Henry Busch (serial killer)

Busch lived by himself in an apartment in Los Angeles and had no prior criminal record. He worked in a factory and sometimes had coffee before work with a fellow employee, Magdalena Parra. == Murders ==

On May 1, 1960, Busch visited the apartment of 74-year-old Elmyra Miller. She had been his friend since he was a child. The two talked for some time and watched television together. As Busch got up to leave, he saw Miller standing with her back to him. Busch felt an urge to kill her and strangled her to death. To avoid drawing suspicion, he pulled Miller's clothing over her hips and tore her underclothing to make the murder appear to be sexually motivated. Miller's body was found by her visiting doctor the next day. == Trial and execution ==

Busch was charged with first degree murder for each killing, and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. He did not take the stand in his defense. Busch was convicted of assault with intent to commit murder for the attack on Payne, second degree murder for killing Miller and Payne, and first degree murder for killing Briggs since he had brought a knife. He was sentenced to death after the jury did not recommend mercy. After his appeals failed, Busch was executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison on June 6, 1962. == See also ==