Bio

Mark Allen Pinnell was born on June 12, 1948, in Oregon. He developed a pattern of criminal behavior that included theft, drug use, and other minor offenses. His parents were reportedly either unable or unwilling to help him during these formative years. 

During one of his earlier prison sentences, an interesting event occurred when his mother was arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs to him. This incident illustrates the dysfunctional nature of his family life and highlights the difficulties he faced growing up.

Murder Story

On September 19, 1985, Mark Allen Pinnell committed the murder of 65-year-old John Ruffner in Washington County, Oregon. Pinnell, along with his accomplice Donald Edward Cornell, lured Ruffner to his apartment after contacting him through a personal advertisement. Once inside, they bound Ruffner's hands and feet and gagged him.

After suffocating Ruffner through ligature strangulation, Pinnell and Cornell ransacked the apartment and stole items. Roughly 24 hours later, Ruffner's body was discovered by authorities. An autopsy revealed that his death was caused by asphyxiation, with significant trauma to his body.

Pinnell was arrested three days after the murder, on September 22, 1985. He faced multiple charges, including aggravated murder and felony murder. By July 12, 1988, he was sentenced to death for his crimes. His accomplice, Cornell, received a life sentence for his involvement. Pinnell's legal journey continued with appeals and post-conviction claims, but his conviction and death sentence were upheld.