Candy Man

Dean Corll grew up in a fractured household and was raised in Indiana and later Texas. His family moved frequently, and he was described as a polite, quiet child who was respectful and introverted. His mother opened a candy company — the Pecan Prince Candy Company — where Dean worked as a teenager and young adult. Children in the neighborhood referred to him as "The Candy Man" because he often gave free candy to them, particularly teenage boys. He later served briefly in the U.S. Army but was discharged due to hardship. Afterward, he returned to Houston and began luring teenage boys to his apartment with the help of two teenage accomplices. Between 1970 and 1973, Corll kidnapped, raped, tortured, and murdered at least 28 boys aged between 13 and 20 in and around Houston, Texas. Victims were often lured with promises of parties, alcohol, drugs, or work. There were brought to Corll’s home, where they were restrained on a homemade torture board Subjected to prolonged torture including rape, beatings, and mutilation. They were eventually strangled or shot, and buried in various locations

Accomplices

David Owen Brooks met Corll as a boy and was groomed with gifts and money. Later helped lure victims for money.

Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. Initially brought in as a potential victim, but Corll recruited him as an accomplice. Brooks later turned against Corll and killed him in 1973 during an attempted assault on two teenagers.

CAPTURE AND DEATH

On August 8, 1973, Henley fatally shot Corll during a confrontation in which Corll became enraged that Henley had brought a girl to his home. Henley, in fear, shot him six times and then called the police, confessing everything.

Police uncovered a mass grave of boys in a rented boat shed. More bodies were discovered at High Island Beach and Lake Sam Rayburn.

Victims

Jeffrey Konen age 18. First known victim. Hitchhiking home from University of Texas.

James Glass age 14. Friend of Danny Yates. Both abducted from a church event.

Danny Yates age 14. Abducted with Glass. Bodies found buried together.

Donald Waldrop age 15. Disappeared en route to basketball practice.

Jerry Waldrop age 13. Donald’s younger brother. Went missing with him.

Randall Harvey age 15. Disappeared riding his bike to work. Skull found in 1985.

David Hilligiest age 13. Went missing with Mally Winkle. Son of a neighbor of Corll.

Mally Winkle age 16. Close friend of Hilligiest.

Charles Cobble age 17. Abducted with Marty Ray Jones.

Marty Ray Jones age 15. Disappeared with Cobble.

Ruben Watson Haney age 17. Friend of Brooks. Last seen walking to movie theater.

Billy Ridinger age 15. Escaped. Reported the abuse but wasn't believed.

Billy Lawrence age 15. Tortured for three days before murder.

Raymond Blackburn age 20. Possibly not linked to Corll but mentioned in confessions.

Homer Garcia age 15. Killed via gunshot. Body recovered in boat shed.

John Sellars age 17. Shot in the chest and buried at High Island Beach.

Michael Baulch age 15. Brother of earlier victim Charles Cobble.

Billy Baulch age 17. Body found in boat shed.

Steven Sickman age 17. Last seen leaving party. Strangled and buried.

Roy Bunton age 19. Went missing while walking to work. Identified later.

Richard Hembree age 13. Abducted with Timothy Kern.

Timothy Kern age 19. Body found with Hembree’s in boat shed.

Mark Scott age 17. Friend of Henley; Henley helped kill him under pressure.

Billy Ray Lawrence age 15. Tortured for two days before being murdered.

Raymond Stanley age 19. Last seen with Henley.

James Dreymala age 13. Lured with offer of ride to go see exotic birds.

Kimble Wayne Hill age 16. Last victim before Corll was killed.

David Brooks age unconfirmed. Claimed by Henley; body never found. Possibly fabricated.

Dean Corll — The Candy Man

Active 1970–1973

Houston, Texas