Lavinia Burnett

Lavinia Burnett (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 murder. The trio had planned out the murder of Jonathan Selby, who lived near Fayetteville, Arkansas, and who was known to keep large sums of money at his residence. John Burnett was actually implicated as the suspect who killed Selby. However, one of Lavinia and Crawford's daughters informed authorities that all three were involved in the plan, and all three were present when it was carried out.

For that, both Lavinia and Crawford were hanged on November 8, 1845, in Washington County. John was captured later in Missouri. He was hanged on December 4, 1845.

References

* [http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/05/06/news/050607azdphistoryexp.txt Morning News article]