Later, I became fascinated with how much stamina people have. Henley fired a round at Corll, hitting him in the forehead. Between August 8 and 13, 1973, a total of 27 boys between the ages of 13 and 20 were found buried at the three locations Henley (and later, Brooks) had stated they and Corll had buried the victims, with an additional victim being discovered in 1983. As a result, the estimated number of victims rose to at least 29. [46] In 1997, the Hyde Park Gallery in Houston's Neartown area hosted Henley's first art show. 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.". Stantons parents, James and Elaine,and his sister Michelle definitely dont want Henley to be released and feel that he can be treated in prison for whatever is wrong with him, Michelle Wilson said via email. I didnt think there was anything to it, but at least I did get money for it. The identity of this first victim in whose abduction Henley assisted remains unknown. 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. Leave them blank to get signed up. At first I wondered what it was like to kill someone. 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. Image: Netflix. From what Wayne says, there may be more bodies out there. He gestured vaguely in the direction of the Gulf of Mexico, where in August 1973, police discovered the remains of seventeen teen-age boys beneath the dirt floor of a boat shed, wrapped in plastic shrouds and laced with lime, and subsequently dug up ten more along a lonely stretch of beach. Throughout his trial, Henley was represented by Will Gray and Edwin Pegelow. Corll stayed with her through it all, obtaining a hardship discharge from the Army to return to the family candy business, this time in Houston. Corlls apartment provided a place to waste time. Henley realized that the candy shop operated by Corlls motherwhere her son constructed a giant frog with red eyes that lit up when the telephone rang, for the amusement of childrenwas a store he had visited earlier. Corll agreed and untied Henley, then carried Kerley and Williams into his bedroom and tied them to opposite sides of his plywood torture board: Kerley on his stomach; Williams on her back. At Corll's home (where he was possibly taken as an intended victim), the youth was told by Corll that he belonged to an organization based in Dallas which recruited young boys for a child sex slavery ring. Because Holden and Bill were in Atlanta working on another case, Wendy and Gregg went to interview him themselves. Henley was handed a long hunting knife by Corll, who ordered him to cut away Williams' clothes, insisting that he would rape and kill the youth as Henley would do likewise to Rhonda Williams. A decade later, Henley was interviewed by filmmaker Teana Schiefen Porras for her documentary Decisions and Visions. . Little did Corll or Henley realize how consequential their meeting would be or the deadly repercussions it would have. Henley is appearing at a pretrial hearing before District Judge Preston Dial, who is to hear pretrial motions and arguments. 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. To compensate, any people Henley paints are in black and white while his other works are usually in color. When Elmer woke up he was laying on his stomach and felt Dean Corll trying to handcuff him. I asked if he sleeps at night, and he doesnt. In 2020, they released 60, including 40 terminally ill and 20 in long-term care. One of Texas most famous death row exonerees died before winning compensation under a law inspired by his own story. 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. 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. Dean Corll began his spree as a serial killer when he murdered his first victim in September 1970. 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). Read this book and help me make up for the things I was too ignorant to teach you when I was in my twenties. Four days before his death, Dean telephoned his mother in Colorado and told her he was in trouble, feared he was losing his mind, and might commit suicide. Those victims also were his friends, classmates or neighbors: Frank Aguirre, a 17-year-old high school senior only weeks away from graduation; his former junior high classmate Johnny Delome, 16; Charles Cobble, 17; and Marty Jones, 18, who shared an apartment blocks from Henleys home; Homer Garcia, a 15-year-old who took drivers ed classes with Henley; and Billy Lawrence, another 15-year-old who was apparently held captive and abused longer than any other victim, according to trial testimony. the Texanist, is a staff writer. 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.. Elmer Wayne Henley Jr., 17, leads law enforcement agents along a grassy dune on a beach at High Island, Texas. Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. 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. 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. 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. I was known as a playboy, a party person. He said, Theyre never going to let me out, and Im OK with that.'. My only regret is that Dean isnt here now, so I could tell him what a good job I did killing him.. Kahan said so far, he lacks details about the nature of Henleys request. Henley, then 17 years old, shot Corll dead on August 8, 1973.[2]. As they made their way further into the house, investigators found a catalog of disturbing items, including Corlls torture board, handcuffs, and various tools. He died in prison in 2020 of COVID-19. Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox. He later stated that though he admired Corll because he worked hard, he also suspected that Corll was homosexual, and concluded that Brooks was "hustling himself a queer. In July 1974, Elmer Wayne Henleys trial began in San Antonio. John Spong writes primarily about popular culture. Displays and public sales of Henley's artwork have drawn severe criticism from victim support groups. Forty-five years ago this August, Houston's most notorious serial killer met his end. By the time he finally made an advance, I was an accomplice.. The term serial killer had not yet been invented. Abbott, FBI announce rewards for info on Cleveland mass shooter, Massive ranch up for sale near Texas next big state park, 3,800-acre San Antonio-area property to become Texas state park, Texas man catches giant alligator snapping turtle, releases it, Former KPRC 2 anchor Dominique Sachse to launch podcast Monday, Uber ranks Houston among most 'forgetful' U.S. cities, Texas to host national hot air balloon championship this summer, Report: Texas man took break from dinner date to kill man outside, One of Houston's tallest skyscrapers to become apartment complex, J.J. Watt tweets the 2 things he doesn't miss about Houston, You can own your own cave system for a cool $875k, home included, Texas college baseball player hit by stray bullet mid-game, Greg Abbott announces $50k reward for information on Cleveland shooting, Massive Coastal Bend ranch up for sale near Texas next big state park, Property north of San Antonio set to become a new Texas state park, Texas man catches massive alligator snapping turtle, then releases it back into the wild, How former KPRC 2 anchor Dominique Sachse is getting back to reporting, Uber ranks Houston among the most 'forgetful' U.S. cities. Thats exactly what I did. Trial and Conviction. How Galvestonians used to dance until they dropped (for fun), a former figure skater turned journalist, and other Lone Star State stories. The assembled jury also heard the testimony of a youth named Billy Ridinger, who had been abducted by Corll, Henley and Brooks in 1972 and who testified as to his torture and abuse at the hands of the trio. Most capital murderers are ineligible for compassionate release in Texas: That path is not available to those sentenced to death or life without parole. Corll, on the other hand, did not make fun of Brooks. 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. As promised, Henley was paid $200 the next day. Dad just wasnt straightening out. 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. During his trial, Henleys written confessions were read. Dean Corlls deadly crime spree had finally come to an end. The major interview that takes place in this episode of Mindhunter was that of Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. Henley is defensive about several things during this interview. Elmer Wayne Henley is a convicted serial killer involved in a series of murders in Houston. Henley is the compleat American punk, the kid your mother warned you against becoming if you let smoking stunt your growth. He is known for his distinctive voice and his ability to convey emotion through his voice. All That's Interesting reports Henley and Brooks did not simply lure the young men to Corll's home, they willingly participated in the torture and killing of the victims. Henleys earliest memory is of near suffocation. The State of Texas presented a total of 82 pieces of evidence . Henley asserted that the only murder he took part in was Corll, the man who was killing . About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . 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. Henley later said during his confession, Dean told me he would pay me $200 for every boy I could bring in and maybe more if they were really good-looking boys.. Nor was he deterred when Dean Corll told him he had abducted, tortured, and murdered a close friend of Henleys, David Hilligeist, in May 1971. Do you think free access to journalism like this is important? [26] The youth, who vanished on July 12, 1973, had died of four gunshot wounds fired from a rifle, whereas each other victim of the Houston Mass Murders had either been strangled or killed with the .22 caliber pistol Henley had used to kill Dean Corll. Katy Vine has been a staff writer since 2002. Less than one month later, Henley and Brooks persuaded another friend of theirs, 17-year-old Mark Scott, to attend a party at Corll's home. Although some of the victims' families were suspicious of the postcards, authorities were reluctant to investigate the disappearance of boys who appeared to be runaways. No matter how much you talked to him, you didnt know him.. The son attempted to assume the role of surrogate provider, worked at odd jobs and gave some money to his mother, took a proprietary view of his old man. As fate would have it, Corll saw something promising in Henley that he hadnt seen in other boys, and he became a twisted mentor of sorts for the troubled 15-year-old. His homosexuality played second fiddle to this aura of experience and latent power, as viewed in the boys narrow perspective. 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. If I did go, I knew Dean would go after one of my little brothers, who he always liked a little too much.". I dont really feel about it, you know. Bettmann/Getty Images (l.) / Netflix (r.)Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. (left) is portrayed by Robert Aramayo in the Netflix series Mindhunter. At first I wondered what it was like to kill someone, Henley once said. Henley drives that point home when, near the end of the documentary, Porras asks him if he is a serial killer. The State of Texas: Full, This page was last edited on 25 March 2023, at 06:41. He sits cross-legged on a folding chair in the hospital ward of the Harris County jailhouse, laughing and brandishing a Marlboro. Delivering up friends was easier, less risky, more prestigious. Bettmann/Getty Images (l.) / Netflix (r.), Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. (left) is portrayed by Robert Aramayo in the Netflix series. Fellatio was just another antidote to boredom, no more disagreeable than bagging. As reported by Texas Monthly, Dean Corll's suggestion piqued Henley's curiosity, as he "wondered what it was like to kill someone.". Henley and Kerley later returned to Corll's home in the company of a 15-year-old girl named Rhonda Williams. 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. If a child in opulent River Oaks had disappeared, the force would have mobilized, but those reported missing in the Heights were considered de facto trash, and expected to drift. 15-year-old Michael Baulch was the younger brother of Billy Gene Baulch Jr., who was murdered the previous spring. 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. On August 8, 1973, Henley brought a further potential victim, 19-year-old Timothy Kerley, to Corll's home upon the promise of a party. 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 . 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. Texas did not adopt life without parole sentences until 2005. [12][31] Throughout his trial, Henley was represented by Will Gray and Edwin Pegelow. Henley fatally shot Corll after Corll hog tied, handcuffed and began to torture two of Henleys friends on the morning of August 8, 1973. Many children buggered, tortured, strangled, and discarded with fiendish intenta process that took years. Looking back, I can see he was carrying a burden he was trying to. Visiting time has expired. Both survived, and Corlls murder was ruled justifiable homicide. Then, go inside the notorious crimes of Killer Clown John Wayne Gacy. 2021 The Texas Observer. 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. 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. Families of Corlls victims have actively opposed parole for Henley for decades. This is the company's first production outside of the corporate world, according to Huffine. Following advice from his defense counsel, Henley did not take the stand to testify in his own defense, although one of his attorneys, Will Gray, did cross examine a number of witnesses. Corll told Henley that he was involved in organized theft, and he, Brooks and Henley burgled several addresses, for which Henley was paid small sums of money. Elmer Wayne Henley: The Truth About The Person Who Killed The Candy Man. Once the teenagers passed out, Corll tied up and gagged all three of them. Two additional youths, John Sellars and Michael Baulch, were killed on July 12 and 19. She later said, I do believe he has remorse for what hes done. Even after the pandemic began, that did not change. Bettmann/Getty ImagesElmer Wayne Henley with police at High Island Beach on Aug. 10, 1973. Her work is featured in CNN's The Wrong Man (2015) about the innocence claims of executed offender Ruben Cantu and the six-part A&E series on the victims of a 1970s serial killer, The Eleven, (2017). 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.. 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. As had been the case with Frank Aguirre, Scott was raped, tortured, strangled and buried at High Island Beach before another two Heights youths, Billy Gene Baulch Jr. and Johnny Ray Delome, were also murdered and buried at High Island on May 21. Elmer Wayne Henley (left) and David Owen Brooks (right) in 1973. On Aug. 8, 1973, Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. brought his friends Tim Kerley and Rhonda Williams to Corlls home. Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. vs. Henley suspected that Corll was homosexualI just figured David was hustling himself a queera fact that had remarkably little influence upon his opinion of Corll. August 10, 2022, 11:21 AM, CDT. Another project entirely brings me to Houston, and yet it seems quite proper while here to be dealing with Henley, a commodity as valuable as a state bank charter or a fast-food franchise. Save on AeroGarden indoor herb growing kits at Amazon, Create a bonsai tree out of bricks with this $40 LEGO set, Dyson's air purifying headphones have finally arrived, Preorder 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' today, There are a ton of great patio furniture sets on sale right now, Beat the heat with this discounted Lasko tower fan from Amazon, Apple deal: The 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop is under $2,000 on Amazon, New Texas bill would charge electric car drivers $200 annual fee, These 8 Denver-area hikes each offer something unique, Why this museum should be on every Houston kid's must-visit list, Elon Musk describes Starship flight as 'roughly what I expected', Here's how much you have to make to be 'middle class' in Houston. Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr is currently serving six life sentences for participating in a murder, rape, and torture ring when he was a teenager. Not all of the serial murder victims were immediately identified. Henley referring to criticism of his art exhibitions. On the evening of August 8, Henley confessed to police that for almost three years, he and David Brooks had helped procure teenage boys some of whom had been their own friends for Dean Corll. Corll then bought Brooks a car and told him he would pay him to bring him more boys. [27]:161 Henley was not charged with the death of Dean Corll, which was ruled self-defense. [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.
North Carolina Packages For Inmates,
Los Angeles County Department Of Mental Health Service Area Map,
Who Is Running For Governor In 2022 Texas,
Articles E