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All the United States Indiana Indianapolis John Dillinger's Grave
AO Edited

John Dillinger's Grave

The body of one of the world's most famous outlaws is covered in cement and iron to prevent it from being stolen.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
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John Dillinger’s grave.   Wikipedia
John Dillinger   Wikipedia
John Dillinger’s grave.   davidtydave on Flickr
Crown Hill   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
  rubeodos / Atlas Obscura User
View from the road.   bryanspellman / Atlas Obscura User
Family Headstone   jogg099 / Atlas Obscura User
John Jr. Headstone   jogg099 / Atlas Obscura User
Solo Visit to the John Dillinger Grave, Indianapolis   brennonhightower / Atlas Obscura User
Family Marker   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
  johneatinger312 / Atlas Obscura User
Family marker looking toward the fence, headstone to the left   craigp / Atlas Obscura User
Family marker from the driveway looking toward the fence   craigp / Atlas Obscura User
The entrance to the cemetery   maibyers / Atlas Obscura User
Bullets on his tombstone.  
Solo Visit to the John Dillinger Grave, Indianapolis   brennonhightower / Atlas Obscura User
Solo Visit to the John Dillinger Grave, Indianapolis   brennonhightower / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Murderous bank robber and rakish criminal John Dillinger was buried in a family plot in Indiana's Crown Hill Cemetery but true to his thieving past, the threat of his grave being robbed led to near unheard-of levels of protection surrounding his corpse.

When Dillinger was interred in his Indiana grave the infamous criminal's service was attended by near 5,000 people. More than just bystanders, Dillinger's father and brother witnessed shameless souvenir collectors snatching flowers and handfuls of dirt from the fresh grave. Fearing that this rather innocuous, if tasteless, appropriation could spread to straight out grave robbing, Dillinger's father and brother had the bank robber's body exhumed and reburied under layers of iron and concrete.

Despite their efforts, souvenir-hungry visitors have still managed to wreak havoc on the site. Dillinger's headstone is a simple, low block with nothing more than his name and the years his life began and ended, yet vandals continue to chip off chunks and corners from the modest marker. The cemetery claims to have come through at least four of the stones since the original was placed. Despite the obvious moral issues behind desecrating a grave, it seems that stealing from the grave of a notorious thief may be a fitting tribute all its own.      

Update April 2021: The gravestone has been moved. 

Update as of January 2023: The grave can be found in section 44.  Section 44 is located on the East side of the grave yard and butts up against the fence.  The gave is in the northwest side of section 44 and the Dillinger family has an upright large gravestone depicting their lots.  John Jr. is located next to that.

Update as of June 2024: Section 44 is close to the fence but the grave is on the opposite side.

Related Tags

Gravestones Crime And Punishment Crime Graves

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

LameDuck99, Ian Sanwald, craigp, maibyers...

  • LameDuck99
  • Ian Sanwald
  • craigp
  • maibyers
  • ski queen
  • rubeodos
  • brennonhightower
  • bryanspellman
  • jogg099
  • jonashley42
  • johneatinger312

Published

July 18, 2014

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  • http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=283
  • http://www.collectorsworldonline.com/photo-gallery-5.html
  • https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Dillinger-Grave-Site-of-John-Dillinger
John Dillinger's Grave
700 W 38th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46208
United States
39.8223, -86.164897
Get Directions

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