Case Name: The STATE, Respondent, v. Rita G. BIXBY, Appellant
Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 2011-10-19
Citations: 397 S.C. 154
Docket Number: Trial Court Case No.2004-GS-01-00325
Parties: The STATE, Respondent, v. Rita G. BIXBY, Appellant.
Judges: Alexander S. Macaulay, Judge.
Reporter: South Carolina Reports
Volume: 397
Pages: 154–155

Head Matter:
723 S.E.2d 841
The STATE, Respondent, v. Rita G. BIXBY, Appellant.
Court of Appeals of South Carolina.
Decided Oct. 19, 2011.
Abbeville County,
Trial Court Case No.2004-GS-01-00325;
Alexander S. Macaulay, Judge.

Opinion:
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.