Orville's Revenge The Anatomy of a Suicide

60th Anniversary of the Disappearance of Orville Gibson

The story of Orville Gibson, a Newbury, Vermont farmer whose frozen body was found in the waters of the Connecticut River on March 26, 1958, has remained controversial for sixty years. The investigation into Gibson’s death and the subsequent trials and acquittals made the case one of Vermont’s most famous murder investigations, featured twice in Life magazine.

In Orville’s Revenge, retired Judge Stephen B. Martin of Barre, Vermont offers the fullest account of the events leading up to the victim’s disappearance and death, including the individuals involved and the expert testimony that was brought to light during the court proceedings. Why did investigators twist the facts to suit their theories instead of relying on observation to draw inferences based on what they observed? The verdict still stands. Gibson committed suicide out of revenge.