A new book set to release next month is stirring interest in Stockton’s colorful past. Bring Me the Head of Joaquin Murrieta by historian and bestselling author John Boessenecker hits shelves October 21, 2025, promising to peel back the myths surrounding one of California’s most infamous outlaws.
Stockton played a central role in Murrieta’s story. His first recorded crime — stealing a pair of boots — took place here in 1850 at a general store owned by brothers Hyman and Levi Mitchell. He served three months in the county jail before moving deeper into outlaw life. Stockton was also the stage for the public hanging of two of his gang associates, “Dutch Fred” Salkman and “Mountain Jim” Wilson. And when Murrieta met his violent end in 1853, his severed head was displayed at the Stockton House hotel.
Boessenecker’s book promises to set the record straight on the real Murrieta — a man long mythologized as both bandit and folk hero, and even cited as an inspiration for the character of Zorro. With deep research and never-before-told stories, the book transports readers back to the Gold Rush era and explores Murrieta’s bloody career and legacy.
The author, known for his work on the Old West and appearances on PBS and Netflix history programs, calls Stockton a crucial backdrop to Murrieta’s rise and downfall.
Bring Me the Head of Joaquin Murrieta will be available in stores and online starting October 21.