The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Sue The T-Rex

Tyrannosaurus rex or T-rex has become one of the most popular dinosaurs in popular culture. Since Steven Spielberg’s "Jurassic Park" was released in 1993, the T-Rex has become a fan favorite. Additionally, arguably the most famous T-Rex fossil ever found was Sue the T-Rex. Sue is one of the largest, most extensive, and best-preserved T-Rex ever found. It was discovered in 1990 and was named after its discoverer, Sue Hendrickson. Today, Sue can be found at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

But before finding a permanent home, Sue the T-Rex was embroiled in a tragic custody battle between paleontologist Peter Larson, the federal government, and the Cheyenne River Sue tribe.

#SueTheTRex #Dinosaurs #Tragic

Sue finds a T-Rex | 0:00
It ain't easy being a T-Rex | 01:22
Fossil hunters | 02:12
Sue had work done | 03:29
Here comes the government! | 04:21
FBI vs Dinosaurs | 05:31
Custody battle | 06:48
Who owned Sue? | 07:42
Williams got rich rolling the bones | 08:47
Larson on the loose | 10:12
Sue vs. Sue | 11:25

[GrungeHQ]

What is your favorite type of dinosaur?

[Fearsia]

I bet Sue's life story would be fascinating, perhaps even heartbreaking. I find dinosaurs amazing.

[theangelbelow]

Money, it can poison just about any situation....

[sf]

2 years in prison for digging up a fossil. What abuse of power.

[alanmeires]

The hero of this story is Sue Henderson with out her this TRex would still be in the dirt and the rest of the world wouldn’t be able to lay their eyes on something as special as Sue the TRex.

[raceplayzichighidorahplayz]

Poor Sue :(
I didn’t know that she had back problems, and survived from a leg fracture infection and even broken ribs :(

[dodongolunch]

Man... 20 years ago, sue was on display at the bishop museum on Oahu. I still remember the field trip, I was 6 and couldn't believe how big sue really was! Amazing video, I had no idea of the true history behind the find.

[LernTheConjurer]

This is one of my favorite stories to talk about when it comes down to dino finds, but MAN is it sad. For both Sue's, the arrests made and all involved and all the crazy happenings that occurred. It seemsed like no one could win over such an amazing anomaly of history.

[blue_diamond_gem]

The indian’s lawsuit, federal charges against scientists and FBI raid is a demonstration of egregious example of government overreach. The fact this poor man went to prison is horrible, he should be compensated.

[YeahitsMeSylvia]

Imagine dying in a horrific worldwide extinction and people are fighting over dibs over your corpse millions of years later

I’m not saying that finding fossils and stuff are bad I’m just saying that maybe we should appreciate animals and nature more

[clockworkkirlia]

This is really interesting; thanks for the in-depth look! Gotta say, finding out that members of this team have also been involved with Dueling Dinosaurs and Cleopatra was a seriously cool addition to the story.

[SuperKen]

I found out about Sue the week before I was going on vacation to Chicago recently. I had to see this fossil and it was pretty amazing. What a highlight of my vacation! I liked that in the dinosaur exhibit they showed what parts of the dino fossils were real, what were replicas or that were behind the scenes. Great to know that Sue is the best preserved T-Rex ever! ❤️

[Foxtrick]

my aunt worked at the black hills institute. she was held at gun point for hours while they searched her work station, her car, and her purse. the second time the FBI showed up, she tore them all a new one for confiscating her groceries. she also had her mail withheld and her phones tapped. people now wonder why she has ptsd...

[riceracm]

Moral of the story: The government will complicate and trample over anything good that comes into your life...

[shadowisinsane]

When I was a small child, probably 4 or 5, I went to a Museum and got to see Sue the T-rex.
My parents expected me to be afraid of it, but I was actually super interested in it.
I wouldn't leave, and my parents legit had to lure me out of the Museum with candy.

I was super interested in dinosaurs when I was younger, likely due to actually meeting Sue the t-rex, and wanted to be a paleontologist when I grew up.
I'm older now and my new passion is animals. I'm planning on becoming a veterinarian, or at least working with animals in some way, but who knows. Maybe I'll end up becoming obsessed with dinosaurs again.
I do still have a bit of a dino interest

[Wyvern]

Fossils should be the property of the nearest museum capable of researching them.

[willj]

I remember reading about Sue as a kid, was very cool to go visit earlier this year!

[jjojo]

The Walt Disney copy of the Sue fossil is on outdoor display at The Animal Kingdom park in Orlando, FL. It’s fittingly in the Dinosaur Land area. 👍😎👍

[tt]

Wow! Born & raised 20 min south of Chicago and a lifelong visitor of the field museum. I had no idea of all the red tape & drama behind her. Private collectors are greedy & selfish!

[androlibre]

This pisses me off because it seems like the people who have the talent and the drive to discover these amazing finds are constantly getting screwed by the people who sit on their asses and just want to claim "ownership" after all the work is done and the so called "real" paleontologists are jealous they arent the ones out there discovering cool shit.