Episode 8: Lavinia Veny Sharp

Trigger Warning:

The following episode mentions murder and hanging. Listeners discretion is advised. This episode involves a mother, a husband, and a son, who were all hanged in Arkansas within months of each other.

Lavinia Sharp (died November 8, 1845) was the first woman to be executed in the state of Arkansas. Burnett, her husband Crawford, and their son John, were arrested, tried, and convicted of the murder of Jonathan Selby, who lived near Fayetteville, Arkansas, and who allegedly kept large sums of money at his residence. One of Lavinia and Crawford's daughters informed authorities of the murder, and robbery. Lavinia and Crawford Burnett were tried in October 1845 and sentenced to be hanged on November 8, 1845. The hanging was reportedly well attended. John Burnett was arrested in Missouri and was found guilty on December 4, 1845. He was hanged on December 26, 1845.

Sources:

murderpedia.org

http://www.executedtoday.com/2009/11/08/1845-lavinia-burnett-crawford-burnett-fayetteville/

http://www.executedtoday.com/2018/12/26/john-burnett-failson/

https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/658013?page=1#sr-121802054

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106907710/lavinia-veny-burnett

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/239539398/john-burnett

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/239539266/crawford-burnett

arkansasgenalogy.com

Washington County, Arkansas Newspaper about 1950

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