David Mason (murderer)

For other people named David Mason, see David Mason (disambiguation).

David Edwin Mason (December 2, 1956 – August 24, 1993) was an American serial killer who was executed in San Quentin's gas chamber in 1993. This marked the second execution in the state of California since 1967, and the last execution by gas chamber in that state. Mason killed four elderly people in 1980, his cellmate in 1982 and is suspected of murdering his male lover.

The crimes

In July 1977, Mason stabbed a store clerk with an ice pick after robbing the store. He threatened to kill her if she called the police and testified against him. Mason was sentenced in November 1977 to 36 months in state prison.

In March 1980, Mason assaulted and attempted to rob a victim who was returning home late at night. During the ensuing fight, Mason struck the victim on the top of the head with a gun. In December 1980, Mason gained admittance to the home of an elderly couple under the pretext of selling and delivering firewood. Mason handcuffed the victims to chairs and robbed them of $47,000 worth of jewelry and coins. At the time of his arrest in February 1981, Mason had in his possession a loaded sawed-off shotgun and pistol and other ammunition. He was convicted and sentenced in April 1982. He confessed to these crimes and was sentenced in June 1982 to a total of 124 months in state prison for both 1980 crimes.

The murders

In 1980, David Mason committed four murders, one on March 6, one on August 28, one on November 11, and one on December 6, and a murder of a cellmate in 1982. Mason was wanted in Butte County for shooting and killing his male lover while the victim was sleeping. He committed many other infractions. On January 27, 1984 he was sentenced to death. He was executed on August 24, 1993 in San Quentin's gas chamber.

See also

• Capital punishment in California
• Capital punishment in the United States

References

• California Department of Corrections

Persondata
Name	Mason, David Edwin
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 2, 1956
Place of birth
Date of death	August 24, 1993
Place of death