arrived in Saguache in April 1874. Fresh from visiting Los Pinos and hearing Packer's account from Adams, they adamantly disputed his version of events. When confronting Packer, they discovered he possessed items belonging to their missing companions:

Frank Miller's firearm
James Humphrey's wallet containing cash
Israel Swan's Winchester rifle
Various personal effects from other missing men

By early May, Packer was escorted back to Los Pinos for interrogation. Initially maintaining his original story, he eventually broke down after evidence mounted against him. He admitted that the other men had died, but claimed they had perished from starvation, illness, or injury—all except Shannon Bell, whom Packer confessed to shooting in self-defense, allegedly fearing Bell intended to cannibalize him.

The Ill-Fated Mining Expedition

The Group's Formation and Initial Travel

In late 1873, a prospecting party led by Robert McGru departed from Salt Lake City, Utah, with Breen Ridge, Colorado as their destination. Among this group was 31-year-old Alfred Packer, who joined the expedition by offering $25 and his services as a mountain guide familiar with the region. The group consisted of several men seeking fortune in the mineral-rich mountains of Colorado, unaware of the hardships that awaited them in the harsh winter landscape.

As they set out, the men carried typical prospecting equipment and supplies for what they anticipated would be a challenging but manageable journey. Their expectations, however, would soon be tested by the unforgiving terrain and weather conditions of the American West.

Struggles on the Historic Trail

The expedition's progress along the Old Spanish Trail became increasingly difficult as January brought heavy snowfall that obscured the path. This once-bustling trade route, which had connected Colorado and New Mexico settlements to Los Angeles, became nearly impossible to navigate, forcing the men to rely on compasses rather than visible landmarks.

Their situation deteriorated rapidly as:

Supply stores began to dwindle dangerously low
Wagons broke down in the difficult terrain
Draft animals weakened to the point of nearly becoming food

Before even reaching the formidable San Juan mountain range, the party found themselves in a desperate situation. The harsh winter had transformed their journey from a hopeful quest for riches into a struggle for survival.

Meeting with the Ute Leader

Fortune briefly smiled upon the struggling prospectors when they encountered the camp of Chief Ouray while traveling along the Colorado River and down the Uncompahgre. The Ute leader demonstrated remarkable hospitality by:

Providing shelter from the brutal winter elements
Offering much-needed supplies to the depleted group
Extending an invitation to remain in his camp until spring thaws made travel safer

Most members of McGru's party wisely accepted this generous offer. However, on February 9th, Packer and five companions made the fateful decision to continue their journey despite the dangerous conditions. This choice to leave the safety of Ouray's camp would ultimately lead to one of the West's most disturbing tales of survival and alleged cannibalism.

When Packer later appeared alone at the Los Pinos Indian Agency in April 1874, he claimed his companions had abandoned him after his feet became too frozen to keep pace. His story would soon unravel as other surviving members of the original party arrived with conflicting accounts and evidence showing Packer possessed belongings of his missing companions.

Packer's Ordeal and Reemergence

Wilderness Survival in the San Juan Range

Alfred Packer's journey through the unforgiving San Juan Mountains became a tale of endurance and controversy. In late 1873, the 31-year-old joined a group of prospectors led by Robert McGru, traveling from Salt Lake City to Breen Ridge, Colorado. He offered $25 and his skills as a mountain guide familiar with the region. The expedition faced immediate challenges as January snowfalls obscured the Old Spanish Trail, forcing them to navigate by compass. Supplies diminished quickly, wagons broke down, and their draft animals nearly became food.

The group found temporary refuge at Chief Ouray's camp. The Ute leader generously provided shelter and offered to host them until spring. Most accepted this invitation, but on February 9th, Packer and five companions decided to continue their journey.

Arrival and Account at the Agency

On a cold April morning in 1874, Packer appeared at the Los Pinos Indian Agency. He arrived shoeless, carrying only a rifle, knife, coffee pot, and satchel. After requesting whiskey, he shared his story with the agency staff. According to his account, his feet had become too frozen to keep pace with his companions, who reluctantly left him behind with a rifle and minimal supplies. He claimed to have survived independently for 2.5 months before reaching the agency.

General Charles Adams, the agency leader, harbored doubts about Packer's story. Several inconsistencies raised red flags:

Adams knew other members of McGru's party had been found starving near Gunnison
Packer appeared well-fed rather than emaciated
He showed more interest in liquor than food
His behavior exhibited signs of mental instability

Despite suspicions, Adams offered Packer employment, which he declined. Instead, Packer sold his Winchester rifle for $10 (equivalent to approximately $276 today) and spent three weeks at the agency before departing for Saguache, 40 miles southeast. Rather than returning to Pennsylvania as planned, he reportedly spent his time drinking and gambling.

Suspicions intensified when:

Packer displayed unexplained large sums of money
Other members of McGru's party arrived in Saguache
These men confronted Packer about his possession of their missing companions' belongings

Under pressure, Packer eventually admitted the other men had died, but maintained his innocence. He claimed his companions succumbed to starvation and illness—except for Shannon Bell, whom Packer said he shot in self-defense, fearing Bell intended to cannibalize him.

Doubts and Scrutiny

Adams' Initial Distrust

General Charles Adams, who led the Los Pinos Indian Agency, began harboring suspicions about Alfred Packer's survival story immediately. Despite initially believing the tale of abandonment and perseverance, Adams noticed contradictions that couldn't be ignored. Packer appeared surprisingly well-fed for someone who claimed to have struggled through mountain wilderness for over two months. His preference for whiskey over food upon arrival raised additional red flags.

The General was particularly troubled because he personally knew about McGrew's expedition. Adams had recently encountered another group from the same party who had been found in genuinely starving condition near the Gunnison cattle camp. Packer's healthy appearance stood in stark contrast to these actual survivors.

Financial Inconsistencies and Strange Conduct

Packer's financial situation presented numerous discrepancies that compounded suspicions about his story. He initially claimed to be completely broke, selling his Winchester rifle to an agency employee for $10 (equivalent to approximately $276 in today's currency).

After spending about three weeks at the Los Pinos Agency, Packer traveled to the nearby town of Saguache. Rather than seeking employment or arranging transportation back to Pennsylvania as he had indicated, he engaged in:

Excessive drinking
Regular gambling
Displaying rolls of cash

The Fremont County Record later reported that Packer was seen with substantial amounts of money. This behavior seemed entirely inconsistent with someone who supposedly had only $10 to his name. If he possessed such gambling skills to multiply his money so effectively, his initial decision to join a dangerous prospecting expedition made little logical sense.

Confrontation by McGrew's Surviving Companions

The arrival of additional McGrew party members in Saguache during April 1874 proved decisive in uncovering Packer's deception. These men had just visited Los Pinos and were shocked by the story Packer had told Adams. They immediately declared his account impossible and demanded to know what had actually happened to their missing companions.

When they confronted Packer in town, they discovered he possessed numerous items belonging to the missing men:

Missing Person Item in Packer's Possession Frank Miller Saddle James Humphrey Wallet containing cash Israel Swan Winchester rifle (already sold) Other members Pipe and pocket knife

These discoveries led to Packer being forcibly returned to Los Pinos for further questioning by early May. Under pressure and following reports that two Ute men had approached the agency with strips of human flesh, Packer finally abandoned his original story. He admitted the other men were dead, though he insisted they had died naturally from starvation and illness – all except Shannon Bell, whom Packer claimed to have shot in self-defense, allegedly fearing Bell intended to kill and eat him.

Packer's Confession and His Account of Tragedy

Alfred Packer arrived at Los Pinos Indian agency in April 1874, appearing surprisingly well-fed despite claiming to have survived alone in the wilderness for over two months. His initial story described being abandoned by his fellow prospectors after his feet froze, forcing him to navigate the treacherous San Juan mountains alone until reaching safety.

General Charles Adams, the agency leader, provided Packer with temporary assistance but harbored suspicions about his story. These doubts were reinforced by Packer's unusual behavior—declining breakfast but requesting whiskey, and appearing healthier than someone who had endured such hardship should.

Despite claiming poverty, Packer sold his Winchester rifle for $10 and departed for Saguache, where witnesses later reported seeing him gambling and displaying significant amounts of money. His suspicious activities drew attention from other members of McGrew's original expedition, who confronted him after discovering he possessed personal items belonging to their missing companions.

The Discovery of the Men's Deaths

When confronted about inconsistencies in his story, Packer initially maintained his innocence. However, his position became untenable when evidence mounted against him, including reports that human flesh had been discovered by Ute tribesmen.

Under intense questioning, Packer finally admitted that his five companions had not survived the journey. According to his revised account, the harsh winter conditions in the mountains had claimed most of the party through various means:

Israel Swan - Packer had sold Swan's Winchester rifle at the agency
Frank Miller - Packer was found with Miller's personal belongings
James Humphrey - Packer carried Humphrey's wallet containing cash

The other prospectors from the original party were outraged upon learning of their friends' deaths. They immediately demanded to know how Packer had obtained these personal items if he had truly been abandoned by the group.

Self-Defense Claim Against Shannon Bell

The most disturbing element of Packer's confession concerned Shannon Bell, the final member of the expedition. Packer claimed he had killed Bell, but insisted it was an act of self-defense.

According to Packer's testimony, as their situation in the mountains grew desperate, Bell became mentally unstable and threatening. Packer claimed he shot Bell because he feared being killed and cannibalized by the man.

This claim raised serious questions about the fate of the entire party. If Packer's account were true, what had happened to the other four men before the confrontation with Bell? The authorities found the timing of his confession—coming only after being confronted with evidence—highly suspicious.

Packer's possession of multiple personal items belonging to deceased party members further undermined his credibility. His unexplained financial resources during his time in Saguache contradicted his claims of destitution when arriving at Los Pinos.

The investigation would continue as authorities sought to determine the full truth behind the tragedy in the San Juan mountains.

Alfred Packer: The Colorado Cannibal Who "Ate Democrats" - America's Most Infamous Survival Story