Descendants of Meriwether Lewis, the explorer who, with William Clark (and guided by Sacajawea), ventured West in the early 19th century, are searching for answers on the explorer’s unexpected death in 1809. According to Voice of America, the family wants to exhume his body to determine if he committed suicide or he was murdered.
Lewis was found dead at Grinder’s Stand, an inn, while on his way to visit then-president Thomas Jefferson. Lewis was shot once to the chest and head.
Now, the family has asked forensics expert Dr. Hugh Berryman of Middle Tennessee State University to examine Lewis’ remains to determine, once and for all, the cause of death.
Yet, the government has refused the family’s pleas to open the grave and exhume the remains.