Stuff You Missed in History Class Jean Baptiste: Grave Robber at Large
Jan 7, 2026
Dive into the chilling tale of Jean Baptiste, a grave robber who shocked Salt Lake City in the 1860s. Explore his mysterious past, from his conversion to the LDS church to his unsettling job as a gravedigger. Discover the community's emotional reaction as stolen burial clothing is displayed and the extraordinary decision to banish him to an island. Unravel theories about his fate, from possible escape to his rumored remains being discovered. This captivating saga sheds light on human nature and community ethics in the face of horror.
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From Gold Rush Convert To Gravedigger
- Jean Baptiste converted to Mormonism after meeting missionaries in Australia and donated a chapel to them.
- He later traveled to Salt Lake City and worked as a gravedigger while living next to the cemetery.
Missing Burial Clothes Spark Investigation
- Discovery began when Clausen's relatives exhumed his body and found the burial suit missing.
- Police then found hundreds of funeral garments in Baptiste's home, implicating him in mass grave robbing.
Public Display And Spiritual Reassurance
- Authorities displayed the recovered clothing publicly so families could identify garments of their dead.
- Brigham Young publicly reassured people about the spiritual welfare of the robbed dead to calm communal fear.