Magician hands showing magic trick

The Tragic Last Act of ‘The Amazing Joe’: Fresno Magician’s Final Halloween Stunt Gone Wrong

On Halloween 1990, Fresno magician Joseph “The Amazing Joe” Burrus attempted a daring escape act, inspired by Harry Houdini’s famous buried-alive stunts. Burrus, determined to become a legendary escape artist, planned to be buried alive in a clear plastic-glass coffin under layers of cement, hoping to emerge unscathed as he had done before with earth alone. However, this Halloween stunt turned deadly.

Burrus, born on April 10, 1958, in Fresno, developed an interest in magic after struggling with dyslexia and substance abuse issues earlier in life. He eventually found stability in his new passion, turning his life around by replacing old habits with the thrill of illusion and escape artistry. Though he began with simple tricks like linking rings, Burrus soon sought to establish his fame with more dangerous stunts, ultimately aiming to rival Houdini. “He had a burning desire to become famous,” his mother, Bette, recalled. His assistant, J.D. Bristow, added, “He already thought of himself as one of the greats.”

In a stunt that became one of his signature acts, Burrus practiced and performed a “buried alive” trick, where he would escape from a dirt-covered coffin. A year before his death, he successfully performed the act in Oregon, emerging from the grave 30 minutes after being buried under dirt. For his next and final attempt, Burrus upped the danger by adding wet cement to the burial at a Fresno fundraiser for The Third Floor, a drug rehabilitation center. Burrus envisioned the coffin as a symbol of addiction, and his escape as a metaphor for recovery.

Before attempting the feat for real, he conducted a trial run above ground, testing his ability to break free from handcuffs, chains, and the coffin within a minute. Though it took five minutes in practice, he remained confident. “He was so sure of this, so confident,” Fresno resident Paula Scelzi said of Burrus’ conviction.

On Halloween night, Burrus arrived at the venue dressed in a white tuxedo. He performed magic tricks for a crowd of 150, including his children and ex-wife. Around 9:30 p.m., he was handcuffed, chained, and sealed inside the clear coffin, then lowered into a seven-foot-deep grave. Shortly after the burial began, Burrus signaled his assistants to stop, explaining that the chain around his neck was too tight. After adjustments, he gave a thumbs-up to proceed. His assistants layered three feet of dirt, then added three more feet of wet cement.

As the cement settled, the coffin shattered under the immense weight. The wet cement and earth combined to weigh around seven tons—a force Burrus hadn’t anticipated. According to Bristow, Burrus had made no calculations for the weight or strength of his coffin, which lacked steel reinforcements. His son, Joe Jr., later reflected, “He was on his way up when everything came crashing down on him… He just didn’t have a chance to get out.”

Coroner David M. Hadden reported that Burrus died of asphyxia due to chest compression, and although there were no visible bruises, concrete was found under his fingernails, evidence that he had fought to escape. Though traces of marijuana were found in his system, it likely did not impair his ability to perform the trick, according to the coroner.

In the years following, Burrus’ story has been remembered in media, from Investigation Discovery’s “True Nightmares” to Netflix’s “Death by Magic.” Fellow magician John Lewis believed Burrus lacked adequate preparation, saying, “Houdini practiced everything again and again. Joe didn’t practice in advance, didn’t build mock-ups, and didn’t test the casket’s strength.”

Though his death was tragic, Burrus’ eldest son believes he passed away doing what he loved most. “He enjoyed doing [magic] for family, friends, anyone who’d watch,” Joe Jr. said. The stunt that ended his life remains a chilling reminder of the dangers inherent to the art of escape.

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