From his birthplace of Sonora, Mexico, Murrieta travelled to California in ‘49 with his wife and family to seek his fortune. It is said his revenge was so swift and brutal following the massacre of his family at the hands of white prospectors jealous at his success, that newspaper stories and even a dime novel or two were written about these events. He fled with his brothers and mounted up with outlaws. There are whispers that Jose is the last living man of an infamous gang of horse rustlers that were hunted down by Texas Rangers.