Burton Abbott

rdf:langString Burton Abbott

rdf:langString Burton W. Abbott

rdf:langString Burton W. Abbott

rdf:langString San Quentin State Prison, California, U.S.

rdf:langString Oregon, U.S.

rdf:langString Elsie Abbott

rdf:langString Georgia Abbott

rdf:langString Burton Wilbur Abbott (February 8, 1928 – March 15, 1957) was a University of California at Berkeley accounting student living in Alameda, California, who was convicted in November 1955 of the rape and murder of 14-year-old Stephanie Bryan. Abbott's wife discovered the evidence in their home's basement and Stephanie's body was found buried near the Abbott family's cabin. He was sentenced to die in California's gas chamber. On March 15, 1957, a (second) one-hour stay of execution from the governor of California was communicated to the prison just moments too late to halt his execution. The case is sometimes cited when discussing the appropriateness of condemning a person based on circumstantial evidence alone. However, "most criminal convictions are based on circumstantial evidence, although it must be adequate to meet established standards of proof." Before his execution, Abbott spoke to the doctor at San Quentin. The doctor said that when he asked Abbott about the crime, he said "I can't admit it, doc. Think of what it would do to my mother; she couldn't take it."

rdf:langString Execution by gas chamber