'Billy the Kid' photo real, says Houston forensic artist

Could there be a new photograph of Billy the Kid? Famed Houston forensic artist Lois Gibson says yes.

Gibson has been called the most successful forensic artist in the country with her sketches of suspects credited with solving more than a thousand crimes.

When it comes to famous photographs, Gibson is again, no rookie. Perhaps most famously identifying a sailor kissing a girl on New York's Times Square at the end of World War II.

Now she says she has identified one of America's most notorious outlaws.

"This is Billy the Kid," said Gibson, "His head shape, his hair, he's got the same pinky ring."

On top of similarities in stature, close up analysis of the photo reveals Kid's tell tale crooked teeth, according to Gibson.

The full view is of a man in a smart suit standing with his right hand resting on a chair. The pose is almost a mirror image of the one authenticated photo of Billy the Kid. The only difference, seemingly, is that the Kid in the autheticated photo looks much more worse for wear and is resting his hand on a rifle.

"I think he went out, had some booze, partied with some saloon girls and just got wild," Gibson says, adding that this new photo of what she says is a younger Billy the Kid, gives depth to the legend. "I see the progression of his personality, he looks really shy in this (new) photo, he looks like he had a transformation," Gibson said.

The photo is the property of New Mexico resident Ray John de Aragon, who is well known in the small world that is Billy the Kid collectors.

The mention of de Aragon's name did prompt some eye rolling with experts pointing out that he regularly brings out new photos supposedly of the American icon. Most recently, one of a boy he claimed was Billy, the child was also wearing a pinky ring.

"My great grandmother knew him, she was a medicine woman who treated Billy, those stories were handed down to me," said de Aragon.

De Aragon claims his father knew one of Billy the Kid's friends and that the photo was passed down to him, his famly always telling him it was as "old family picture of Billy the Kid."

"He comes up with these photos periodically, it's sort of amazing," said Paul Hutton, professor of history at the University of New Mexico. Hutton recently put on an exhibit of photographs related to William H. Booney, or Billy the Kid.

Hutton says a positive identification by someone of Gibson's standing may carry some weight.

"If she's the real deal and she says it then obviously that gives it a credibility it wouldn't have otherwise," Hutton said, "I don't dismiss what (de Aragon) comes up with out of hand, it's just there's such a market for these photos."

The one and only authenticated picture of Billy the Kid sold at auction last year for $2.3 million. The provenance on the picture, a type of photograph known as a tintype, is said to be unquestionable.

According to Hutton, there is ironclad historical proof.

Another copy of the same photo was given to Pat Garrett, who famously shot Billy the Kid in 1881. Garrett printed that same picture in his book in 1882, giving it the provenance that earned its enormous price tag.

If de Aragon is successful in convincing buyers his new photo is genuine, it could mean a somewhat substantial cash reward, although a figure in the millions seems unlikely.

A previous photo he claimed was Billy the Kid was sold in 1994 by Swann Galleries in New York for $50,000. However, experts there say it will be difficult for him to do the same with the new picture.

"It's all a matter of how strong the evidence is," said Rick Stattler,  Americana specialist at Swann Galleries." In general it is very difficult to sell a previously unknown photo just on facial resemblance."

Gibson says she has no financial agreement with de Aragon, just the $750 he paid the artist for her time working on the photo.