I liked being there. [45], A pen pal with whom Henley has corresponded has also organized several exhibitions of his artwork. When Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. was introduced to Dean Corll in 1971, he had no idea that he had been targeted by one of Americas most vicious serial killers. At this point, Corll told him the youth he had previously assisted in the abduction of had been killed and that Aguirre was to suffer the same fate. Henley woke to find Corll placing handcuffs upon his wrists,[1]:100,101 Kerley and Williams had each been bound and gagged and lay alongside Henley on the floor. Elmer Wayne Henley with police at High Island Beach on Aug. 10, 1973. Henley is currently housed in Texas' Mark W. Michael Unit. In his confession given almost two years later, Henley told detectives Brooks lured him to Corll's home on the promise he could participate in "a deal where I could make some money." Corll was known throughout the community as the Candy Man, as his parents owned a candy company. He said, Theyre never going to let me out, and Im OK with that.'. On October 8, Henley and Brooks were brought to court to face a formal arraignment. Henley remembers sitting on his grandparents bed in the morning, while they drank coffee and read the Houston Post his fondest recollection, set close to that of survival. "[8], Nonetheless, in late 1971, Henley also began spending time in Corll's company. He brought out a little blade, you knowand it wasnt a little knife, either. The Houston police claimed they were runaways, in an attempt to cover up what must be one of the grossest displays of inadequacy of any police department. Henley will shortly be sentenced to 594 years by a San Antonio court, but that is a formality. Murderers and murdered all drifted in a common miasma of thwarted desires, vague longings, sordid gratificationa quest of sorts. In the beginning he seemed quiet and in the background, and that made me curious. Not all of the serial murder victims were immediately identified. Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story: This article was originally published by the, Articles cannot be rewritten, edited or changed beyond alignments with house style books. [27]:161 Henley was not charged with the death of Dean Corll, which was ruled self-defense. He is obviously pleased with his clients performance. Acute asthma attacks were overcome with the aid of his grandparents, who tended Henley while his mother was occupied with younger children and an unpredictable husband. In the beginning he seemed quiet and in the background, which made me curious. Besides, I liked him personally. On October 3, Henley assisted Corll in the abduction and murder of two Heights boys named Wally Simoneaux and Richard Hembree. No one seemed impressed by the fact that the unusually large number of runaways in the Heights involved teen-age boys who attended the same schools. I am sorry that I decided to leave but I just had to go. "[7], The same year, Henley became aware of an insidious pattern of disappearances in his neighborhood: since the previous December, a minimum of eight boys ages 13 to 17 had disappeared from Houston Heights. At Henley's trial in 1974, one of the six bodies found buried at High Island, that of 17-year-old John Manning Sellars, was disputed as being a victim of Corll by a forensic pathologist who examined his remains. We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. Her reports in three states over 20 years contributed to the prosecutions of a former congressman and afederal judge, inspired laws and reforms, helped solve cold cases, restored names to unidentified murder victims, and freed dozens of wrongfully-held prisoners. Some of those who live around what was once the home of Dean Coryll, know about the horrible things that happened here others don't. Later, I became fascinated with how much stamina people have. Henley is serving six consecutive terms of 99 years for his involvement in the Houston Mass Murders,[3] which at the time were characterized as "the deadliest case of serial murders in American history". On Aug. 8, 1973, Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. brought his friends Tim Kerley and Rhonda Williams to Corlls home. Dean Corll was viewed as a friend to many children in Houston. [7] Through his acquaintance with Brooks, Henley became aware that his friend spent a lot of his free time in the company of an older man with whom he himself gradually became a casual acquaintance: Dean Corll. Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks were both convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. Once Henley agreed to help, he and Corll got into Corlls Plymouth GTX and began driving around looking for a boy. They came across one Corll liked the look of, so Henley asked the teen if he wanted to come and smoke pot with them. Since the 2000s, forensic anthropologist Sharon Derrick, who formerly worked for the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, restored names to several victims, including some whose disappearances had previously not been attributed to Corlls group. Corll, on the other hand, did not make fun of Brooks. I had Dean in a corner, see, and he told me, You wont kill me. I shot himcoollyuntil I ran out of bullets. I wanted to find out what his deal was., When they next met, Corll told Henley about an organization out of Dallas that he was involved with that trafficked boys and young men. At the end of the conversation, Henley told Porras, "You have your interview. They Chose Mine. Sometime in the following month, an 18-year-old named Willard Karmon Branch Jr. was emasculated and shot before his body was buried in Corll's boat shed. Seated with us in the dentists officeit affords the only privacy in the ward, where Henley is considered safest from the two dozen people who have vowed to kill himis one of his defense attorneys, a retired army officer in owlish spectacles. Dean Corll obscured his crimes by forcing his victims to send postcards to their families, explaining that they left town willingly and were safe. He does NOT deserve to have any compassion for any illness as my brother was not even treated with basic humanity.. Stanton Dreymala was out riding his bike and looking for glass soda bottles to redeem for cash deposits when he was lured to Corlls last home in Pasadena in August 1973. Murder mystery: Houston serial killer 'Candy Man's' last victim still A decade later, Henley was interviewed by filmmaker Teana Schiefen Porras for her documentary Decisions and Visions. White fatigues hang open at the neck, revealing a sunken chest and the colorless flesh of the restricted prisoner. In the years since, a judge told her to forget about that night, her family abandoned her, she's had death threats and she's never talked about any of it -- until now. All of the Texas Observers articles are available for free syndication for news sources under the following conditions: You can chip in for as little as 99 cents a month. Later, he got down to the fact that we was going to be killing people. Hunter and prey were products of divided families that owed more allegiance to the hardscrabble farms of the past than to the pavement of the present. In a 2010 interview, Henley stated: "I couldn't leave anyway. As reported by Texas Monthly, Dean Corll's suggestion piqued Henley's curiosity, as he "wondered what it was like to kill someone.". If I were you, I wouldnt want to know., Houston Heights is a seedy, lower-middle-class enclave with horizons limited to once-fashionable homes divided into low-rent apartments, and guarded by pickups on concrete blocks. John Spong writes primarily about popular culture. Arkansas Online reports Brooks died on May 28, 2020, after contracting COVID-19 in prison. Elmer Wayne Henley: The Truth About The Person Who Killed The Candy Man. When Elmer Wayne Henley contacted authorities that August day in 1973, he initially stated that he killed only one man Dean Corll. Henley was friends with two of the youths, David Hilligiest and Gregory Malley Winkle, who had disappeared on May 29, 1971, on their way to a local swimming pool. The two boys were killed by strangulation later the same day. [32], The State of Texas presented a total of 82 pieces of evidence throughout Henley's trial, including the written confession Henley had given on August 8, which was read to the court in which he admitted killing or assisting in the abduction and murder of several youths, including the 6 teenagers for whose murder he was on trial. However, things became more sinister when the older man suggested committing murder. Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. & Dean Corll documentary clip Elmer Wayne Henley Documentary - YouTube Lise Olsenis a Houston-based senior reporter and editor at the Texas Observer. Henley's next eligible parole date is October 2025[37][38] when he will be 69 years old. Serial killer Henley grants interview - Chron Henley dropped out of high school at the age of 15, and it was around the same time that he met 16-year-old David Owen Brooks. Henley eventually killed Corll and then confessed his crimes to police. Cato allowed Henley the use of his mobile radio telephone to call Henley's mother, at which time Henley blurted the words, "Mama, I killed Dean," into the receiver, confessing to her that he had killed Dean Corll, all while Cato was capturing the conversation on film. Katy Vine has been a staff writer since 2002. His mother married a salesman, divorced him, later married a merchant seaman and divorced again. Henley drives that point home when, near the end of the documentary, Porras asks him if he is a serial killer. A TDCJ spokesman said she was unable to comment, as this is protected medical information.. [28] Both youths pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Henley is currently housed in Texas' Mark W. Michael Unit. The state Board of Pardons and Paroles approved 76 persons for release in 201959 terminally ill and 17 already assigned to long-term care. Henley was born May 9, 1956, in Houston, Texas, the eldest of four sons born to Elmer Wayne Henley Sr. (September 21, 1938 June 18, 1986) and Mary Pauline Henley (ne Weed) (born May 4, 1937). When Brooks was 12, hed met Dean Corll, a man twice his age. He then released Kerley and Williams, phoned the Pasadena police and subsequently confessed to his role in the Houston Mass Murders.[22]. Is Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. Still In Jail? 'Mindhunter' Season 2 - Bustle [36] He was tried for a second time in June 1979 and was again convicted of six murders and again sentenced to six life terms although to run concurrently rather than consecutively. Filmed when he was 42 years old . About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Brooks introduced Henley to Corll, a heavyset employee of the Houston Lighting & Power Company, who was twice their ages. I owe my life to them., He describes his grandfathera hard-working baker who died when Henley was only sevenwith a term that for him is close to adulation. Some say it's too much", "One of Houston's most notorious killers has Facebook page", "Real Horror: Local Filmmaker Brings the Horrific Crimes of Dean Corll to the Silver Screen", "Investigation Discovery Reveals Who Is Most Evil with Leading Forensic Psychologist Dr. Kris Mohandie On Sunday, December 7", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elmer_Wayne_Henley&oldid=1146493240, 7 (including Corll, which was ruled to be self-defense), "All I ask is that they look at my artwork firstit may be the only contribution I can give to society.". At first I wondered what it was like to kill someone. Elmer Wayne Henley, The Teen Accomplice Of 'Candy Man' Dean Corll A 'Game of Thrones' Actor Plays One of the Murderers on 'Mindhunter' He loved his children and his grandchildren, he was sharp., We didnt get along. So when I did something, I enjoyed it, and didnt dwell on it later.. During his trial, Henleys written confessions were read. Henley fatally shot Corll after Corll hog tied, handcuffed and began to torture two of Henleys friends on the morning of August 8, 1973. Arkansas Online reports Brooks died on May 28, 2020, after contracting COVID-19 in prison. CLICK TO WATCH FULL DOCUMENTARY ONLINE: https://docsonline.tv/serial-killers/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_content=psycho-killer-elmer-wayne. When they questioned Henley about the items, he completely broke down. Only when Porras asks specifics about the crimes does Henley refuse to answer. Henley exchanges a few words with his attorney, and shuffles off down the hall. When Porras first met with Henley, according to the Houston Chronicle, she said, I thought I was looking at Hannibal Lecter., As the interview went on, she relaxed more, realizing Henley was not as terrifying as she initially thought. Later, I became fascinated with how much stamina people have you see people getting strangled on television and it looks easy. The Texas Observer is known for its fiercely independent, uncompromising work which we are pleased to provide to the public at no charge in this space. The officers who were dispatched had no inkling that they were about to uncover the most heinous and horrifying killing spree the nation had ever seen up until that point. [24] Seventeen of the victims were found buried in the boat shed, a further four victims were found at Lake Sam Rayburn, six bodies were found buried at High Island Beach (although the body of a seventh victim buried at High Island, Mark Scott, still lies undiscovered at this location) and the body of a 28th victim was found buried at Jefferson County Beach in August 1983. [29], Henley was brought to trial in San Antonio in July 1974,[30] charged with the murders of six teenage boys whom he himself had lured to Corll's apartment between March 1972 and July 1973. On more than 300 occasions,[34] Henley's attorneys raised objections to the testimony given or evidence presented against Henley which was overruled by the judge presiding at his trial. Henley and Kerley later returned to Corll's home in the company of a 15-year-old girl named Rhonda Williams. No matter how much you talked to him, you didnt know him.. The Wild History Of Predjama Castle, The Medieval Fortress Built Into The Mouth Of A Cave, The Disturbing Story Of Ward Weaver III, The Oregon Dad Who Brutally Murdered His Daughter's Preteen Friends, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. FactualTV host a documentary focusing upon the murders committed by Corll and his accomplices. [43] Brooks died of COVID-19 complications in May 2020.[44]. The jury heard evidence from both Rhonda Williams and Tim Kerley, who each testified to the events of August 7 and 8 leading to the shooting of Dean Corll, plus the testimony from various police officers who recited and discussed the written statements each youth had made and described how both Brooks and Henley had led them to each of the burial sites. Henley did not know the extent of Brooks and Corlls relationship, though he had his suspicions. In 1991, 48 Hours produced a segment on the Houston Mass Murders, which included an interview with Henley in prison. Volunteers from his Dickinson-based nonprofit, which specializes in missing persons and conducts searches nationwide, used specialized equipment to survey and excavate the yard around Corlls former home in Pasadena and in other places, but unearthed no human remains, Miller told the Texas Observer. Most of those missing boys and young men had been branded as runaways by policeand their murders had gone undetecteduntil Henley killed Corll. Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. The truth is that some of the victims were traveling no further than the corner store (one on his bicycle), that for three years Houston authorities did nothing but add names to a list on a clipboard. Elmer Wayne Henley Jr, a gray-haired 66-year-old serving six life sentences for his role in Houston's most notorious serial killings, is requesting compassionate . PASADENA, Texas - Convicted killer Elmer Wayne Henley directed Texas Equusearch Friday to the Pasadena home of Dean Corll, otherwise known as the 'Candy Man' and 'the Pied Piper,' one of his accomplices whom he shot to death.. While Holden and Bill sweated through a thousand work shirts in a humid Georgia, Wendy and a nervous Gregg took on the interview of this week's killer: Elmer Wayne Henley, an . Maybe thats what started it, the divorce and all I trapped him over the head with the vacuum cleaner, and called the police.. Henley's conviction was overturned on appeal on December 20, 1978. the Texanist, is a staff writer. Whether youre shopping Way Day 2023 or Walmart, theres an al fresco set for you. After he killed Dean Corll, Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. untied Tim Kerley and Rhonda Williams, picked up the phone, and called 911. Henley later told police that he ignored Corll's offer for several months. Henley Sr. was a violent and abusive alcoholic who took his rage out on his family. I thought divorce was a good idea, and I told him so. Emily McCullar is a senior editor covering pop culture, news, and Texas history. Despite the revelations to the reality of the fate of the boys brought to Corll, Henley nonetheless continued to assist Corll and Brooks in the abductions and murders of youths, who would be lured to Corll's home either alone or in pairs. Little did Corll or Henley realize how consequential their meeting would be or the deadly repercussions it would have. Porras said she spoke with Henley for four hours, sans notebook, recorder or any journalistic accoutrements. The night of Aug. 8, 1973, Henley shot and killed Corll. Henley says his father also beat him and once fired a pistol at him. [46] In 1999 the city of Houston expressed interest in building a monument to victims of violent crime, which Henley said he would be willing to help pay for with part of the proceeds from a second art show. As reported by ABC13, Henley's last victim was Dean Corll who was known throughout Houston, Texas, as the Candy Man. Kahan said so far, he lacks details about the nature of Henleys request. Thats exactly what I did. If I did go, I knew Dean would go after one of my little brothers, who he always liked a little too much.". I stayed around because there was no reason for me to leave. Im glad now Im not hiding it, waiting, and Dean aint out there killing little kids. My only regret is that Dean isnt here now, so I could tell him what a good job I did killing him.. Henley was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences of 99 years each. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. [15] Henley later claimed that he attempted to talk Corll out of raping and killing Aguirre, but Corll adamantly refused. Hope you understand, but I had to go. Sometimes it takes two people half an hour.. If you support this mission, we need your help. On July 25, Henley lured two friends of his named Charles Cobble and Marty Jones to Corll's apartment where, two days later, Cobble was shot and Jones strangled before the youths were buried in Corll's boat shed. On February 1, 1973, Corll abducted and killed a 17-year-old youth named Joseph Lyles, apparently without the assistance of Henley, who had temporarily moved to Mount Pleasant in early 1973. Sex didnt become a factor until later. Some of the torture devices found in the home of Dean Corll. On August 13, 1973, a grand jury convened in Harris County to hear evidence against Henley and Brooks. [47][n 2], Following the revelation of Henley's subsequent involvement in the murders initiated by Corll, the mother of David Hilligiest would recollect: "He (Henley) would ask if we had heard anything and he would look off into the distance. His father was an alcoholic who physically assaulted his wife and sons. A film loosely inspired by the Houston Mass Murders. The oldest of the couples four sons, Henleys childhood home was an unhappy one. Im glad I got it over with, telling. Although I have conducted hundreds of interviews, I am uneasy in the presence of this high-school dropout from Houston Heights. According to Texas Monthly, Henley and Brooks began roaming the Houston Heights neighborhood, smoking marijuana, drinking beer, and shooting pool. When they began regaining consciousness, Corll stood Henley up and brought him into the kitchen, where he berated him for bringing Williams, saying hed ruined everything.. First appearance: Episode 4. In Atlas Shrugged, I liked the little utopia of the working people. Over the next three years, Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks helped Dean Corll lure more than two dozen teenagers and young men to his home where they were raped, tortured, and eventually killed. Excerpted from The Texans, by James Conaway,to be published this spring by Alfred A. Knopf. Please notify us by email that the article will be republished at, Supreme Court had declared to be cruel and unusual punishment. HBO Maxs Love & Death Needed a Home for an Axe Killer. Tools David Owen Brooks (February 12, 1955 - May 28, 2020) [1] was an American convicted murderer and accomplice of serial killer Dean Corll, who, along with Elmer Wayne Henley, abducted, raped, tortured, and murdered at least 28 boys and young men between 1970 and 1973 in Houston, Texas. Rubber thong sandals dangle from grubby toes; gone are the wispy beard and shoulder-length hair of those blurred news photos, replaced by dark, oily curls pressed against his head. [7] On one occasion, in an apparent test of character, Corll asked Henley if he would be willing to kill if required, to which Henley replied, "Yes. I feel remorse because Im supposed to, he says, and he is laughing. 15-year-old Michael Baulch was the younger brother of Billy Gene Baulch Jr., who was murdered the previous spring. Image: Netflix. By July 25, 1973, Henley had assisted in leading more than two dozen boys to horrific deaths at the hands of Dean Corll and himself. Corll dragged the two victims into his bedroom and tied them to his torture board. As he taunted Kerley and Williams, Henley entered the bedroom holding Corlls gun. Bail was set at $100,000. Because Holden and Bill are busy in Atlanta, Wendy and Gregg meet with Elmer Wayne Henley Jr., the mentee of "The Candyman" Dean Corll who acted as an accomplice to . Eventually he calmed down and would give the two teenagers alcohol and drugs. Within a week he led authorities to 27 clandestine graves. Corll was an average, submissive student who played the trombone in the Vidor school band, on the outskirts of Beaumont. At one point during the trial, Mullican testified that Henley had informed him that in order to restrain the youths; he, Brooks and Corll had "handcuffed (the victims) to the board and sometimes to a wall with their mouths taped so they couldn't make any noise".[33]. ", "I told him teenagers could learn from him," she said when asked how she succeeded where many others had failed. Brooks accompanied Henley and the police to High Island Beach on Aug. 10, 1973, where they recovered another six bodies. That's exactly what I did." Once Corll had raped and murdered Aguirre, Henley, Brooks, and Corll buried him at a beach near Houston called High Island. Despite the abuse, Mary Henley tried to ensure that her children received a good education and stayed out of trouble. Henley, answering in a soft voice, said, "No, ma'am, I'm not a serial killer. When asked how he felt about killing his friend and mentor, Elmer Wayne Henley told Texas Monthly he did exactly what Dean Corll trained him to do. You either enjoy what you do which I did or you go crazy. In all, 49 states provide some type of compassionate release. Forty-five years ago this August, Houston's most notorious serial killer met his end.

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