Marion Albert Pruett: The "Mad Dog Killer"
Early Life and Criminal Background
Marion Albert Pruett was an American serial killer whose violent crimes crossed four states during 1981. Born on October 4, 1949, in Gastonia, North Carolina, Pruett accumulated a lengthy criminal history before beginning the series of murders for which he became notorious. His victims included his common-law wife, a bank employee and three convenience-store clerks.
Pruett's case became especially controversial because he committed the murders after receiving a new identity through the federal Witness Protection Program. In 1979, while serving time in a federal prison, Pruett agreed to testify concerning the killing of another prisoner. In exchange for his cooperation, authorities released him under the name Charles "Sonny" Pearson and provided him with money and assistance in establishing a new life.
Rather than abandoning crime, Pruett used his new identity while traveling through several states, committing robberies and murders. He later claimed that he had been spending thousands of dollars each week on cocaine. Money, drugs and the desire to eliminate witnesses appeared to drive much of his violence.
The Murder of Pamela Sue Barker
Pruett's first confirmed victim was Pamela Sue Barker, his common-law wife, who was also known as Michelle Lynn Pearson. The couple lived in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, under the identities associated with Pruett's placement in witness protection.
On April 24, 1981, Barker was killed in Rio Rancho. She was struck repeatedly with a ball-peen hammer, and her body was burned in an apparent effort to destroy evidence. Pruett admitted taking Barker's property and later acknowledged that he needed money to finance his cocaine use, but he denied killing her.
A New Mexico jury rejected his denial and convicted him of Barker's murder. He received a life sentence. The brutality of the killing established a pattern that would continue throughout the year: Pruett robbed people close to him or encountered during property crimes and then used lethal violence to prevent identification or resistance.
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