Bio

Tony Albert Mackall was born in 1964. His early life was marked by challenges and difficulties. From a young age, he faced problems that affected his development. Reports indicate that he was involved with the legal system as early as the age of eight. He was labeled a problem child and had multiple encounters with authorities throughout his childhood.

Mackall struggled academically, as his intelligence was considered below average. His IQ was reported to be in the range often classified as mentally retarded. Experts varied in their assessments, with some indicating figures as low as 64, and others placing him slightly higher, but still in the dull-normal range. This low intelligence had a significant impact on his life and decisions.

As a child, Mackall also suffered from multiple head injuries. These injuries compounded his difficulties, as they contributed to his poor impulse control and learning disabilities. He had a troubled childhood that likely influenced his adult life choices.

In his teenage years and early adulthood, his life continued to be marked by instability and brushes with the law. He had been in and out of juvenile detention facilities, suggesting a persistent pattern of problematic behavior. 

Murder Story

On December 9, 1986, Tony Albert Mackall entered a service station in Woodbridge, Virginia. At the time, Mary Elizabeth Dahn, a 31-year-old cashier, was working at the cash register. Mackall demanded money and shot her in the head, killing her instantly. After committing the robbery, he took $515 from the station's cash drawer and fled the scene.

About an hour later, Mackall attempted to steal a car from a man named Michael Keating in a nearby townhouse development. During this attempted carjacking, Mackall shot Keating twice in the head. However, Keating survived and was later able to testify against him.

Mackall was arrested three days after the murder, on December 12, 1986. His trial began in December 1987, and he was convicted of capital murder for the killing of Mary Dahn. During the trial, crucial evidence included the testimony of Dahn's young daughter, April, who had witnessed the event. The jury found Mackall guilty of capital murder, robbery, and use of a firearm in a threatening manner.

In 1998, after years of legal appeals, Tony Mackall was executed by lethal injection at the Greensville Correctional Center in Virginia on February 10. During his final moments, he expressed remorse and asked for forgiveness from the victim's family, particularly her daughters.