Richard Strout was an American man known for his involvement in a high-profile criminal case in the 1950s. He gained notoriety after being convicted of the murder of Mary E. McGowan, a young woman in Massachusetts. The case drew significant media attention due to its sensational nature and the circumstances surrounding the crime. Strout's trial highlighted issues related to the legal system and public perception of crime during that era. He was sentenced to life in prison, and his case remains a point of reference in discussions about criminal justice and the treatment of defendants in the mid-20th century.