True Crime Friday: Charles Albright, the Dallas Ripper/Eyeball Serial Killer
Charles Frederick Albright born August 10, 1933 was a serial killer. It is suspected that Albright assaulted and killed many other sex workers but was eventually convicted of murdering Shirley Williams. In 1991, Williams’s body was found by children on their way to school. Her body was found without the eyeballs hence the moniker the Eyeball Serial Killer.
Charles Albright was charged with the murders of Rhonda Bowie, Mary Lou Pratt and Susan Peterson but those charges were dropped for lack of evidence. He is still a prime suspect in their murders to this day.
Charles Albright the Taxidermist
Delle Albright introduced young Charles to taxidermy. She also brought him his own gun and helped him kill small animals. Delle showed Charles how to use various tools like knives for cutting the skull, spoons for scooping brains, and scalpels from cutting eyes out of their sockets.Charles Albright dedicated hours to perfecting his taxidermy skills. He made sure they looked as life-like as possible. Once it was time to put the finishing touch on the eyes, Charles would go to his local taxidermy shop to pick out the perfect pair. But his mother would not buy him the eyes she made his use buttons. This denial of eyeballs is thought to be the reason Charles would remove and keep the eyeballs of his victims.
The Early Childhood of Charles Albright
Charles Albright was born in the state of Texas on August 10, 1933. Delle and Fred Albright adopted Charles from an orphanage. His adoptive mother was a school teacher and was a disciplinarian and overprotective. She schooled him at home until he went to elementary school where he was accelerated two grades levels.Charles began his criminal career at the age of 13. He was a thief. He was arrested for assault of several women. Because of his high Intelligence quotient (IQ) he graduated high school at the age of 15. Charles enrolled at North Texas University. He failed the pre-med examination. He went on a burglary spree and was arrested. He spent a year in prison for this crime.
After Albright was released from prison he attended Arkansas State Teachers College and majored in pre-med studies. Stolen items from the school were found in his room and he was expelled from college. He was not prosecuted for this crime in which he committed more crimes. He falsified a degree and was able to get a job at a high school as a teacher and coach. The school eventually found out about the deception rather than prosecuting Albright they let him resign the position. He was then caught stealing hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise from a hardware store and received a two-year prison sentence. He served less than six months before being released.
He sexually assaulted a friend’s 14 year old daughter. He pled guilty and received probation. His first wife eventually, divorced him because of the crimes and the deviant behavior he displayed.
Albright met a woman named Dixie and invited her to live with him. Soon she was paying his bills and supporting him. He delivered newspapers in the early morning, apparently to visit prostitutes without arousing Dixie's suspicion.
The Victims of Charles Albright
- Mary Lou Pratt
- Susan Beth Peterson
- Shirley Williams
- Rhonda Bowie
The Survivors of Charles Albright
- Dixie Albright
- Other Unknown Victims
Lady Justice
Albright was sentenced to life without parole. He died at the West Texas Regional Medical Facility in Texas on August 2020.Reference
Charles Albright: Serial Killer Who Collected Victim’s Eyes (serialkillershop.com)Charles Albright - Wikipedia
The Horrifying Hobby Killer Charles Albright Used On His Victims (grunge.com)
The Texas Eyeball Killer — Surprise at the Morgue — Crime Library
www.dallasnews.com/news/2017/11/01/flashback-the-eyeball-killer-stalked-murdered-four-oak-cliff-women-in-1991/