Wichita man tries to change history of Jesse James

WICHITA, Kansas - Jesse James is a legendary, iconic American outlaw and the subject of countless movies and books. A History Channel documentary makes heavy use of a Wichita man who has devoted years to overturning much of what we believe about Jesse James.

History says that James was killed in Missouri in 1882 by Bob Ford. But Ron Pastore disagrees. He spent years in forensic research and photographic analysis in support of his thesis that James did not die in Missouri, but much later in Kansas.

"We believe that he faked his death and lived to be 88 years old and not only that but he buried a bunch of treasure out on the prairies," Pastore said.

In one part of the documentary, called "Jesse James Hidden Treasure", Pastore and others search in southeast Kansas for the James fortune gained from years of robbing banks and trains.

"In today's value that money that accumulated over 17 years of his crime spree would be 50 to 60 million dollars and only a couple hundred thousands of it's been recovered," Pastore said. "So it does have to be out there somewhere."

Pastore could not tell KSN exactly where they searched or if they found anything, but he believes others will start feeling as he does about James.

"I believe that it will get more and more traction as we go and they start opening their minds to the fact that -- look at the evidence, don't just believe what you've heard or what you read in books," Pastore said. "Let's look at the facts."

Pastore believes James died in 1935 in southeast Kansas. Some will be skeptical, some will believe it. Still, others may take it with a grain of salt. Everyone can judge for themselves. The special with Wichitan Ron Pastore airs on the History Channel Monday night at 7 p.m.

See story video at KSN.com

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