Dinosaur 13

In 1990, American paleontologist Pete Larson and his team unearthed an extraordinary specimen of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, named 'Sue'. This groundbreaking discovery took place in the badlands of South Dakota, an area that had previously only yielded a handful of incomplete T. Rex fossils.

The extraction of Sue was completed in an impressive span of 17 days, showcasing the expertise and determination of Larson's team. With initial estimates revealing that Sue's skeleton was approximately 80% complete, it became a significant find in paleontology.

Maurice Williams, the landowner of the site where Sue was found, received $5,000 from the Black Hills Institute for the rights to display the dinosaur in their museum. This deal was made through a handshake agreement, raising questions about formal documentation in fossil ownership.

Soon after the discovery, the federal government intervened, claiming that Sue had been excavated from federal land. The FBI and the National Guard seized the skeleton, despite their lack of expertise in the proper preservation of fossils.

To avoid further complications, the Black Hills team assisted in Sue's transport to the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. Here, Sue was kept securely in a shipping container during the unfolding legal circumstances surrounding her ownership.

The following decade witnessed a complex legal battle involving multiple parties including the FBI and the National Park Service. This tumultuous period saw Maurice Williams alter his claims regarding the sale of Sue to the Black Hills Institute.

The first trial involving the case concluded in 1993, determining that the fossil was part of the land itself, and Maurice did not have the legal right to sell it. This ruling nullified the previous sale and restored ownership back to Maurice.

In November 1993, the Black Hills Institute faced serious legal repercussions, with charges filed against them and their members for 153 counts of illegal fossil trading. This development further complicated the already entangled legal situation.

In 1995, the prosecution presented a six-week case claiming that the Black Hills team had unlawfully acquired fossils from public lands. They argued that these activities amounted to money laundering, leading to significant press coverage around the trial.

Ultimately, the jury found the Black Hills Institute guilty on thirteen charges, including five misdemeanors and eight felonies. This verdict, while a legal loss, was perceived as a moral victory for the institute, highlighting the injustices in the prosecution’s approach.

Upon appeal, only two felony charges against Pete Larson were upheld, while the others were dropped. Surprisingly, he received a harsh two-year prison sentence for actions typically warranting a much shorter term.

Meanwhile, Maurice decided to auction Sue through Sotheby's, transporting her an astonishing 1,800 miles to New York City for the event. This decision would lead to a new chapter in Sue’s story as she would soon be in the public eye once again.

At the Sotheby's auction, Sue was sold for a remarkable $7.6 million, purchased by the Chicago Museum with financial backing from McDonald's and Walt Disney. This sale marked a significant milestone in both fossil collecting and museum exhibits.

After three years of meticulous preparation, Sue was finally unveiled to the public in 2000. The unveiling generated immense excitement and drew millions of visitors over the years, solidifying Sue's place in popular culture and paleontology.

In the years following Sue's auction and public display, Pete Larson continued his work in paleontology, successfully discovering nine more dinosaur specimens. However, none would match Sue's completeness or notoriety, leaving her as his crowning achievement.