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Marion Albert Pruett (October 4, 1949 – April 12, 1999)[2][3] was an American serial killer.
Marion Albert Pruett | |
|---|---|
 Pruett on August 6, 1980 | |
| Born | October 4, 1949 Gastonia, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | April 12, 1999 (aged 49) Cummins Unit, Grady, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Motive | Acquisitive crimes related to illegal drug use |
| Conviction(s) | Capital murder (September 9, 1982)[1] |
| Criminal penalty | Death (Arkansas), 4 life sentences (New Mexico, Mississippi, Colorado) |
| Details | |
Span of crimes | March 2 – October 12, 1981 |
| State(s) | New Mexico, Mississippi, Colorado, Arkansas |
| Target(s) | Common law spouse, bank teller, store clerks[1] |
| Killed | 5+ |
| Weapons | Hammer, .38 caliber revolver |
Date apprehended | October 17, 1981 |
Witness Protection Program
editIn 1979, Pruett was given $800, a new name (Charles "Sonny" Pearson), and placed in the United States Federal Witness Protection Program after testifying about a federal prison slaying in Atlanta, Georgia. He then began his crime spree under his alias. Pruett later claimed that he had perpetrated the prison murder, contradicting his previous testimony for which he had received federal protection.
Pruett killed Peggy Lowe after he kidnapped her on September 17, 1981, while robbing the Metrocenter Branch of Unifirst Bank (later Trustmark National Bank) in Jackson, Mississippi where she worked; Bobbie Jean Robertson, a convenience store clerk in Fort Smith, Arkansas; and Anthony Taitt and James Balderson, two convenience store clerks in Colorado. He received the death penalty for Lowe's murder, two more life sentences for the murders in Colorado, and the death penalty for Robertson's murder.
On trial in New Mexico for the March 2, 1981, murder of his common-law wife, Pamela Sue Barker (aka Michelle Lynn Pearson), Pruett admitted he had robbed her in order to support a $4,000 a week cocaine habit, but denied that he killed Barker, who was beaten to death, then set on fire. He was convicted, and given a third life sentence.[4] From death row, he asked a Mississippi newspaper to pay him $20,000 to disclose the location of Barker's engagement ring, and offered to reveal the location of a Florida victim's body in exchange for a paid appearance on Geraldo.
Execution
editHis last meal consisted of a stuffed crust pizza from Pizza Hut, four Burger King Whoppers, a large order of French fries, three two-liter bottles of Pepsi, a bucket of ice, a bottle of ketchup, salt, fried eggplant, fried squash, fried okra, and a pecan pie. In an interview prior to his execution date, Pruett said he was going to share his last meal with another inmate who was going to be executed the same day. He went on to say he originally wanted to have a roast duck for his last meal, but it was rejected because the prison would not cook it.
Pruett was executed by lethal injection at 8:04 PM and pronounced dead at 8:09 PM. Pruett was the 19th person executed by Arkansas since Furman v. Georgia.
Victims
edit- Pamela Sue Barker - April, 1981, Rio Rancho
- Peggy Lowe - September 17, 1981, Jackson
- Bobbie Jean Robertson - October 12, 1981, Fort Smith
- James R. Balderson - October 16, 1981, Fort Collins
- Anthony Taitt - October 16, 1981, Loveland
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Arnold, Jeff (September 1, 2013). "Prosecutor's Office Sees Most Capital-Murder Cases Since 1981". swtimes.com. Tom Stallbaumer. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
- ^ "SSDI search results for 'Marion Pruett'" ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com 19 November 2010[dead link]
- ^ "Execution set for 'Mad Dog' Pruett". Amarillo Globe-News. A.P. 11 April 1999. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ New Mexico killer set to die in Arkansas by The Albuquerque Tribune
- ^ Pohl, Jason (July 6, 2015). "Catching a killer: Shootings stir up memories of '81 murders". coloradoan.com. Kathy Jack-Romero. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
About an hour later, a customer 13 miles away reported to Loveland police a 7-Eleven clerk lying in a pool of blood. Loveland investigators — aware of the Fort Collins case — tied the shooting to their investigation when they realized Anthony Taitt had been similarly shot.