Death row inmate who stole $200,000 in fatal heist dies
An inmate awaiting execution for killing an armored car guard has died, leaving behind a mystery over what happened to more than $200,000 stolen in the deadly heist.
Corrections officials said Thursday that Joe Henry Abbott, 48, died Wednesday of unknown causes after he was found alone and unresponsive in his death row cell at San Quentin State Prison.
He was convicted by a San Bernardino County jury in 2006 and sentenced to death for the slaying of Brink’s armored car guard Samuel Saenz in 2000.
Abbott shot Saenz twice in the back of the head as he left an Ontario branch of Bank of America. He grabbed a bag containing more than $202,000 before shooting Saenz in the head again.
He fled with accomplices and the money has never been recovered.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
