Mexican Revolutionary. There is disagreement as to where he is buried. He was first buried in the cemetery in Parral, and grave robbers stole his head in 1926. Later the President of Mexico wanted the body moved to Mexico City, but there is a story that the Mayor of Parral substituted another body that was sent to Mexico City. For many years, after his 1923 assassination, Pancho Villa's body was buried in the Pantheon de los Dolores in Parral, Mexico. In 1972, a national monument dedicated to the heroes of the Mexican Revolution was to be built in Mexico City, and the government insisted Villa's body be brought to the monument at that time. There had been many bounties on his head, including one from Americans for his attack on Columbus, New Mexico. One local, seeing a wanted poster, assumed that the reward was literally for the head of Panco Villa, dug up his body and removed the head. When Don Alvarado, a local baron and friend of Pancho's heard about the robbery, he had his body moved from Lot 632 to Lot 10, but had to find another body to take his place. Two years later, a woman terminally ill with cancer went to the United States for treatment, but died on the way. The men who helped move Villa's body contacted Alvarado about the possible replacement. Even though she was a woman, she was chosen regardless, and her body was placed in Lot 632. Many years later, when the Mexican government came to collect the remains, they found dress buttons, a pelvis, a femur, and a few other bones. Apparently, when the Chief Medical Examiner was handed the pelvis, he thought it was a joke, as the pelvis was obviously that of a young woman. So, according to local Parral residents, thousands visit the Monument of the Revolution, to pay respects to an unknown woman, while Pancho rests at home.
Mexican Revolutionary. There is disagreement as to where he is buried. He was first buried in the cemetery in Parral, and grave robbers stole his head in 1926. Later the President of Mexico wanted the body moved to Mexico City, but there is a story that the Mayor of Parral substituted another body that was sent to Mexico City. For many years, after his 1923 assassination, Pancho Villa's body was buried in the Pantheon de los Dolores in Parral, Mexico. In 1972, a national monument dedicated to the heroes of the Mexican Revolution was to be built in Mexico City, and the government insisted Villa's body be brought to the monument at that time. There had been many bounties on his head, including one from Americans for his attack on Columbus, New Mexico. One local, seeing a wanted poster, assumed that the reward was literally for the head of Panco Villa, dug up his body and removed the head. When Don Alvarado, a local baron and friend of Pancho's heard about the robbery, he had his body moved from Lot 632 to Lot 10, but had to find another body to take his place. Two years later, a woman terminally ill with cancer went to the United States for treatment, but died on the way. The men who helped move Villa's body contacted Alvarado about the possible replacement. Even though she was a woman, she was chosen regardless, and her body was placed in Lot 632. Many years later, when the Mexican government came to collect the remains, they found dress buttons, a pelvis, a femur, and a few other bones. Apparently, when the Chief Medical Examiner was handed the pelvis, he thought it was a joke, as the pelvis was obviously that of a young woman. So, according to local Parral residents, thousands visit the Monument of the Revolution, to pay respects to an unknown woman, while Pancho rests at home.
Bio by: Steven Baldwin
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