The Roswell Report: Case Closed

Fig. 9. Three of the I I Air
Force members killed in the
June 26, 1956 KC-97 accident
were autapsied at the Ballard
Funeral Home in Roswell.
The actual descriptions of
the remains (only three were
autopsied), closely corresponds
with Dennis’ descriptions
regarding the “little bodies.”
Additionally, this is the same
funeral home where Dennis
claimed to be employed from
1947 until 1962.
Statementsmade by Dennis describedbodies that were “tbree-and-
a-half to four feet tall,” and “black” in col~r.“~ The autopsy protocols of
two victims described extensive third degree burns and loss of the lower
extremities.‘36Dennis also describeda head of one of the bodies that was not
rigid but “flexible” and tissuesof a body in “strings” that looked as if they were
“pulled” by predatory animals after the crash.“’ An autopsy protocol of a victim
described “multiple fractures of all bonesof the skull” and “partially cooked
strandsof bowel...over the abdomen and in the chest.“‘3” Additional similarities
between the autopsy protocols and Dennis’ statementswere a detachedhand and
descriptions of the fingers and arms of the crash victims.“’
The autopsy protocol of one victim also described remains with
a “face completely missing.“‘40 This description corresponds with Dennis’
recollections of a body with eyes and nose that were concave. Also, the drawing
of the head of one of the “little bodies” Dennis claims is representative of a
drawing given to him by the missing nurseis a reasonablyaccuraterepresentation
of a human body with its face completely missing.‘“’
Another similarity to Dennis’ account is that of the I I victims of
this accident, only three were autopsied-the same number of bodies that were
allegedly autopsied in the missing nurse’s account.‘42 Finally, records revealed
that due to limited facilities at the Walker AFB hospital, the autopsies were
performed at the Ballard Funeral Home in Roswe11.143This is the same funeral
home where Dennis claimed to be employed in 1947 until 1962.1a*
The Odor. Transportation of remains to a small base hospital
was unusual since the hospital did not have the necessary facilities- a
preparation room, refrigeration equipment or a morgue, to accommodate
multiple deceasedpersons. Records of other crashes involving Walker AFB
showed that the remains of crash victims were transported either to another
facility on Walker AFB or directly to a local funeral home.‘“5
‘ It is unclear when Dennis worked at this funeral home since city and phone directories
listed him as co-owning a different funeral home in Roswell, as Sx-president of another funeral
home in Roswell, and as having been employed as a drug store supervisor and oil field worker
during the periods when he claims he worked at the Ballard Funeral Home.
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