Drawing of Booth Body

[Jim Garrett]

I don't think the source(s) regarding the freckles has much credibility. Most of the alternate identification information has long been discredited. As for the change of appearance from the hale and healthy JWB of pre-April 14th, to the haggard body brought onto the Montauk, I asked John Howard for his opinion. For those who don't know John, he is a life member of the Surratt Society. He was an Army medic in Viet Nam, a high school science teacher and works in several pathology department. He has performed hundreds of autopsies, seen huindreds of recently deceased, and I value his expertise in this area.

John Howard believes the exposure to the elements while on the run, the painful injury, the rough treatment of the corpse on the journey back to Washington, and the very strong possibility that JWB was disfigured by lividity would account for any change in appearance. We both put great weight on the Baltimore identification by family members.

While I would love to believe that JWB got away, it just didn't happen.