The death of Johnny Ringo in July 1882 is one of the enduring mysteries of the Old West. Over the years, many have speculated about how the notorious outlaw met his end in the desolate hills of Arizona. The official cause was listed as suicide, but that explanation never satisfied everyone. Theories abound—some believe it was Doc Holliday who killed Ringo, while others, including Wyatt Earp himself, hinted that perhaps Wyatt was the man behind the trigger. The story becomes even more tangled when we look at Wyatt’s own movements during that time and the claims that he later made.

Wyatt Earp was no stranger to bold declarations, and in the years after the wild days in Arizona, he would go on to recount his own version of how Johnny Ringo died. According to Wyatt, it wasn’t suicide—it was justice. He claimed that during his Vendetta Ride, which took place in early 1882 as retribution for the death of his brother Morgan, he and his posse hunted down and killed Ringo. However, this version of events has several holes, most notably the fact that Ringo wasn’t found dead until July of that year, well after the Vendetta Ride had ended.

Still, Wyatt’s claim added another layer of intrigue to the mystery. He remained tight-lipped about the details for years, but there are accounts of him sharing this story with close friends. So why would Wyatt, long after the fact, claim responsibility for Ringo’s death? Was it an attempt to cement his reputation as a relentless lawman who brought justice to the wild Arizona frontier? Or was there some truth to it?

Let’s look at the timeline and the evidence.

On July 6, 1882, just days before Johnny Ringo’s body was discovered, The San Francisco Call reported that Wyatt Earp was in California, visiting his brother Virgil, who had been recovering from the injuries he sustained during an ambush months earlier. Virgil had been shot in the arm by a group of Cowboy sympathizers, leaving him severely wounded, and it’s well-documented that Wyatt went to visit him. If Wyatt was in California at the time, it seems unlikely that he could have traveled back to Arizona in time to kill Ringo, whose body was found on July 14. But could Wyatt have left earlier than reported or misled the press about his whereabouts?

Additionally, later in July 1882, Wyatt Earp was also said to have been in Colorado, specifically in Gunnison, where he was briefly appointed as city marshal. Wyatt had left Tombstone after the Vendetta Ride, moving through various towns as he sought a new life away from the chaos of Arizona. His time in Gunnison, though short, is documented, with reports stating that he held the position for only a few weeks. Some historians have speculated that Wyatt used his time in Colorado to build connections with lawmen and outlaws alike, moving between Colorado and Arizona when necessary.

But could Wyatt really have been everywhere at once?

The conflicting reports create a complicated picture. Some believe Wyatt had enough allies and resources to move quietly between states, avoiding public scrutiny while pursuing personal justice. The West was still wild, and it wasn’t unusual for men like Wyatt to disappear for days at a time, only to resurface with little explanation. If Wyatt did kill Johnny Ringo, it’s possible that he slipped out of Gunnison or California for a brief period, met up with former members of his posse, and tracked down Ringo in the Arizona wilderness. With his reputation as a determined lawman and his personal vendetta against the Cowboys, it’s not far-fetched to imagine Wyatt exacting his revenge.

However, there are strong arguments against Wyatt being Ringo’s killer. By July 1882, the Earp vendetta had largely cooled, and Wyatt seemed more interested in finding a new path than continuing old feuds. Some historians believe Wyatt’s later claim was an embellishment, a way to maintain his mythos as a hard-nosed lawman who never let his enemies escape. After all, Wyatt Earp spent his final years working with Hollywood producers and writers, eager to shape the narrative of his life. It’s entirely possible that his claim of killing Ringo was part of this effort to build his legacy.

Yet, there’s always that lingering question: What if?

Johnny Ringo’s death remains suspicious, from the peculiar positioning of his body to the fact that his boots were missing. The gunshot wound, while consistent with suicide, could easily have been staged. And who better to stage such a scene than a seasoned lawman like Wyatt Earp, who knew how to work the system and cover his tracks?

Ultimately, the mystery of who killed Johnny Ringo—whether it was suicide, Doc Holliday, or Wyatt Earp—may never be definitively solved. But Wyatt’s claim adds another fascinating twist to the tale. Whether he was simply trying to build his legend or speaking the truth, the idea of Wyatt Earp hunting down Johnny Ringo in those final days keeps the legend of the Old West alive and as thrilling as ever.