Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. To keep creating
new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help
the Murderpedia project stay alive. We have many
plans and enthusiasm
to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really
need your help for this. Thank you very much in advance.
Betty
BUTLER
A.K.A.: "The Sphynx"
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics:
Rage - Jealousy
Number of victims: 1
Date of murder: September 6, 1952
Date of arrest:
Same day
Date of birth: 1928
Victim profile:
Evelyn Clark, 35 (her lover)
Method of murder:
Strangulation and drowning
Location: Hamilton County, Ohio, USA
Status:
Executed
by electrocution on June 11, 1954
Betty Butler was executed June 11, 1954,
for strangling and then drowning Evelyn Clark, 35, in front of
witnesses. Ms. Butler didn't deny the killing but argued it was
justified because Ms. Clark made sexual advances toward her.
Ms. Butler, 26, of the West End, was convicted
of using a handkerchief to strangle Ms. Clark in Sharon Woods Park
and then, in front of fishermen, dragging her to the lake and
holding her head underwater.
Other female inmates nicknamed her ''The
Sphynx'' because, while polite, she rarely interacted with them.
Betty Evelyn Butler strangled and
drowned a woman. According to Betty she defended herself as the
woman made "unwanted advantages" to her. Other testimony sugested
that Betty was bisexual and killed the woman in rage over her
attentions to another woman.
Betty was condemned to death.
She was considered polite but never friendly
during her imprisonment.
Betty chose scrambled eggs with cheese, a piece
og toast, two glasses of milk and a dish of apricots for her last
meal.
On June 11, 1954 at 8:00 p.m. Betty walked her
last mile betwen two chaplans. The 26 years old woman was dressed
in a pink-and-black print dress, white oxfords and white boby
socks.
Betty was calm, carrying a rosary she sat down
for the last time only a quiet murmur.
A few minutes later, at 8:10 p.m. Betty was
pronounced dead.
Rowdiva.com
Ohio Historical Center visitors look at the electric chair used to
execute
315 Ohio inmates between 1897 and 1963.
(Photo by Jeff Hinckley / Dispatch.com)