on trial in new mexico for the march 2, 1981, murder of his common-law wife, pamela sue barker (aka michelle lynn pearson), pruett admitted he had robbed her in order to support a $4,000 a week cocaine habit, but denied that he killed barker, who was beaten to death, then set on fire. he was convicted, and given a third life sentence. from death row, he asked a mississippi newspaper to pay him $20,000 to disclose the location of barker's engagement ring, and offered to reveal the location of a florida victim's body in exchange for a paid appearance on "geraldo".