Murder of Danette Elg
Danette Elg | |
|---|---|
Undated photo of Danette Elg | |
| Born | Danette Jean Elg December 6, 1952 Idaho, U.S. |
| Died | July 18, 1984 (aged 31) Blackfoot, Idaho, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Fatal stab and slash injuries |
| Resting place | Swan Valley Cemetery |
| Known for | Victim of a mutilation-murder case |
On July 18, 1984, in Blackfoot, Idaho, 31-year-old Danette Jean Elg (December 6, 1952 – July 18, 1984) was murdered in her home after being stabbed and slashed 15 times. Her killer, Richard Albert Leavitt (November 12, 1958 – June 12, 2012), also mutilated her body by removing her sexual organs. Elg's body was discovered several days after her murder. Leavitt was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. Twenty-eight years later, on June 12, 2012, he was executed by lethal injection. Leavitt was the third person executed in Idaho since 1976 and remains the most recent person to be executed by the state.