Randy Guijarro, a telecommunications expert, never expected to stumble upon a remarkable piece of history when he bought an old photograph for just $2 at a flea market. Little did he know that this seemingly insignificant find would turn out to be a photograph of Billy the Kid playing croquet in 1878.

Guijarro and his wife Linda, who share a passion for collecting artifacts, plan to use the money they earned from the sale of the photograph to finance their future explorations into forgotten historical events. They are thrilled to embark on new adventures together and hope to uncover more hidden gems.

Billy the Kid, a legendary figure from the Wild West, was leaning on a mallet in the photograph, surrounded by his gang, known as the Regulators. Guijarro discovered this remarkable detail after closely examining the photo under a microscope. This image is only the second authenticated photograph of the infamous outlaw and is now valued at a staggering $5 million.

The Guijarros faced many challenges during their investigation into the authenticity of the photograph. False leads and mistrust made the journey difficult and lonely. But their perseverance paid off, and Guijarro was amazed to see the National Geographic special hosted by Kevin Costner, which detailed the five years of research that went into verifying the photograph.

Billy the Kid is often associated with the Wild West and his tragic demise at the age of 21. Although some historians claim he was responsible for only nine homicides, the image of the young outlaw strikes a chord with people’s imaginations. The only other known photograph of Billy the Kid sold for $2.3 million in 2011.

Guijarro’s passion for collecting artifacts has led him and his wife to accumulate various items over the years, including coins, sports cards, comic books, and antique photographs. The chance encounter with the photograph of Billy the Kid playing croquet added another extraordinary item to their collection.

Guijarro recalls stumbling upon the photograph at Fulton’s Folly Antique Collective in Fresno. Two individuals were emptying a storage unit and wanted to get rid of the items inside, including the “junk crates” that contained the photographs. Guijarro made an offer of $2 for three pictures, not expecting to discover the treasure hidden within.

It took Guijarro a week of careful examination to realize the significance of the photograph. The attire, demeanor, and the fact that the man was standing on a croquet stick made him believe that it was indeed Billy the Kid. With the help of his wife Linda, who conducted further research online, Guijarro was able to identify other individuals in the photograph, including two other croquet players and members of the Regulators.

The discovery of the ruins of the schoolhouse in Chavez County, New Mexico, and the identification of all 18 people in the photograph were thanks to the collaborative efforts of scholars, collectors, and experts in facial recognition. The historical significance of this photograph cannot be overstated.

Moving forward, the Guijarros are cautiously optimistic about the future. While they plan to purchase a new car, settle debts, and help friends and family, they are also excited about planning more treasure hunts. They want to continue their exploration of forgotten historical events and hope to unearth more hidden gems in the process.

Guijarro emphasizes that they are not hoarders and almost always sell the items they acquire. Their passion for hunting treasures is driven by the belief that if they did not continue searching, they would miss out on incredible finds. The journey has been long and challenging, but the rewards have been truly extraordinary.