Geronimo's Descendants Sue For Return Of Remains

National Museum of the American Indian/The Associated Press

Descendants say remains of Geronimo, left, are kept at Yale's Skull and Bones group clubhouse in New Haven, Conn. Both former President George W. Bush and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, are members of the secret society.

By The Associated Press
Published: February 18, 2009

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HARTFORD, Conn. --

Descendants of American Indian leader Geronimo are suing the federal government, Yale University and a secret society, seeking custody of the Apache chief's remains.

Geronimo's great-grandson, Harlyn Geronimo, says the family believes the Yale group Skull and Bones took some of the remains in 1918 or 1919 from a burial plot at Fort Sill, Okla. He says the descendants believe those remains are kept at the group's clubhouse in New Haven.

He announced the federal lawsuit in Washington on Tuesday, the 100-year anniversary of Geronimo's death from pneumonia while he was being held at Fort Sill as a prisoner of war.

The family wants the remains sent to New Mexico. They also want the government to turn over any bones still buried at Fort Sill.