Barbara Graham

Barbara Graham, née Barbara Elaine Wood (June 26, 1923 in Oakland, California – June 3, 1955 at San Quentin) was an American criminal and convicted murderer who was executed in the gas chamber along with two accomplices.

Graham, a prostitute and drug addict nicknamed "Bloody Babs" by the press, was convicted of beating elderly widow Mable Monohan to death during a botched robbery in March 1953 in Burbank, California. She was introduced to her accomplices by her fourth husband, Henry Graham, a career criminal and father of her son, Tommy (she had two sons by her first husband).

Barbara Graham is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, San Rafael, California.

Movies about Graham

Susan Hayward won an Academy Award for playing Graham in the movie I Want to Live! (1958), which strongly suggests Graham was innocent. However, it is largely fiction, especially how the police found and arrested Graham. Evidence clearly pointed to her guilt. Graham was also played by Lindsay Wagner in a 1983 TV version of I Want to Live!.