Bio

Mark Anthony Pruitt was born in 1965. He spent his early life in Pulaski County, Georgia. He lived with his half-brother, Charles Loyd, in a small trailer. Their home was near the family of a young girl named Charise Walker.

In November 1986, Pruitt was reported to have spent time drinking with some friends, including members of the Walker family. The afternoon of November 15, he was seen sitting outside his trailer with Charise Walker on his lap. Soon after, she was reported missing.

When Charise's father realized she was gone, he quickly organized a search. He called friends and neighbors to help find her. As the search continued, Pruitt's actions raised suspicion among the searchers, especially after he was seen leaving the woods alone.

Murder Story

On November 15, 1986, Mark Anthony Pruitt was involved in the tragic case of the murder of five-year-old Charise Walker in Pulaski County, Georgia. Charise had disappeared from her home, prompting a search by her family, friends, and local community members.

During the search, Pruitt was seen with Charise. A neighbor observed him sitting outside with her in his lap, and later another neighbor saw him carrying her into the nearby woods. Charise had been instructed by her father not to leave the yard, but she was found missing.

As darkness fell, Pruitt was seen exiting the woods alone, wearing only a shirt and not his pants. When confronted by Charise's father, Pruitt denied seeing her and claimed he had lost his pants while using the bathroom in the woods. There were blood stains on his shirt and hands, which he later removed and handed over to the search party.

Meanwhile, searchers found Charise's clothes hanging in the woods, which looked like they had been discarded. When they discovered Charise, she was still alive but severely injured. Witnesses reported that she had sustained significant head injuries and was bleeding.

Charise was transported to the hospital but unfortunately died from her injuries. An autopsy revealed multiple traumatic injuries, including a fractured skull. Law enforcement questioned Pruitt after his arrest, and he admitted to taking Charise into the woods. He claimed he attempted to have sexual relations with her but stated he was unsuccessful due to her small size. He confessed to hitting her when she began to scream.

Pruitt was arrested the same day as the crime and later charged with multiple offenses, including murder and kidnapping. His trial began on September 14, 1987, and he was found guilty of murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated sodomy, and aggravated assault. He was sentenced to death on September 18, 1987.