Legacy Matters

Big Bopper Rumors Laid to Rest.

When people die suddenly in suspicious circumstances, rumors often start as some speculate about what really happened.

On February 3, 1959, a plane crashed after taking off from Mason City, Iowa,  and killed the J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.  That tragedy became known as "the day the music died" once Don McLean recorded "American pie". 

Richardson's son Jay wasn't born yet and never knew his father.  He did know about the rumors of foul play, that a gun had been fired and his father had survived but died trying to get help.

It's hard to imagine living for years with such uncertainty when TV shows like CSI answer everything in an hour.

Jay Richardson finally did something about it.  He hired  forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Blass and had his father's remains exhumed.

Dr. Blass took x-rays of the body and reported,
There are fractures from head to toe. Massive fractures. ... (He) died immediately. He didn't crawl away. He didn't walk away from the plane."
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Richardson watched Bass open the coffin on Tuesday and observed his examination. He said he was pleased with the findings because it proved the investigators "knew what they were talking about 48 years ago."

"I was hoping to put the rumors to rest," he said.
Bass and Richardson were surprised to find the body preserved enough to be recognizable.

48 years after the music died, Big Bopper rumors are finally put to rest.