In the spring of 1863, news of a violent gang began to spread through the southern Colorado Territory, as pioneers reported mysterious killings in their communities. The gruesome murders, with the bodies often mutilated, seemed to be random and bloodied the path between Cañon City and the California Gluch (modern-day Leadville).

William Bruce became the first of many unsolved murders during several weeks in March 1863. His body, with a single bullet hole to the head, was found, on the banks of Hardscrabble creek just south of Florence. The next day John Alddleman was found shot on his ranch outside of Florissant. Two days later and 25 miles away, near Colorado City, in Sawmill Gulch, Henry Harkens was brutally murdered and mutilated. His head had been cleaved with an ax and cross-like symbols were carved into his chest, markings that would be found on future victims. After Harken’s brutal murder, the area became known as Dead Mans Canon, a sign off Colo. 115, erected by the Pikes Peak Historical Society, marked his grave for some time.

Two ranchers from Current Creek, 20 miles northeast of Cañon City, became the next victims, and a few days later, two merchants from Fairplay were murdered returning from Denver with the merchandise.

With no real leads, the public was left to speculate as to who was committing the killings. Some thought it had to do with the Civil War and heated feeling toward both sides in the Territory. Others speculated that the Ute Indians, who had been peaceful, might have gone on a warpath. Whoever it was, it was extremely violent and showed no sign of stopping.

A man named Metcalf would be the first one to encounter the killers and survive, ultimately bringing an end to what became known as the Espinosa Gang.

Metcalf, along with a neighbor, Carter, left Fairplay one morning to pick up lumber from a sawmill west of town. As Metcalf was returning that afternoon, he heard a gunshot from the direction of the junction where he was supposed to meet Carter. Arriving at the junction, he stopped his wagon to wait on his friend. Suddenly, he was hit in the chest with such force he fell back into the pile of lumber in the back of his wagon.

Laying in the back of the wagon, Metcalf realized his luck, a book and a wad of papers in his front pocket had stopped the bullet from penetrating and killing him. The gunfire spooked his oxen and Metcalf caught a glimpse of the two horsemen who had shot him as they took off after his team. Locating a home nearby, Metcalf sought help, and later, he and the rancher found Carter’s body in some brush off the road.

Metcalf returned to Fairplay with a description of the two Mexican desperadoes and the town quickly organized a posse to pursue the gang the next morning. Led by John McCannon, the posse consisted of eight men, including Joseph Lamb. In his diary left to his family, Lamb describes the chase.

“It was not difficult to track them,” Lamb wrote. “They avoided the main roads, but the ground was soft and we could follow their trail. Their horses were in poor condition, and we could tell that we were gaining on them, even tho they had a good start on us.”

For two days, the group followed the tracks left by the outlaws before coming across a clearing where they had set up camp near Oil Creek, roughly 20 miles from Cañon City. Dividing the group into two, McCannon positioned his party downstream from the clearing with the other group set up on the edge.

What happened next is often contradicted in newspaper articles and personal reports through the years. What is certain is that Lamb, as well as Charles Carter, opened fire, resulting in the death of Vivian Espinosa as he stepped into sight. The other gang member, whom they would later learn to be Felipe Espinosa, Vivian’s older brother, escaped into dense vegetation, firing rounds onto the posse before vanishing. At the campsite, the posse found personal belongings of the two brothers, including a journal that documented 20 murders during the past few months. Leaving Vivian’s body where it fell, the group returned home and reported their findings to Fort Garland.

The relief that filled the community was short-lived, as more bodies started appearing as Felipe made his way home to Taos. Once in Taos, Felipe recruited his teenage nephew, Jose, to help him with his brutal attack against all gringos.

According to files in the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center, a letter was sent at this point to the governor from Felipe. Through the years, the content of the letter seems to have changed as some state that the letter asked for a pardon in exchange for peace while other sources stated it included a threat to kill 600 Americans — including the governor — if he was not granted roughly 5,000 acres in Conejos County. Whatever the contents were, sources agreed that the letter, along with the murder of a young soldier by the duo, angered the Territorial Governor and he increased the bounty to $2,500 for the capture of the merciless killers.

At the request of Col. Sam Tappan, who was in command of Fort Garland, Tom Tobin, a former army scout who was very familiar with the surrounding area, set out on Sept. 6, 1863, to search for the Espinosas. Five days later, Tobin and his team returned to Fort Garland and set the sack containing the heads of the two murderers at Tappan’s feet. Tobin also brought in letters along with a diary from the camp to prove the identity of the men he had beheaded.

In his memoirs, Tobin had this to say of the Espinosas, “They were a dirty and foul pair. I am not of those who like to kill, but their end was well deserved.”

Thirty years after the death of the Espinosas, Tobin was awarded $1,500 of the $2,500 bounty promised.

There has been much speculation and debate as to what the motive might have been behind one of the first known serial killers in America. According to reports, the diary Tobin brought back to Fort Garland, listed 30 murders, as well as a vow to kill as many Americans as possible. Theories of the brothers being religious fanatics are often more favored over those that believe it was revenge over transgressions from the war with Mexico. Other people have stated that Felipe said he was told in a vision by Mother Mary to kill Americans and some state it was because of personal wrongdoing by American Soldiers.

In an article by Tobin in 1895 titled, “the Capture of the Espinosas,” he states that the motive was pure vengeance. Known in their home of Conejos County as horse thieves and robbers, the brothers were paid a visit by the U.S. Army on the pretense of enlisting them. When the brothers refused to go with the Army, the Army set fire to a house on the property and attempted to arrest them.

Retreating into the mountains, Tobin states it was then “they swore vengeance and commenced killing all the whites they could — particularly Americans.”