365 DAYS OF TEXAS TRUE CRIME Back in 1953 Ector county saw three mysterious deaths in the month of April. On this day back in April 30 th 1953, a man named Eugene Ralph Ray 27, of 811 ½ N Jefferson (I don’t know if they do it anymore but for sure in the 80’s and 90’s the addresses of victims and suspects were freely printed in the paper along with the story) died after collapsing on his lawn. He was will a lady friend he had picked up for what the papers called a “tour” of local taverns. Eugene picked up Jean Petty, 407 N. Graham, around 9:30 p.m. and then headed to a tavern where they met friends. From there they hit up a night club and then ended up at a restaurant for coffee. On the drive back to Eugene’s home his female companion made the observation that he seemed depressed and didn’t say anything to her on the ride there. Once at the home Eugene parked in front of his house and told his passenger to wait for him. After about 10 minutes he emerged and as he headed back to the vehicle he fell in the yard. Jean ran next door to seek the help of neighbors who came out and helped get Eugene into the house where it was observed that he was breathing rather hard. After a few minutes his breathing seemed to get easier and the neighbors, Carl Lewis and his wife took Miss Petty home. As good neighbors they made sure to check on Mr. Ray upon their return and discovered him not moving and seemingly not breathing, police were called. The “Moulin Rouge” theme was playing on the record player as the detective on the case arrived. According to Miss Petty, she and Eugene had been bar hopping (my words not hers) for about four hours before they wound up parked in front of Mr. Ray’s home where he would just a few short moments later take his last breathes. An autopsy was done by a Dr. Martha Madsen of Midland who came to the conclusion that Mr. Ray was poisoned. She said the poisoned was introduced to Mr. Rays body around 9:30 p.m., just about the same time he picked up his lady friend, Miss Jean Petty. Mr. Ray’s wife, yes he was married, might have been a likely suspect but she was in Amarillo at the time.