Charles Albright, known as “The Eyeball Killer,” murdered three sex workers in South Dallas in the early 1990s. His disturbing signature involved surgically removing his victims’ eyes—likely influenced by his background in taxidermy, a craft he pursued during youth under the guidance of his adoptive mother.
Police connected the brutal killings of Mary Pratt, Susan Peterson, and Shirley Williams through forensic evidence and neighborhood tips, eventually convicting Albright of Williams’ murder in 1991. He maintained his innocence until his death in prison in 2020. His disturbing case reveals how seemingly ordinary lives can conceal the development of monstrous compulsions.
The Dark Streets of Oak Cliff: Dallas’ Criminal Underbelly
Shadows stretched long across Jefferson Boulevard as the sun set on South Oak Cliff in the early 1990s. What was once a working-class neighborhood had become a hotspot for drug activity and prostitution, with crime escalating as the crack epidemic worsened.
You’d see beat cops maintaining uneasy relationships with the women working these corners—recognizing their humanity despite the danger surrounding them.
The criminal landscape shifted dramatically when Mary Pratt’s body was discovered in December 1990. At 33, this well-known sex worker’s murder stood out—not for the killing itself—but for the shocking mutilation at the scene.
The Albright family had once lived in Dallas, though not in Oak Cliff, during more peaceful times—never imagining the area would later be marked by such horror.
Unlike Houston neighborhoods such as Spring Branch, which evolved from early settlements into thriving suburban areas, parts of Oak Cliff fell into economic decline, setting the stage for one of Dallas’ most disturbing serial killer cases.
Charles Albright’s Troubled Past: Taxidermy, Buttons, and Strict Discipline
Long before the streets of South Dallas became his hunting ground, Charles Albright’s upbringing hinted at something darker. Born in Amarillo in 1933 and adopted by Fred and Delle Albright, Charles was raised in Dallas under a strict and overprotective household.
Delle Albright, a schoolteacher, encouraged young Charles to pursue academic excellence and hobbies like taxidermy, though she refused to buy glass eyes for his practice animals—making him use buttons instead. This frugality would later echo ominously.
Charles was intelligent but exhibited disturbing behaviors. He forged documents, was briefly incarcerated for theft, and later became obsessed with anatomy. Though he attended several colleges, including North Texas State University, he never completed a degree in medicine or biology, as he often falsely claimed.
A Killer’s Signature: The Horrific Pattern of Eye Removal
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The three women who fell victim to Charles Albright’s killing spree all suffered a gruesome and distinctive fate: their eyeballs were removed with surgical precision.
Police quickly connected the murders of Mary Pratt (December 1990), Susan Peterson (February 1991), and Shirley Williams (March 1991) due to this shared and chilling mutilation. Each was a sex worker killed in South Dallas and found in similar conditions—discarded like trash, with their eyes cleanly excised.
This wasn’t typical violence—it was clinical and disturbing. Albright’s precision suggested anatomical familiarity, likely derived from his taxidermy experience and medical studies, and possibly hinted at a sexual compulsion. Detectives began to fear this was not only a pattern—it was a signature that would repeat.
The Texas Rangers were brought in to assist with forensic work, including ballistics and fiber analysis, adding weight to the theory that a serial predator was targeting vulnerable women.
The Hunt Begins: Tracking a Predator Through Three Murders
As Dallas detectives traced the pattern from late 1990 into early 1991, they realized a serial killer was operating within a confined area and timeframe. The escalation was rapid—three murders in less than four months.
You could see the calculated progression: Mary Pratt was found in December 1990; Susan Peterson in February 1991, shot multiple times; and Shirley Williams in March 1991—her body dumped near an elementary school. Each crime showed signs of increasing boldness.
Investigators turned to the sex worker community, collecting intelligence on regular clients. Witnesses pointed to Charles Albright, a soft-spoken, well-groomed man who frequently visited the area and claimed to be a doctor or teacher.
Through a combination of witness interviews, forensic evidence, and Albright’s growing profile as a suspect, police began building a solid case against him.
Evidence and Investigation: Building a Case Against Albright
It wasn’t one piece of evidence that sealed Albright’s fate—it was a web of forensic findings, witness testimony, and his own contradictions.
Here’s what investigators uncovered:
- Hair and fiber evidence from Albright’s home and vehicle matched samples from Shirley Williams’ body
- His .44-caliber pistol was consistent with bullets found in at least one of the victims
- His history of impersonating professionals, including forging degrees and posing as a doctor, raised suspicion
- His residence yielded taxidermy tools, including scalpels and other instruments consistent with the type used in the eye removals
- Former acquaintances described his fascination with eyes, calling him charming but “off”
Despite circumstantial gaps, the mounting evidence was damning. Though not convicted for all three murders, the state’s case focused on Williams, where the clearest forensic links were found.
The Trial and Conviction: Justice for the Forgotten Victims
Charles Albright was arrested in March 1991. His trial for Shirley Williams’ murder began in 1992 and gripped the Dallas area, with headlines emphasizing the bizarre details of eye removal and taxidermy.
The prosecution leaned heavily on forensic hair evidence, which at the time was considered reliable. Multiple witnesses described Albright’s suspicious behavior and contradictory statements. Though DNA evidence wasn’t conclusive, circumstantial support was overwhelming.
His defense argued lack of direct evidence, but jurors remained unconvinced.
In December 1991, Charles Albright was convicted of Shirley Williams’ murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He was never tried for the murders of Mary Pratt or Susan Peterson due to the strength of the evidence in the Williams case.
Charles Albright died in August 2020 at the age of 87, still claiming innocence. But the horror of his crimes—and the lives lost—remains seared in Dallas’ memory.
