◆ SpookStack

Mr. Louis W. Schneider appearing as a distasteful maans of identification, it is at tines the only way relatives would ever learn of the whereabouts of a family membar. . a - The body was interred at tha direction of BIA on Hiarch 2, 1976. On March 3, 1976, FEI Headquarters telephonically notified the Rapid City, South Dakota, FSI Office that fingerprints obtained from the hands of the: victim wera iaentified as those of Anna Mae Aguash, @ Federal fugitive wanted for violation of tha Wational Firearms Act and Bond Default. A communication was immediately sent to the FBI's liaison representativa in Ottawa, Canada, to alert Canadian authorities to attempt to notify the next of kin. At the same time, PBI Agents requested, throvdh the United States Attorney, Rapid City, a court order for exhunation of the body. On March 9, 1976, an order for exhumation was issued. On tne following day, Mr. Bruce Zllison, Woundéd Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee, contacted’ the Rapid City FBI Office. Acting as a representative of Ms. Aquash's family, Mr. Ellison requested that an independent autopsy be conducted by Dr. Garry Peterson, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The FBI representative readily agreed to this, and, in fact, delayea the exhumation proceedings for one day until Dr. Peterson could arrive from Minneapolis. The body was exhumed on March 11, 1976, and Dr. Peterson conducted a second autopsy that same day. A small bullet wound was located below and to the rear of tha right ear of the victim and a bullet was located behind the left eye socket. Dr. Peterson concluded that the cause of death was a gunshot wound. Thereafter the body of Ms. Aquash was turned over to Mr. Ellison for burial. : With the medical determination that Ms. Aquash dieé of a gunshot wound, an intensive investigation was initiated by the FBI to identify Ms. Aquash's killer. We have previcusly provided the United States Dbepartinent of State with the facts of this case. Sincerely yours, -_ Clarence M. Kelley Director