Episode 52: Terror in Texas - The “Candy Man Killer” and His Teenage Accomplices (pt. 2)

In this episode of Super SUS, we continue the chilling story of Dean Arnold Corll, infamously known as the “Candyman Killer.” Between 1970 and 1973, Corll, along with his teenage accomplices David Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley Jr., abducted, tortured, and murdered at least 28 boys and young men in Houston Heights.

The Unseen Menace

Corll presented himself as a friendly, unassuming candy store owner, using his family’s business to gain trust. Behind this facade, he orchestrated a calculated campaign of abduction and murder. His teenage accomplices were manipulated into luring victims under false pretenses, believing in fabricated schemes such as a “white slavery ring.”

The Path of Destruction

Victims were subjected to brutal torture on a plywood “torture board” before being killed. Bodies were disposed of in secret locations, including a rental storage space known as the “boat shed,” where 17 were eventually recovered.

Community Shock & Failures

The Houston Heights community was left traumatized. Families who sought help from authorities were often dismissed, allowing Corll’s crimes to continue unchecked. The combination of grief, anger, and systemic failures left a permanent scar.

Legacy & Media Silence

Despite the scale of his crimes, Corll remains less well-known than contemporaries like John Wayne Gacy. Limited media coverage, the socio-economic background of victims, and his seemingly benign “Candyman” nickname all contributed to the obscurity of his story.

In this episode, we examine the horrific crimes, the betrayal of trust, and the societal and systemic shortcomings that allowed them to continue. Tune in as we uncover the full scope of the Candyman Killer’s reign of terror and its lasting impact.