Mary Pratt, a 33-year-old white female, was found dead on December 13, 1990. Her body was discovered in Dallas, Texas, and the cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound. The investigation revealed that her eyes had been surgically removed, a gruesome detail that led to the media dubbing the perpetrator as the 'Eyeball Killer.' This case was part of a series of murders that targeted sex workers in the Dallas area between 1988 and 1991.
Charles Albright, a white male born on
August 10, 1933, in Amarillo, Texas, was arrested and charged with the murder of Shirley Williams, another victim in the series of killings. Albright, who had a history of criminal behavior and an abnormal obsession with eyes, was also suspected of murdering Mary Pratt and Susan Peterson. Although charges for the murders of Mary Pratt and Susan Peterson were later dropped due to lack of evidence, Albright remained the prime suspect in these cases.
The investigation into Mary Pratt's murder was extensive, involving multiple law enforcement agencies. Albright's trial for the murder of Shirley Williams included evidence from the other two cases, highlighting the similarities in the modus operandi. Albright was ultimately convicted of the murder of Shirley Williams and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was incarcerated in the John Montford Psychiatric Unit in Lubbock, Texas, until his death on August 22, 2020.
Mary Pratt's murder remains a significant case in the history of criminal investigations in Dallas, Texas. The brutality of the crime and the surgical precision with which her eyes were removed shocked the community and law enforcement alike. Despite the lack of a conviction for her murder, the case continues to be studied and referenced in discussions about serial killers and forensic investigations.
