Karpis in 1979    Death  Alvin Karpis died in Spain in 1979. I have seen his death described as a suicide, but that is not true. Al was not the type of person to give up and take his own life. He was awaiting the publication of the book that I wrote with him, On the Rock; but most important, he was a survivor, he had survived 33 depressing years in prison. Thanks to Richard Kudish, a very dedicated and thorough crime historian and author, I was informed that the Chicago Sun-Times retracted its original suicide story on August 30, 1979 in a column "World/nation digest" page 24. The following is verbatim from the Chicago Sun-Times: "GANGSTER ALVIN KARPIS APPARENTLY DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES POLICE SAID, CONTRADICTING EARLIER REPORTS THAT HE HAD COMMITTED SUICIDE BY TAKING AN OVERDOSE OF SLEEPING PILLS. KARPIS, TRIGGERMAN FOR THE NOTORIOUS MA BARKER GANG THAT TERRORIZED THE MIDWEST WITH BLAZING MACHINE GUNS IN THE 1930'S WAS FOUND DEAD TUESDAY AT HIS HOME ON SPAIN'S COSTAL DEL SOL. HE WAS 71." The death certificates in the original Spanish and translated into English state clearly that Alvin Karpis died of a heart attack. The "suicide misinformation" originated from media speculation when it was reported that a bottle of prescription "sleeping" pills were found in his two bedroom apartment in Spain. They belonged to his last girlfriend, Nancy, who had left about a week before his death. Also, the bottle of pills was full, not empty. Alvin's American attorney, James E. Carty, who had arranged for his release from prison and extradition to Canada, travelled to Spain after his death. The James E. Carty Collection at the WSU Vancouver Library-Archive in Vancouver, WA. was prepared by Archive Specialist, Robert Schimelpfenig, who kindly supplied copies of the death certificates and granted me permission to display them here. Extract from certificate of death in English from the James E. Carty Collection at WSU Vancouver Library-Archive. Certified copy of death certificate in English from the James E. Carty Collection at WSU Vancouver Library-Archive. Extract from certificate of death in Spanish from the James E. Carty Collection at WSU Vancouver Library-Archive. Certified copy of death certificate in Spanish from the James E. Carty Collection at WSU Vancouver Library-Archive. An English gentleman, Mr. Neil McKay, who was intrigued with the life of Alvin Karpis and who holidays in Spain, went on a quest to discover plot #2300 where Alvin Karpis was laid to rest. He took the following photographs of the San Miguel Cemetery in Malaga, Spain. Neil explains that in the cemetery there are choices of: a grave - a single occupation, below ground; a niche - a single occupation above ground; and a crypt - multi occupation for a family. Alvin's plot #2300 was a niche, but it could not be located because areas of the cemetery were undergoing renovations. Neil promises to return next year in an attempt to fulfill his quest. These photographs of the San Miguel Cemetery are the copyright property of Mr. McKay; they cannot be used or reproduced without his written consent. Entrance Examples of crypts Examples of niches Closer view of niches similar to the one occupied by Alvin Karpis Alvin's last girlfriend, Nancy, had left Spain only a week before his death. She contacted me from Chicago when she returned and later sent me the last photographs taken of Alvin Karpis with her and another couple who were friends and neighbours in the apartment building. Last photographs of Alvin Karpis taken in the Summer of 1979, just before his death.  Previous (Post-Prison) • Contents • Other books written by Robert Livesey

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