Opinion
2011-10-19
The STATE, Respondent, v. Rita G. BIXBY, Appellant.
Abbeville County, Trial Court Case No.2004–GS–01–00325; Alexander S. Macaulay, Judge.
ORDER
This order addresses Appellant's motion to abate her case ab initio and withdraw opinion number 4768, refiled August 10, 2011. After a careful consideration of the motion, the Court finds Appellant passed away while her petition for rehearing was pending. Hence, the Court grants Appellant's request to abate the appeal and withdraw the opinion. However, the Court declines to find the abatement should be ab initio. See State v. Anderson, 281 S.C. 198, 199, 314 S.E.2d 597, 597 (1984) (“[T]he death of a criminal appellant, prior to the disposition of his appeal, abates that appeal and constitutes grounds for its dismissal.”).
/s/John C. Few, C.J.
/s/Paula H. Thomas, J.
/s/Daniel F. Pieper, J.