Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
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Oil made them rich. Greed made them targets.
In the 1920s, the Osage Nation of Oklahoma became the wealthiest people per capita in the world. They built mansions, rode in chauffeured cars, and sent their children overseas for education. But their sudden prosperity drew deadly attention.
One by one, Osage families began to die—shot, poisoned, or vanished under mysterious circumstances. Mollie Burkhart’s family was hit hardest, with relative after relative falling victim to what would become known as the Reign of Terror. Those who dared to investigate often ended up murdered themselves.
As the body count grew, a newly formed FBI—led by a young J. Edgar Hoover—sent former Texas Ranger Tom White to untangle the conspiracy. With an undercover team, including a Native American agent who risked his life infiltrating the community, White uncovered a chilling plot of corruption, betrayal, and calculated violence that shook the nation.
This is the true story of wealth, murder, and the birth of modern federal law enforcement—an American tragedy that still echoes today.