The Rape of Betty Jean Owens (may 2, 1959 – jun 15, 1959)
Description:
Betty Jean Owens, a student at Florida A&M University, was brutally raped by four white men by gun and knifepoint after being kidnapped. Her friend had escaped and notified the police, to which a search ensued. The four white men were:William Collinsworth
Ollie Stoutamire
Patrick Scarborough
David Beagles
They pled not guilty in court. However, a quick and speedy trial found the white men guilty and sentenced them to life in prison. However, in 1965, Beagles was released. In 1969, he murdered whom he believed was Betty Jean Owens - which was not her.
This case is significant in the Civil RIghts Movement because the white men were given life sentences for their crimes. Prior to Owens' case, sentences of this severity had not been imposed in the South on white men accused of raping black women.
Added to timeline:
Date:
may 2, 1959
jun 15, 1959
~ 1 months and 14 days