Norman Lamar Prater

Left: Norman circa, 1973

Right: Age Progressed to age 55


Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

Missing Since: January 14, 1973

Missing From: Dallas, Dallas County, Texas

Classification: Endangered Missing

Date Of Birth: June 6, 1956

Age: 16 years old

Height and Weight: 5’8″ and 130 pounds

Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Male, Brown hair, Blue eyes, Norman’s earlobes are attached

NCMEC Number: 754921


Details of Disappearance

Norman was last seen in Dallas, Texas on January 14th 1973. He was last seen by his mother as he went to the all night coffee shop she worked at. He had a soft drink and was apparently accompanied by two unidentified teenage boys that his mother could not recognize. He was also with an older Hispanic man. The two boys had shoulder length hair. Norman told his mother he would help her move the next day and that he was going home. He never arrived home and was never seen or heard from again.

Investigators believe that Norman fell victim to foul play. They have looked at the possibility that he was a victim of serial killer, Dean Corll. He was responsible for the murders and sexual assaults of 28 boys and young males in the Houston area of Texas between 1970 and 1973. He had two teenage assistants, David Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley, who would help lure victims to his home.

In August of 1973, Henley shot and killed Dean. Investigators discovered 28 bodies and 27 of them were identified. One of the bodies has yet to be identified. Henley and Brooks were both sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in the killings of the victims.

It’s also been speculated that Dean might have been responsible for the 1973 Virginia disappearance of Darren Hillis. A photograph depicting a young teenager boy was found in Deans possession after his death. The boy physically resembles Hillis but it has not been confirmed that Dean was involved in Norman’s disappearance and only conjecture links him to Hillis.

Norman lived in the Houston area in 1970 and 1971. He lived in the neighborhood that many of Dean’s victims came from and he attended the same school as Elmer Henley at Jackson Junior High School. He continued to visit the area on the weekends.

Norman remains missing and his disappearance a mystery.


Investigating Agency

If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Dallas Police Department 214-671-4268


Source Information

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

The Charley Project

The Doe Network

NamUs