For over two centuries, the skeletons of two of Germany’s most infamous outlaws—Johannes Bückler, better known as Schinderhannes, and his companion Schwarzer Jonas—rested quietly in the Anatomical Collection of Heidelberg University. These names evoke images of daring highway robberies, escapes from prison, and a final, grim encounter with the guillotine in 1803. But behind the legend, another mystery simmered in the sterile halls of academia: Were the bones labeled “Schinderhannes” truly those of the legendary robber? And what happened to Schwarzer Jonas?
Now, after 220 years and an international scientific effort that reads like a forensic detective novel, researchers have finally answered these questions. Armed with cutting-edge DNA analysis, historical research, and advanced imaging techniques, they have untangled a centuries-old mix-up that had stumped scholars for generations. Their findings, published in Forensic Science International: Genetics, not only reveal the true identity of one of the skeletons but also offer a rare glimpse into the real appearance of Schinderhannes himself.
A Tale of Crime, Punishment, and Anatomy
The story begins in the chaotic years following the French Revolution, when the Rhineland was rife with political upheaval and lawlessness. Johannes Bückler, born in 1779 in the Hunsrück region of Germany, became a symbol of this lawless era. Charismatic and daring, Schinderhannes led a band of robbers who terrorized merchants and travelers across the region. Alongside him was his faithful accomplice, Schwarzer Jonas, whose loyalty would seal his fate.
In November 1803, both men were executed by guillotine in Mainz, along with eighteen other convicts. Their crimes—ranging from robbery to murder—earned them swift and brutal justice. But their story didn’t end at the scaffold.
Two years after their execution, Jacob Fidelis Ackermann, the first professor of anatomy and physiology at Heidelberg University, acquired their skeletons for scientific study. In an era when executed criminals often ended up on the dissection table, this was not unusual. What was unusual, however, was how these infamous bones were handled in the years that followed.
The Skeleton Swap: A Historical Blunder
By the early 19th century, under Ackermann’s successor, Friedrich Tiedemann, something went awry. The collection numbers assigned to the skeletons were apparently mixed up. It was a clerical error that turned into a historical headache: Schinderhannes’ bones were labeled as those of Schwarzer Jonas, and vice versa.
Generations of students, scholars, and visitors to the Anatomical Collection took these labels as fact. Yet, for decades, historians suspected something wasn’t quite right. The descriptions of Schinderhannes in historical records didn’t always align with the skeletal evidence on display. Some even speculated that Schwarzer Jonas’ skeleton had gone missing altogether.
Enter the Modern Detectives: Scientists on the Case
Fast forward to the 21st century. Dr. Sara Doll, curator of the Anatomical Collection at Heidelberg University’s Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, teamed up with Professor Walther Parson, head of Forensic Molecular Biology at the Medical University of Innsbruck. Together, they led an international team of researchers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, and the United States in an effort to settle the matter once and for all.
Their mission? To unravel the mystery using the latest forensic tools—DNA analysis, isotope studies, radiological imaging, and old-fashioned detective work.
Step One: Tracing Childhood Through Isotopes
The first clue came from isotope analysis, a method that examines variations in atoms of the same element. By analyzing the isotopic composition of bones, scientists can uncover clues about where a person lived during different periods of their life. The results suggested that one of the skeletons likely grew up in the Hunsrück region—Schinderhannes’ known birthplace.
This geographic link strengthened suspicions that the skeleton labeled “Schwarzer Jonas” might, in fact, be Schinderhannes.
Step Two: Anthropological Examination and Radiology
Anthropologists then took a closer look at the skeletons. They assessed age at death, gender, and signs of disease or trauma. These details, while not definitive on their own, added to the growing body of evidence suggesting a mix-up had occurred.
Radiological imaging revealed more insights. The skeleton believed to be Schwarzer Jonas matched historical records of Schinderhannes’ physical characteristics. But there was still one crucial step left.
Step Three: Unlocking the Secrets of Mitochondrial DNA
The researchers then extracted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is passed down through the maternal line. By comparing this genetic material to that of a living descendant of Schinderhannes—five generations removed—they confirmed that the skeleton labeled as Schwarzer Jonas was, in fact, Schinderhannes himself.
But what about the skeleton once believed to be Schinderhannes? The researchers found no evidence linking it to Schwarzer Jonas, whose remains are now presumed lost to history. Dr. Doll speculates that it might have been stolen or misplaced in the belief that it was Schinderhannes’ skeleton—a grim irony, given the criminal legacy of the man himself.
Step Four: A Face from the Past—Genetic Reconstruction of Appearance
With the identity confirmed, scientists turned their attention to a fascinating question: What did Schinderhannes actually look like?
Historical descriptions of the robber vary wildly, and surviving images—paintings and engravings made after his death—are as much the product of artistic imagination as historical fact. But genetic analysis gave researchers hard data. By analyzing DNA markers associated with physical traits, they reconstructed Schinderhannes’ appearance.
The results? Schinderhannes likely had brown eyes, dark hair, and pale skin. This information resolves the contradictions in historical accounts and gives historians, artists, and writers a more accurate portrait of the legendary outlaw.
What Remains of Schwarzer Jonas?
The skeleton once attributed to Schinderhannes remains a mystery. It does not belong to Schwarzer Jonas, and its true identity may never be known. As Dr. Doll notes, “It remains exciting.” Perhaps someday, further research or a stroke of luck will reveal what became of the real Schwarzer Jonas.
The Real Schinderhannes—Preserved for Posterity
The genuine skeleton of Schinderhannes has been carefully removed from public display for conservation reasons. Instead, visitors to the Anatomical Collection at Heidelberg can view an artist’s replica of the skeleton, alongside a lifelike model of Schinderhannes based on the recent genetic findings.
It’s a fitting tribute to a man whose life and death have inspired countless stories, and whose bones continue to tell tales more than two centuries after his execution.
Conclusion: Science Meets History
This extraordinary investigation is more than a curiosity for historians and forensic scientists—it’s a powerful example of how modern science can illuminate the past. By combining DNA analysis with historical records and advanced imaging techniques, researchers have solved a mystery that has puzzled scholars for generations.
It’s also a reminder that history is often messier than it seems. Even the bones of the famous can be mislabeled, misplaced, and misunderstood. But with perseverance, curiosity, and a little help from cutting-edge science, we can bring clarity to the fog of the past.
As for Schinderhannes, he might have been a notorious brigand, but in the 21st century, he’s given us something valuable: a thrilling case study in how forensic science can rewrite history.
And who knows? Perhaps the mystery of Schwarzer Jonas isn’t over just yet.
Reference: Walther Parson et al, Remains of the German outlaw Johannes Bückler alias Schinderhannes identified by an interdisciplinary approach, Forensic Science International: Genetics (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2025.103276