Death Of Joe Burrus

Fresno, California, October 31, 1990 A magician who compared himself to the legendary Harry Houdini and had himself buried inside a plastic-and-glass coffin for a Halloween night escape trick was killed when the coffin collapsed under tons of dirt and wet cement. Joseph Burrus, 32, a recovering drug addict, was performing the stunt at a local amusement park, Blackbeard’s Family Fun Center, when the coffin unexpectedly collapsed. As trick-and-treaters watched in shock, rescuers frantically dug Burrus out but were unable to reach him in time.