Manny Babbitt

Manuel Pina "Manny" Babbitt (May 3, 1949 – May 4, 1999) was a U.S. Marine veteran of the Vietnam War who was convicted of the murder of a 78-year-old woman, Leah Schendel, during a burglary in Sacramento, California in 1980.[1] He was executed by the state of California by lethal injection at San Quentin State Prison, one day after his 50th birthday.[1] The murder was committed during a string of robberies and burglaries and the day after the murder Babbitt committed at least one sexual assault.[1]

Manuel Pina Babbitt
Babbit's 1999 Inmate Photo
Born(1949-05-03)May 3, 1949
Wareham, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedMay 4, 1999(1999-05-04) (aged 50)
San Quentin, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Criminal statusExecuted
Conviction(s)First degree murder with special circumstances
Criminal penaltyDeath by lethal injection

Babbitt had been wounded at the bloody 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh in Quảng Trị Province, South Vietnam. As part of his defense, he claimed he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which he claimed caused him to commit his crimes and to later lose all memories of the crimes.[2]

One year before his execution, while on death row, Babbitt was awarded a Purple Heart medal for the wounds he had received at the Battle of Khe Sanh.[3]

Babbitt refused his last meal and asked that the $50 allotted be given to homeless Vietnam veterans. His last words were: "I forgive all of you."[1] He was buried in his native Wareham, Massachusetts, on May 10, 1999, with full military honors.[4]

The movie Last Day of Freedom, nominated for an Oscar in 2016, depicts his brother's narrative of the events that led to Babbitt's execution.

See also

References
  1. Manuel Babbitt Archived 2008-02-08 at the Wayback Machine. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Retrieved on November 16, 2007.
  2. Doyle, Jim (29 March 1999). "Dramatic Plea to Save Killer / Ex-cop says death row inmate rescued him in '68". SFGate. Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  3. White, Jerry. California executes mentally ill Vietnam veteran, World Socialist Web Site (May 5, 1999); retrieved November 11, 2007.
  4. Da Costa-Fernandes, Manuela. Manny Babbitt laid to rest. The Standard-Times (May 11, 1999); retrieved November 16, 2007.
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