I have a newspaper article from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette dated October 20, 2005 that tells the story of Old Mike. According to the article, several people viewed the body in the hope he was a lost relative, but no one claimed the corpse. Finally, on May 12, 1975, Old Mike was buried at the insistence of the state. Cornish Mortuary bought a plot in DeAnn Cemetery and provided the casket and flowers. Rev. Jerry Westmoreland conducted the graveside service. The mortuary also provided a tombstone which simply reads "Old Mike", Died August 21, 1911.

The article also has a picture of "Old Mike" taken in 1921.