Annie Mae Pictou Aquash
Time Line
An Investigation by
News From Indian Country
Posted January, 1997
Updated March 18, 1998
Updated October 25 and 28, 1999
Updated October 10, 2001
Go to Chronology by Richard La Course
Earlier stories are accessed by ETHNIC NEWS WATCH at your school or public library:
Denver Post: Murder of Indian Still Unsolved
by Patrick O'Driscoll (reprinted by permission) NFIC Late January, 1997
[NOTE: For more NFIC articles and information on Annie Mae's case please visit the NFIC site.All links to First Nations sites have been supplied by JS Dill. Would also suggest that all who visit this page jump to The net closes.. where you will find recent info re Anna and Her killers.]
Editor's Introduction
Go to 1975 This detailed chronology of the last year in the life of Annie Mae Aquash is constructed from over 70 written or tape recorded interviews, trial transcripts, FBI file documents, newspaper accounts, and three books published by authors Joanna Brand in 1978, Peter Matthiessen in 1983 and Kenneth Stern in 1994. In addition, material found elsewhere within this web page from a 1999 Denver press conference, Native American Calling programs and lengthy interview with Richard Two Elk in June of 2000 have been utilized as part of this chronology.
Go to December 1975 thru 1976
A series of some 70 interviews have been conducted on and off the record between the summer of 1994 and the present by Paul DeMain, Minnie Two Shoes, Richard LaCourse, Lori Townsend and several other individuals and reviewed by members of the Native American Journalists Association. In addition, attorneys for Indian Country Communications, Inc. publishers of News From Indian Country have reviewed much of the body of this information, source documents and recorded interviews to ascertain a defense in the face of threatened or implied libel suits by AIM associates Vernon Bellecourt and Bruce Ellison.
Persons interviewed include some top AIM leaders, present and former members of AIM, persons subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury probe into her death, law enforcement personnel and individuals present at various events and locations during Annie Mae Aquash's last year.
In line with press law, this newspaper has provided confidential anonymity to some of those interviewed while double checking their assertions, and eliminating those which could not be confirmed.
The timelines in this chronology grew from the legal and public record of that year and become more specific with the testimony of the interviews. Some specific calender dates are approximate because of the passage of time. This amplified timeline provides the scenario of this chronology.
AIM leaders in some instances specified here have publicly denied their involvement and continue to argue publicly that the FBI or reservation “goons” executed Aquash.
Several persons interviewed have stated they were happy to get this information off their chest, even if the death is never fully investigated, brings about an indictment or conviction. Some interviewees were profoundly angry at having information on the circumstances of her death but were unsure with what to do with that information. These interviewees said they did not trust the FBI, and some said they feared certain members of the top AIM leadership.
NFIC has learned that many other members of AIM are aware of other unnamed participants in the holding, interrogation, transportation and killing of Aquash in her last days. Putting confirmed assertions into this chronology may allow others to come forward with additional information.
NFIC has determined, after reviewing all available evidence, that the FBI and tribal police in 1976 mishandled the investigative portion of the Aquash case, losing valuable evidence. Vern Bellecourt claims that AIM was infiltrated by FBI extremist informants in the Aquash case and bad-jacked Aquash as an informant, though the only people NFIC have found who thought Annie Mae was an informant were leadership, and other members of the American Indian Movement. Former FBI agent Norman Zigrossi in a November 2000, CBC - Fifth Estate special program says that Annie Mae was not working for the FBI as an informant. When asked how he knew, Zigrossi stated, “because he (the informant) was a friend of mine.”
The FBI officially and publicly ended its COINTELPRO operations on April 28, 1971. But FBI documents obtained by NFIC from the FBI Reading Room in the capital indicate that in November of 1973 the FBI continued “COINTEL measures to further disrupt AIM leadership” which it had employed in its discredited former counterintelligence program. There is also ample evidence that many of the actions by the FBI in the 1970's across the country where less then lawfull. However, the same holds true for many actions of AIM.
Some of the persons named in the following chronology were close friends of Annie Mae. Others were those whom eyewitnesses have asserted were parties to the death of Aquash, or played a significant and decisive role in the chain of final events leading to her death.
Four federal grand juries have been convened into her death in March of 1976 in Pierre, S.D., November of 1983 in Sioux Falls, S.D., August 1994 in Pierre and again in Sioux Falls on November 17, 1999. None of the grand jury investigations produced any charges in this still unprosecuted murder.
Annie Mae Aquash Time Line: 1973
Go to Editor's Intro 1973 Wounded Knee:
Go to 1975
Go to December 1975 thru 1976
The American Indian Movement occupies Wounded Knee, South Dakota in protest to the corrupt tribal policies of then President, Richard Wilson. Annie Mae is part of the occupation, along with other significant AIM members including Russell Means, Carter Camp, Dennis Banks and Clyde Bellecourt. During the year 2001 memorial at Jumping Bull Compound much of the back ground discussions involved more than just trying to heal the pain of that June 1975 event. Serious discussion takes place about the deaths of Frank Clearwater and Buddy LaMont who were killed inside Wounded Knee in 1973. (See 26th Anniversary of “Sacrifice” at Oglala by Minnie Two Shoes, NFIC Late July 2001.)January, 1975:
FBI “Operative” Doug Durham is allegedly busy accusing people of being FBI informants according to Vernon Bellecourt. AIM leaders Dennis Banks and Herb Powless confront several people about the accusations at the 1975 Menominee Indian Novitiate takeover. Confrontations take place with several AIM supporters including Minnie Two Shoes and Iris Thundercloud during this period, who are told about the accusations and turned back from their support activities. Durham at the same time is being accused by some as being an informant. Annie Mae, who is involved in a relationship with Dennis Banks is a suspect as well, people believing that perhaps Durham and Aquash have worked as a team to get close to Banks.February, 1975:
Jean Day, Melvin Lee, Nilak and Dino Butler, Leonard Peltier and Annie Mae move to Oglala at the invitation of women and elders of the community.February 28, 1975:
Herb Powless, Mark Powless and Philip Bautista stop at Jumping Bull Compound. Annie Mae is reportedly at the compound as well as part of the Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee (WKLDOC), Oglala office.March 1, 1975:
Herb Powless, Mark Powless, Philip Bautista and several others from Oglala are arrested at Hot Springs, S.D. on weapon charges. The arrest follows a police stop for a missing license plate on the van. The bust casts more suspicion on Annie Mae. FBI documents indicate the Powless van has been followed across the country for several days starting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.May 28, 1975:
Attorney Ken Tilsen makes a motion in the Cedar Rapids pre-trial proceedings of Carter Camp, Leonard Crow Dog and Stan Holder, asking for dismissal saying that the AIM defense camp had been infiltrated by informants. Tilsen cites as an example, Doug Durham and Harry Schaffer who had been exposed as government agents by then.June 2, 1975:
Trial of Camp, Holder and Crow Dog begins.June 5, 1975:
Carter Camp, Stan Holder and Leonard Crow Dog are found guilty for the 1973, Wounded Knee Postal workers confinement case.June 8, 1975:
Russell Means is shot.June, 1975:
Dennis and Ka-Mook (Nichols) Banks move to Jumping Bull land.June 6-18, 1975:
Annie Mae's intimate relationship with Dennis Banks is revealed to Ka-Mook Banks around the time of the Farmington, New Mexico AIM National Convention. Annie Mae is questioned by Leonard Peltier according to Bob Robideau as a possible informant at a nearby Mesa. Bob Robideau claims that the questioning of Annie Mae is done at the order of Vernon Bellecourt, but Bellecourt denies he ordered her interrogation. NFIC has confirmed from other sources that Annie Mae is taken to a mesa and questioned by Peltier, allegedly at gunpoint. Several AIM members witness a heated discussion between Dennis Banks and Vernon Bellecourt regarding the actions taken at Farmington against Annie Mae. Ka-Mook Banks says in a Nov. 2000, CBC - Fifth Estate program that she learned of Annie Mae's interrogation the day after she learned of Dennis's relationship with Annie Mae.June 19 or 20, 1975:
Bob Robideau, Dino and Nilak Butler, Leonard Peltier, Annie Mae and others arrive back at Jumping Bull compound, back from Farmington conference. A group of women identified as the Pie Patrol are hostile to Annie Mae's presence at Pine Ridge at least in part because of her relationship with Dennis Banks, because she is a Canadian and Micmac and because she is affiliated with what is called west coast AIM and not Dakota AIM. Four members of the Pie Patrol are identified to NFIC as Madonna Gilbert, Thelma Rios-Conroy, Theda Nelson-Clark and Lorelie DeCora-Means. Gilbert is a cousin to Russell and Ted Means and Lorelie is then married to Ted.June 23-26, 1975:
Annie Mae goes to Cedar Rapids with Jean Day, Theda Nelson Clark and John Boy Graham (Patton) for pre-sentencing work for Camp, Holder and Crow Dog.June 26, 1975:
Jumping Bull compound Shootout. According to FBI records the list of original suspects included:
1. Mike Anderson 17. Donald Hudson 33. Harwin One Feather
2. Andrea Sky 18. JoAnn LaDeaux 34. Leonard Peltier
3. Anna Mae Aquash 19. Theodore Lame 35. Donald Gene Pourier
4. Edgar Bear Runner 20. Beau Little 36. Dale Red Boy
5. Frank Blackhorse (DeLuca) 21. Richard Little 37. Lawrence Red Shirt
6. Jean Bordeaux 22. Wallace June Little 38. Robert Robideaux
7. John Boyse 23. Wallace Little Sr. 39. Wanda Siers
8. Dino Butler 24. David Sky 40. Dale Sheppard
9. Norman Charles 25. Donald Loud Hawk 41. Joe Stuntz
10. Jean Day 26. Kenneth Loud Hawk 42. Unknown Male/FBI Protected
11. Jame Theadore Eagle 27. Russell Loud Hawk 43. James War Bonnett
12. Leon Eagle 28. Kelly Jean McCormick (Nilak Butler) 44. Wish Draper
13. David Edwards 29. David Many Horses 45. Mike Yellow Horse
14. Lena Funston 30. Gerald Mousseau 46. John Star Yellow Wood (Dusty Nelson)
15. Hobart Horse 31. Norman Brown 47. James Zimmerman
16. Melvin Lee Houston 32. Delmar One Feather 48. Harry David Hill (alleged Mr. X) NOTE: The FBI never did identify all those at the Jumping Bull compound and several listed here were later cleared of being there.
June 26, 1975:
(ResMurs) Joe Stuntz is killed by a law enforcement officer. FBI agents Jack Coler, and Ron Williams are shot from a distant, wounded and then executed at close range for which Peltier is later convicted.June 27, 1975:
Jean Day, Theda Nelson Clark and Annie Mae return to Oglala. According to FBI records, David Hill, Anthony Ament and others are alleged to have bombed the Mt. Rushmore Tourist Center on this day.July, 1975:
Annie Mae is back and forth between Oglala and Crow Dog's Paradise.July 2, 1975:
Robideau, Butler, Peltier and others arrive at Crow Dogs Paradise at Rosebud.July 6, 1975:
Search warrant is issued for 1014 Milwaukee Street, Rapid City in conjunction with an investigation of the Mt. Rushmore bombing, the residence of Thelma Rios-Conroy, David Hill and second apartment of Anthony Ament.July 7, 1975:
Search warrant is served on 1014 Milwaukee Street and several hundred pieces of evidence is seized in conjunction with RESMURS FBI agent shooting case and bombing of Mt. Rushmore. Charges of possession of a firearm with obliterated serial number, unlawful possession of firearms and transportation of firearms are filed against Harry David Hill with additional narratives citing his previous indictment for assault with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit arson charges in the Custer riot case.July 9, 1975:
FBI SAC Richard Held, the architect of COINTELPRO for the FBI, in a teletype to the FBI Director notes “the Mount Rushmore problem is over.”July 11, 1975:
United States Attorney Michael T. Milligan enters a motion to dismiss charges against Harry David Hill for charges filed July 7 on the “grounds and for the reason that the best interest of justice will be served.”July 18, 1975:
Vern Bellecourt appears with FBI informer, Bernie Morning Gun in Helena, MT and gives other informers an unconditional amnesty for 30 days, or AIM will take things into their own hands.July 25, 1975:
The fingerprints of David Hill are identified in FBI reports from evidence seized at Jumping Bull compound.July 26, 1975:
Banks convicted on Custer charges.August 5, 1975:
Crow Dog sentenced to 13 years in prison, suspended sentence. Holder and Camp fail to appear at sentencing and warrants are issued for arrest. Dennis Banks goes underground to avoid being sentenced on the Custer riot charges on this day.First week of August, 1975:
Sun Dance at Crow Dog's Paradise: Leonard Crow Dog allegedly confronts Annie Mae about being an informant, but only after she chewed him out about drinking and allowing the use of drugs at the Paradise.August, 1975:
Annie Mae moves to Diane and Al Running's household a quarter of a mile from Crow Dog's Paradise. (Al Running testifies at a Peltier appeal hearing a few years later and admits he has been working for years as an FBI informant according to the late William Kunstler in the 1991 book Ohitika Woman by Mary Crow Dog - Brave Bird).September 2, 1975:
Beck/McCloskey claim they have been assaulted at Crow Dogs.September 5, 1975:
FBI raid at Al and Diane Running's (Crow Dog's sister) and Crow Dog's Paradise: Arrest of Annie Mae and Dino Butler and many others. Robideau had left the day before with Ka-Mook Banks and her sister Bernie Nichols. Annie Mae interrogated by FBI, bonds out of jail after 2 or 3 days. FBI agent David Price allegedly threatens Annie Mae saying she would not live out the year if she doesn't cooperate with them. The raid is based on a federal arrest warrant for Al Running, Leonard Crow Dog and others for assault on two people after an altercation at Crow Dog's Paradise Sept. 2.September 8, 1975:
Annie Mae bonds out of jail after appearing before a U.S. magistrate on 10% of a $5,000 bond.September 10, 1975:
Car burns up on Kansas turnpike. AR-15 that the FBI identification lab later ties to Leonard Peltier in 1977 is found in car, and according to FBI lab report labeled PC-M1771 “None of the ammunition components recovered at the RESMURS case could be associated with K40” (This AR-15 is labeled K40 throughout lab reports). In addition, according to an October 2, 1975 FBI document, “The firing pin of the AR (K40) is different than rifle used at RESMURS scene.”According to Peter Matthiessen. . . Al Running . . . was appearing in FBI documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. According to an FBI teletype to nine field officers in regard to the weapons recovered from Robideau's car outside Wichita, “Al Running has advised that Supra Colt .223 AR-15 rifle is probably weapon utilized by Leonard Peltier to kill deceased {special agents}.” Robideau and others arrested.
September 12, 1975:
Annie Mae, Nilak Butler and Norman Brown leave Rapid City for Denver, with John Stewart driving. They board plane next day to go to California. FBI records indicate John Stewart (AKA Blue Legs) is cooperating with the FBI and providing signed statements to them as well as identifying subjects for their investigation.September 12, 1975:
John Star Yellow Wood (Dusty Nelson) is the subject of March 6, 1995 Affidavit of retired Denver police officer Alan Lester Jones referring to this date, named as a shooter of FBI agents. Nelson later admits that he is at Wanda Siers and June Little's house on top of hill at Jumping Bull Compound when Peltier, followed by FBI agents arrives at compound and agents follow his vehicle down the hill.September 13, 1975:
FBI pick up Annie Mae and Nilak Butler getting off plane in Los Angeles, questioned and released. Butler's car is reported stolen from airport by parents. Leonard Peltier and Dennis Banks are allegedly in Los Angles as well.October 3-8 ?, 1975:
Annie Mae and David Hill drive Marlon Brando's motor home from California to Utah to Chadron, Nebraska. Vehicle is stashed for several days.October 10-14, 1975:
David Hill, Annie Mae, Dennis Banks and others are allegedly involved in several bombings in the Pine Ridge area. Hill allegedly harasses Annie Mae about being an informant. The group leaves for Oregon shortly after, being joined by Kenny Loud Hawk in a white station wagon. Russ Redner joins the group in Washington. The FBI identifies the bombs as simular as those found in search warrant of July 27, 1975 in Rapid City, S.D.October 11, 1975:
John Stewart (AKA Darryl Blue Legs) steals the checkbook from the Oglala Defense Fund, drains the fund and travels around Oregon posing as an AIM member. Stewart in 1976 is listed as a potential prosecution witness and through other information is identified by Bruce Ellison and others of the Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee as an informant allegedly reporting to FBI agent David Price.Late October, 1975:
FBI Informant A tells FBI Banks is in Oregon area with the Marlon Brando motor home. Annie Mae tells freinds she wants to leave and go to Canada but is not allowed too. Ka-Mook Banks in the CBC - Fifth Estate special says that Annie Mae is along on the trip to be watched because Dennis Banks and Leonard Peltier “don't trust her, and believe she is working in some capacity as an informant.”Early November:
FBI Informant A notifies FBI, Banks is at John Chiquiti residence on the Port Madison Indian Reservation in Washington State . . . Robert Robideau is in jail during November and December, 1975. Dino Butler is in jail during November and December, 1975.Early November, 1975:
FBI Informant B notifies FBI, Peltier is at John Chiquiti residence.November 6 & 8, 1975:
(Loud Hawk by Ken Sterns, Pg. 343,) Flyovers at Chiquiti residence are precipitated by information received from an informant in Rapid City, SD according to FBI records. FBI confirms Brando motor home and white station wagon on site. FBI checks site by sneaking through woods to get license plate numbers.November 6 & 8, 1975:
Attorney Bob Riter of Pierre, South Dakota in letters request the assistance of Attorney Bruce Ellison in notifying Riter's client, Anna Mae Aquash, that she has an appearance to make Nov. 10th, 1975. Riter is the alleged author of a letter to Annie Mae which includes information regarding an offer being made by the federal government to Aquash. Riter refuses to confirm such a letter to NFIC during an interview, but other NFIC sources say the letter is forwarded to the WKLDOC as part of Riter's effort to get information to Annie Mae.November 13, 1975:
Two Informants confirm Banks and Peltier in Oregon.November 14, 1975:
Oregon/Banks Brando Vehicle Shoot-out: (Peltier, Dennis and Ka-Mook Banks, Annie Mae, Kenny Loud Hawk, Russ Redner). Aquash, Redner, Loudhawk and Ka-Mook arrested. Peltier and Banks flee. FBI agents Owen Harvey and Dean Howard fly from Rapid City to question Annie Mae.November 15-23, 1975:
Members of AIM in Oregon learn during preliminary hearings about the existence of informants leading to their arrest. Annie Mae is returned to South Dakota via Kansas federal transfer center for up-coming arraignment and trial on Rosebud charges.November 24, 1975:
Arraignment of Annie Mae, Pierre, SD. Annie Mae is represented by a court appointed attorney by the name of Robert Riter. Bonds out of jail on weapons charge. Annie Mae checks into a Pierre motel along with other WKLDOC lawyers, legal assistants and defendants and is later picked up by the late Evelyn Bordeaux and Ray Hand Boy and driven to Keensburg, Colorado. Aquash apparently believes that Dennis Banks will meet her there.November 25, 1975:
Indictment of Peltier, Robideau, Butler, Eagle. Bench warrant for failure to appear for Annie Mae on weapons charges on the Rosebud arrest of September 5th. Annie Mae and others stop at a bar (Julian's) in Keensburg, Colorado owned by the husband of Theda Nelson Clark of Denver AIM. Hand Boy and Bordeaux return the next day to South Dakota.November 28, 1975:
Annie Mae goes to stay at the home of Troy Lynn Yellow Wood-Williams at 4494 Pecos St, Denver, Colorado at the home identified in the Denver Post article.
December, 1975:
Mark Aquash, nephew to Annie Mae, says he is jumped by individuals in Minneapolis. After Aquash wins the fight the individuals say the reason they jumped him was that Vernon and Clyde Bellecourt had told them that members of the Aquash family are informants. . . Russell Means is on trial in Sioux Falls for Custer incident, 1975. . . Herb Powless calles NFIC in 1997 to say that he was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin during December 1975, preparing for his trial on weapon charges, . . . Leonard Peltier is reportedly back and across the U.S. border, in Kamloops, British Columbia and Hinton, Alberta, during December 1975 . . . . John Trudell is in Nevada on a no-out-of-state travel bond during December, 1975.December 1, 1975:
Jury selection begins in Wichita, Kansas for Robert Robideau, Keith DeMarrias and Norman Charles on charges of illegal transportation of firearms. Carter Camp is arrested in Chicago, Illinois.December 9, 1975:
Kenneth Loud Hawk, and Russ Redner in Portland, Oregon plead innocent to 8 charges of possession of illegal firearms in the beginning of the longest criminal cases opened in the history of the United States.December 9, 1975:
Russel Means is found guilty in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on riot charges stemming from the Custer, South Dakota riot. He says he will appeal and is allowed to remain free on $2,000 bond.December 9-11, 1975:
Word arrives from South Dakota that Annie Mae is thought to be an informant. That it may have been Annie Mae that caused the Marlo Brando motor home bust.Annie Mae according to a 1999 Globe and Mail article, stayed with Troy Lynn Yellow Wood for a few weeks and is then taken by force from the Denver home by Denver AIM members Arlo Looking Cloud and John Boy Graham under the direction of Theda Nelson Clark in order to be questioned about being an informant. Annie Mae is allegedly taken into custody at the house and is tied up while a dozen or more people are in and out of the house including Rod Skenandore, Corky Gonzales and Ernesto Vigil from the Crusade for Justice, John Boy Graham's girlfriend at the time, Angie Begay, Frank Dillon, George Pilfe and others. Several different scenarios have been painted about this period of time but the names have remained the same.
Yellow Wood said they made it clear that Ms. Aquash was being ordered back to South Dakota. “She was unhappy about going,” she said. “She did not want to go. But she also wanted to get things straightened up. She was tired of people making statements about her.” The three people left with Aquash after dark. When Yellow Wood tried to talk them out of taking her, Aquash said she would go, so she wouldn't make trouble for her. “I think she had little choice,” Yellow Wood said. “But she walked out on her own.”
Richard Two Elk in his year June 2000 interview with Native American American journalists says he believes that Troy Lynn was selected to procure individuals to abduct Annie Mae and has fabricated the above scenario.
John Trudell in the CBC - Fifth Estate special says he recieves a phone call from Troy Lynn indicating that Annie Mae was taken away from Yellow Wood's house against her will. John Boy Graham in the CBC special admits that Annie Mae is in the car going from Denver to Rapid City but not against her will.
Theda is known as a loyalist to Russell Means and Troy Lynn Yellow Wood is related to Theda Nelson Clark an Auntie to Dusty Nelson (John Star Yellow Wood). John Boy Graham is apparently adopted Indian way and given the last name Patton by Theda Nelson Clark.
Several NFIC source says Vernon Bellecourt is asking many questions and making statements about Annie Mae being an informant during this period. Bellecourt says it was his responsibility as head of the AIM Council for Security and Internal Intelligence, the arm of the American Indian Movement that was suppose to weed out informants to ask questions.
December 11, 1975:
A jury in the Herb Powless firearms case being heard in Rapid City, South Dakota is sent out to deliberate charges, deadlocks and the judge declares a mistrial on charges of interstate transportation of firearms.December 11, 1975:
Bob Robideau, Keith DeMarrias and Norman Charles are convicted in Wichita, Kansas on illegal transportation of firearms.December 12, 1975:
Annie Mae is taken to the offices of the Wounded Knee Legal Defense Committee in Rapid City and is questioned by members of AIM. Madonna Gilbert is director of the WKLDOC in Rapid City in December 1975, and Lorlie Decora-Means is allegedly at the office during this same period. NFIC sources say that Ted Means and Clyde Bellecourt are seen at the WKLDOC headquarters during the evening when Annie Mae is being held and leave a short time later with three others for Trials in Sioux Falls. David Hill, who had been living with Thelma Rios-Conroy during 1974-75, shows up in the Rapid City area during this time from Salt Lake City, Utah, allegedly having come back from west coast meetings with Dennis Banks and Vernon Bellecourt. Candy Hamilton, legal assistant in the CBC - Fifth Estate special says she is working upstairs at the WKLDOC when she comes across Annie Mae, but is unable to do anything about her predicament at the time. Toby and Lucky Hollander and Kathy James, legal assistants are reportedly working at the WKLOC offices during this general period as well.December 12, 1975:
Annie Mae is reportedly taken from the WKLDC offices and held at the home of Thelma Rios-Conroy at 1014 Milwaukee St. before being moved to another home owned by Thelma Rios-Conroy on Norwood Heights. Thelma's elderly mother allegedly tells other people she witnesses a woman being held at the house during this period. During this time frame NFIC has been told that several leadership members of AIM take part in discussions regarding Annie Mae being an informant and what they should do about it. Dennis Banks and Leonard Peltier are allegedly part of these discussions by phone and are said to be aware that Annie Mae is being held for questioning. In addition, WKLDOC attorney Bruce Ellison is named by NFIC sources as encouraging the idea that Annie Mae may have been an informant after her questioning. A document is produced, (belived to be the alleged Attorney Riter letter) which is said to outline a government offer to Annie Mae involving her cooperation.December 12, 1975:
Herb Powless is featured in a picture in the Rapid City Journal smiling as he comes out of the courthouse the day before on December 11, 1975. Robert Pictou Branscombe puts the date and time of Annie Mae's death at 8:40 a.m. December 12, 1975.December 13, 1975:
Annie Mae is reportedly taken from Rapid City to the Rosebud reservation area near Pass Creek and then taken to Bill Means home nearby during the early morning hours. Several AIM members are allegedly at the home of Bill Means, including Clyde Bellecourt, Ted Means and David Hill. Russell Means in a November 1999 Denver press conference says that Vernon Bellecourt calls his brother Clyde from Minneapolis and orders the execution of Annie Mae. Bill Means says he doesn't remember if he even had a phone at the time. Vernon Bellecourt in an interveiw with several Native journalists in response to the Means' press conference says he called the home of Bill Means during that period on a daily basis, several times, as part of AIM business. Bellecourt also says he believed that he was in California at the time, and that his brother Clyde did not even know where the WKLDOC offices in Rapid City were at that time period. Dennis Banks is staying at the home of Lee Brightman in California during December 1975.Theda Nelson Clark is driving the same car they left in from Denver, Colorado with John Boy Graham and Arlo Looking Cloud and Annie Mae tied up in the back seat. John Boy Graham-Patton, allegedly shoots Annie Mae around daybreak on December 12 or 13, 1975, with Arlo Looking Cloud nearby. In the CBC - Fifth Estate special John Boy Graham denies shooting Annie Mae.
John Trudell in the CBC - Fifth Estate describes the scene told to him by one of the witnesses that was there. “Annie Mae was trying to pray for her daughters, and then he shot her.”
Seven NFIC sources have now said that David Hill was on the Rosebud reservation and Bill Means' home. Four NFIC sources have said that Clyde Bellecourt was on the Rosebud reservation and at Bill Means' home when Annie Mae is brought there. Robert Pictou Branscombe says Arlo Looking Cloud has said that Theda Nelson is there in the car awaiting near the execution site, on the northeastern edge of the Pine Ridge reservation between Kadoka and Wanblee on Hwy 73. Annie Mae is executed at daybreak on top of the ridge and then pushed over, or falls over the edge. Not being killed instantly, she eventually curls into a fetal position before dying.
NFIC also reminds people that just because characterizations of Annie Mae are allegedly made within the chronology by certain people does not mean they had knowledge that Annie Mae would eventually be executed by other members of AIM.
December, 1975:
Another Anna Mae (Anna Mae Tonaquodle of Oklahoma) comes to Pine Ridge during this time. The FBI says Anna Mae Tonaquodle tells them that Annie Mae Aquash had been killed by AIM members because they thought she was an informer. Tonaquodle has denied she told the FBI anything.January 16, 1976:
1976: Banks arrested in California.February 6, 1976:
Leonard Peltier is arrested in Hinton, Alberta Canada with Frank Black Horse, also known as Frank DeLuca, Bruce Johnson, Richard Leon High Eagle, Richard Tall Bull, Mike Houston, Teddy Louis and Teddy Lewis according to police records. Peltier in a recent interview says that he first heard that Annie Mae was dead during December, 1975.February 24, 1976:
Jane Doe is found 10 miles from Wanblee on Hwy 73 on the far northeast end of the Pine Ridge reservation close to Kadoka by Roger Amiotte. SA David Price responds.February 24, 1976:
First autopsy - FBI/BIA contract pathologist Dr. W. O. Brown says Jane Doe “died of exposure” Several FBI agents are in and out of postmortem, according to Matthiessen in his book, In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, despite their official denial.February 25/26 1976:
John Trudell is testifying at the Butler/Robideau trial in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 22, 1976 and tells the court, according to transcripts, "Dennis (Banks) told me she had been shot in the back of the head. He told me this on February, about the 25th or 26th of February.... He told me this in California... I know it was within two days or so after they had found the body and I knew nothing about that." "I was sitting in the car with Dennis and he said, 'You know that body they found? That is Annie Mae.' I didn't know about a body."February 25-28 1976:
Gladys Bissonnette, picking up the remains of another relative offers to try to identify the Jane Doe held at the funeral home but is told by mortician Tom Chamberlain that only “authorized” persons are allowed to view the remains. During this period the FBI is claiming that they are trying to identify the body by circulating flyers in the Pine Ridge community.March 2, 1976:
Annie Mae buried at Holy Rosary Mission cemetery as Jane Doe.March 3, 1976:
Severed hands of Jane Doe are identified as Annie Mae's by FBI Identification Bureau in Washington DC. That procedure is highly irregular according to other law enforcement officials involved with homicide investigations.March 5, 1976:
Pictou family in Nova Scotia notified of identification of Jane Doe.March 6, 1976:
FBI announces publicly the identification of Annie Mae.March 8, 1976:
Atty. Bruce Ellison files for exhumation in morning, FBI requests the same exhumation order later in afternoon. FBI Agent William B. Wood signs an affidavit regarding the investigative process regarding the preceding handling of the Aquash case and notes:“15. On March 5, 1976, I was informed by Eugene T. York, Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that he had interviewed Anna Mae Tonaquodle on February 19, 1976, at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Tonaquodle is a known American Indian Movement activist in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area and was interviewed in an effort to establish the present whereabouts of Anna Mae Aquash. Tonaquodle stated that she was not personally acquainted with Aquash, but knew Aquash by reputation. According to Tonaquodle, Aquash was believed by American Indian Movement leaders to be a Federal Bureau of Investigation informant.”
A FBI report dated March 8, 1976 (70-11023) from Rapid City offices indicates that Bruce Ellison appeared at the office requesting information regarding the autopsy of Annie Mae Aquash. Ellison was requested by the agent “to furnish any information he might receive concerning the victim's death to the FBI.” His reply was “that depending on who they determined was responsible for the death would dictate whether or not this information would be furnished to the FBI.”
March 10, 1976:
Annie Mae exhumed. Second autopsy conducted by independent pathologist. Bullet entry wound in back of head and slug at the front of a discolored area of her cheek are found immediately, and death ruled a homicide. FBI agents William Wood, Gary Adams and David Price according to Matthiessen are present. Theda Nelson-Clark comes to Oglala from Denver to ask about the autopsy results on Annie Mae, then goes directly back to Denver.March 11-13, 1976:
Days of mourning.
No leadership members of the American Indian Movement attend though Russell and Ted Means and a caravan of AIM members drive by the wake on the way to an Oglala basketball game. Russell Means later claims he was not on the reservation.March 14, 1976:
Annie Mae reburied at Wallace Little ranch next to Joe Stuntz.March 18, 1976:
First Federal Grand Jury convenes in Pierre, S.D. to hear evidence in Aquash case. Bruce Ellison claims that he is immune from Grand Jury inquiry because he had been representing Annie Mae and any inquiry would violate the lawyer/client relationship.May 17, 1976:
Attorney Ken Tilsen sends Annie Mae's billfold back to Pictou sisters in Nova Scotia saying in a letter to them, it came to him thru a circuitous route. The billfold was not found with Annie Mae at the site of her execution. Tilsen in a 1999 NFIC call confirms that the letter is written by him, but says, “For the love of him, he can't remember who gave him the wallet,” and that, “I have no recollection what-so-ever of having the wallet.”©News From Indian Country
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By My Signature I Support The Call For Justice For Anna Mae
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