Donald Bashor (1930 – 11 October 1957) was an American criminal and murderer.
Bashor deserted from the Navy in 1948. He was imprisoned for robberies in Los Angeles in 1950, escaped and fled to Oregon, then was recaptured and served the rest of his sentence. Bashor was paroled in 1954.
He confessed to a series of burglaries and to the killings of Karil Graham and Laura Lindsay. Bashor was shot and wounded while trying to escape. Bashor was tried in 1956, convicted and sentenced to death.
He was executed in San Quentin gas chamber on 11 October 1957.
Legacy
His story was dramatised for American television in 1958 as Portrait of a Murderer, an episode of the series Playhouse 90. Bashor was played by Tab Hunter. His story also features in a story in Jack Webb's book The Badge.
References
- File case note
- THE TV SCENE---: Two Shows to Do Studies in Murder Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 27 Feb 1958: A10.
- "Playhouse 90". Variety. 5 March 1958. p. 48.