Billy the Kid survival inquiries are alive and well, and are costing Lincoln County taxpayers nearly $200,000 so far.

$125,000 has been awarded to De Baca County News and Gale Cooper, who sued Lincoln County for records of a DNA analysis of blood left on a carpenter's bench where the Kid's body purportedly was placed after he was shot by the notorious sheriff, Pat Garrett. The suit also had requested the DNA report of two others who had claimed to be William Bonney. Courts ruled that Lincoln County improperly withheld records.

$70,000 had previously been paid to four other law firms previously involved in the case.

The DNA investigation was into whether Garrett shot somebody else, whose body was buried in Fort Sumner, while Billy escaped to Texas and lived out his days as Brusby Bill Roberts.

The Lincoln County sheriff's office has opened an investigation into the escae of Billy from the Lincoln County jail, hoping to determine whether he had an accomplice.

Albuquerque Journal, June 11, 2013. "Billy the Kid's records case costs taxpayers nearly $200K." www.abqjournal.com
Also Santa fe New Mexican, online news, Wed. June 13, 2013.