Dean Corll: The True Story of the Houston Mass Murders

True Crime by Evil Killers #6

by Jack Rosewood

In an area of Houston known as the Heights, boys had been going missing for years, but it was the peace-and-love 1970s, so police just called them runaways, even if they’d left with little more than a swimsuit and some change. When the truth was uncovered, and police – and the rest of Houston – realized the boys had become victims of notorious American serial killer Dean Corll, Houston recoiled in horrified shock. Residents realized that they had not only become the site of the most grisly mass murder in Texas history, but the worst mass murder in all of U.S. history. The word serial killer had not yet been coined, and as body after decomposing body was uncovered from the dirt floor of the boat shed where Corll and his two young accomplishes had buried most of the victims, there were hardly words for what this sadistic lust killer had done. The depraved evil that Corll and his accomplices – two teen boys themselves who were promised money but eventually developed a thrill for the kill - was revealed as one of the cohorts, Wayne Henley, calmly, affably, told the stories of how after Corll sexually assaulting them and tortured them in unimaginable fashion, they would kill them and take the boys’ bodies away to bury them beneath the dirt. This serial killer’s biography will haunt you, especially as you learn more about the sadistic torture methods lust killer Corll used on his young victims, all lured to his various apartments by people they believed were their friends. While Corll is dead, killed by Henley during the lust killer’s last night of depravity, the case remains entwined in Houston history, and unforgettable for the families of those who lived it.

Genres: True Crime, Audiobook, Crime, Nonfiction, History

127 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2015

About the author

I live in one of the most beautiful places in Florida, Jupiter, with my wife, two kids and our golden retriever, Vincent. I've been a full time author for the last 15 years and I wouldn't trade it against anything in the world!

My father was a journalist and wrote about some of the worst crimes you could ever imagine, and that's where my big interest from serial killers and other horrible crimes comes from. Just to hear my father talk about the evil acts of Ted Bundy as we were out fishing as a kid are some of my best memories.

Reviews

[Richard K. Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been a GREAT read, however it was SO badly put together! Look at the front cover: Even the word 'Story' is spelled wrong!! This is just an example....catch it before wasting your money!

What could have been a phenomenal read of an extemely gruesome, and just plain fucked up serial killer, and his poor very very young male victims, was a jumbled up mess of a person's 'Personal note taking' put together to be a wanna be true crime case. I wasted $11.99 on this 112 page piece of trash.....i am trying to save you from doing the same. I do NOT know how this Jack Rosewood has gotten away with writing these?. Is there plagarism somewhere here, all he did was take notes from the internet and shoddily piece them together. Thousands of mis spelled words, and terms, sentences that don't even finish with a period. No identations of each new paragraph.......it just goes on and on.

If you want to read the 'True Crime' cases there are 3 available that tell this much better than this one did.

2 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[Valerity (Val)]

A thorough telling of the Houston Mass Murders committed by Dean Corll and a couple of young henchmen helpers, one of whom later killed Corll, ending the murders. Tells about the discovery of the burial sites, and the hell the families went through waiting for answers, sometimes getting inaccurate ones before eventually getting to the truth.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really disappointed with this book. I felt like the author was jumping all over the place with no structure, I found it really hard to finish :/

[Max · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
Audiobook. I was only able to make it through a half hour of the audiobook before I had to turn it off. Not because of the subject matter, but because of the reader, Gaius M. Thynne. He has such an odd halting manner of reading that it became distracting. Then to top it off there are mispronunciation errors. It seems as if though English was not his native language. I'm sure there is a good story in there somewhere, but I'm going to have to find it in a different book on the same subject matter.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

youtube

[Tom Shannon, Jr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hey Gaius M. Thynne, good job on pacing (you are easy to understand); and one to grow on is: it’s pronounced ESS-specially, not ECK-specially.

[Gavin O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read for those interested in learning about an oft overlooked tragedy and one of the most evil crimes undertaken by any individual. It is a sobering reminder that horror isn't just a genre, it exists as much in our world as on the big screen.

This short book (I read and the kindle version) details the crimes of Dean Corll, known as the 'Candyman' due to his parents owning and running a candy company, who resided in the Huston Heights, Texas. From 1970-73 kidnapped, brutally tortured and murdered as many as 30 individuals with the strong likelihood of other victims never identified. To aid him he groomed and used two teenager's David Brooks and Wayne Henley to entice young males, many of them their friends, to Corlls house where a nightmare would unfold.

Officially the murder spree, which gained momentum with alarming pace by 1973, only ended after Corll was shot dead by his accomplice Henley, having finally freed himself mentally from Corlls control, and thereafter aiding Police in uncovering the many victims, most of whom were uried in Corlls rented boat shed.

The true extent of the crimes may never be known as the author relates that the actions were called off after all known missing persons were found and the crime itself was quickly overshadowed by those of the infamous John Wayne Gacey who beat Corll in terms of numbers of victims and even used some of Corlls' methods to capture his prey. But in terms of sheer brutality nothing I have ever read has compared to the horror which Corll dished out, not even the methods of Gacey, and it will leave the reader shocked to know what the darkest of the human mind is capable of.

There were several major drawbacks however. One is that the author did not reference their sources, which may be a hinderance for those wishing to study the topic further but which is also important when writing about a topic such as this. The chapters were very disjointed and the author could have done more to produce a better flow and set the context a little more clearly. For instance, though they explain Police inaction in various places and especially towards the end, a cultural context of the 70's would have been useful for 21st century readers now mostly unfamiliar with this time period, the hippy movement, the limitations of the police etc. The author also tends to focus on some victims stories more than others, giving disproportionate amounts of information at times but not overly so. There was also little real discussion of the psychological elements of Corll as a serial killer beyond the basics, or modern day analysis of his motives and crimes by modern psychologists. Finally the grammar was not great and the work looks as though it had not been proof read at all.

An added bonus, at least for the kindle version, is the addition of a bonus chapter which details what makes a serial killer, the signs typically found and some of the lighter psychology behind it.

Overall this is an "easy" read on an overlooked chapter in human history. It is often hard to find reliable works which are not over sensational or bogged down in legal and heavy duty psychological jargon. This book sticks to the topic at hand very closely - the man, the crime, the aftermath - is not overly complicated, is reasonably priced and should leave you satisfied with its information.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, my goodness! Oh, my goodness! Oh, my goodness! WTF??! Dean Corll was a sadistic individual, no,scratch that, thing! He was not human. He was a THING. He did unspeakable and unbelievable things to his victims. I had to stop reading/listening in parts and skip ahead. I cannot image being one of the parents having to listen to these details, let alone a juror. His accomplices deserved what they got as did Dean.

[Karen Bullock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbingly cold

4 stars for this gut wrenching true crime. This is the second book I have read on Houston's infamous "Candy Man" & I found it to be just as disturbing. Recently, in the news, one of the 2 accomplices was squawking about trying to be paroled. I pray that never happens.

[Christel Owens · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay

Could have used an editor. I don't usually worry about that but the missing words or incorrect words made it a little difficult to read. Too many things were repeated. And most of the book seemed to center on what a horrible police force they had to deal with. I would rather read a book that just details what happened. I don't need an opinion.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Page turning

This book is written in such a way to keep you engaged the whole way through. There were some typos but I can look past it. Some descriptions were vague at first but I’m glad the author came back and gave more detail later on.
What a horrible story about crimes that should have never gone on so long. Such a horrific injustice.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something you don't want to read at night. It is creepy and horrible because it is all too true.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this for research on the case. It’s a nice starting point.

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. A good, thorough telling of the crimes but lots and lots of typos, which took me out of the story.

[JoRolle Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great writing but a sad and horrific tale. If there is a he'll, I hope Dean Corll is in it.

[Brandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I rated this the way I did because for me this is research. I would like a story such as why it happened or who the victims were. Some reason to be looking at these stories.

[Ex Libris Animus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two for doing it I guess but this is pretty bad. Some details are there but I don't think most true crime readers would be fans.

[sierra adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

chronological order WHERE 😭

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written, horrible also on audio, lack of narrative arc or flow.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been a great book but I feel like the author jumped timelines a lot making it difficult to follow.

[Kevin Cohenour · Rating 2 out of 5]

The narration of the audio version sounds like an AI. Good content, just heard to listen to.

[DA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chilling account of not only the torture, sa and murder of 27 teens, but also of the lack of action on the Houston PD's part.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Librarything for an honest review

I rember seeing news reports about this heinous crime but never realized to what extent the victims suffered. The book is very graphic in details of the torture of what the young men were put through. It is hard to believe that anyone would be capable of such violent acts. As Dean was growing up, he didn't have a stable family life and seemed to be on his own a lot. The more he was own his on, the more he was able to become a very vicious, but persuasive young man. He was known around the neighborhood as the "Candy Man." He passed out candy to young boys and lured them to his house. This started taking place in the 1970's , when some referred to that generation as the hippie generation. It didn't seem to strike the police department as strange that teenage boys were suddenly disappearing.

It always unnerves me to think that anyone would be capable of controlling someone else. Dean was a master at it. He was able to manipulate two young men to help him lure young boys to their eventual torture and death. Dean was good at controlling his little accomplishes with promises of cars and money. As the killings continued, the author talks about how the bizarre behavior and torture soon took on a thrill for the accomplishes .

Where were the police during this unexplainable event of missing teens? Some figured they had run away and didn't seem overly concerned about their safety. That must have been devastating to the families when they realized not much was being done to find their sons. I don't think we will truely know the depth of torture these young boys endured, but the author does a tremendous job in capturing those moments with precise details .

It seemed to all come to an end when one of the accomplishes , Wayne Henley, shot and killed Corll. He told the authorities it had been in self-defense. During his reign of terror , Dean Corll tortured and killed at least 28 young men. It is possible that there were other victims. As the news spread, Houston was gaining attention as having the most grisly mass muder Texas history and the worst in U. S. history.

The book is well written and you can tell much research went into this book. It is a story that will not be forgotten. For the victim's families their nightmare will never end. As the police began to uncover bodies buried in the boat shed and other areas, it shows that there was no remorse or even feelings for these victims . I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true crime. It is one of the best written, most precise account of a crime that is almost to hard to comprehend.

[Jlsimon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corll, Henley, and Brooks... a terrifying trio.

What you want to know about this book.

1. The focus is more on the victims than the killers. -- I like that, it doesn't usually happen when reading about a serial case. It was good. On a par with Ann Rules connection to the victims. Very well done.

2. Brief coverage from beginning to end of the trio. That is to say there is a brief sketch of each individual before, during, and after the murders. -- Again, this adds dimension to the story. It is always frustrating for me when I can't learn the fates of all of the players. It is quite common for me to research players in a book while I read or listen to the book. I look up photos, press clippings etc. This was barely necessary in this book. Rosewood lets you know right up to present what is happening both for the remaining perpetrators and the victims families. Like I said, very good.

3. My initial reaction to this book was that it seemed impossible that this case was so like that of John Wayne Gacy, but that I don't remember learning of this case in so many studies that I have done over this type of offender over the years. In the end Corll was active before Gacy. I'm still not sure why Gacy became so much more famous for the same crimes, and even using some of the same techniques.

4. This is a good short. I would recommend it for individuals researching crimes against children, sexual deviance, and those looking for case examples to help refute an ill-founded concept like "homosexuality is dangerous, deviant behavior". Heaven help us if all of heterosexuality was judged by individuals like Gary Ridgeway or Ted Bundy.

5. This book would also be a good example for someone searching for a case study to exemplify pack mentality.

Another thing I liked about this book was that Rosewood cites sources right in the story. He references the work of Jack Olsen on this same case, which I will be sure to pick up.

The only thing that could have made this story any better in subject matter might have been some first hand accounts. Perhaps interviewing the jury members. From what I can tell Brooks isn't talking. Sources were quoted for interviews with Henley and some family members. I would like to have known more about the trials and honestly more about the boys themselves, but as I haven't done enough of my own research on this case it is quite possible that these people were no longer available or just not willing to speak out.

Once again, thank you Mr. Rosewood for a great telling of a story that needed to be told, one that should not be forgotten.

[Robin Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an e-book copy of this book in connection with previous books I’ve won from this author and the following is my honest opinion.

As I read more and more about the murders in this book I couldn’t help but hear lines from “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” by Peter, Paul, and Mary. There was no:

Where have all the flowers gone? Or
Where have all the young girls gone? And neither was it,
Where have all the young men gone?
Etc.

Here the question running through the minds of the residents of the area in Houston, Texas known as The Heights had been “Where have our young boys gone? And just like the song the question raised another question it raised the question of “Why are the police merely placating everyone by telling them they’re just runaways?”

I’m a child of the 1950’s and by the time these murders took place, the 1970’s, I was already in my 20’s. Looking back in retrospect I can see why the police thought this way as many teenagers did precisely that. It had been the so-call hippie generation and countless youth ran away from home to join in and to look for the freedom from their parents they’ve heard so much about. Luckily, the many returned home eventually after discovering things weren’t as they’d imagined.

Unfortunately there was a degenerate individual at this time, by the name of Dean Corll, running amok enticing teenage boys with the aid of two young accomplices, who had been threatened with bodily harm if they didn’t assist him. Once they and their victims were alone the trio then killed all the boys they’d lured. In the beginning Croll’s two young accomplices reluctantly did as they’d been told, but as time passed the same depravity had infected them as they began to more or less enjoy the thrill of the kill. Eventually one of these accomplices, Wayne Henley, shot and killed Corll in what he said had been self-defense.

Jack Rosewood has once again written a cohesive and quite readable story detailing all the facts involving the case of this serial murderer without leaving out any of the horrid details. We’re also told about Corll’s history of growing up and what might have cause him to act in this manner of depraved indifference.

For educating those who read this book regarding this “king” of the serial killers, I’m giving Mr. Rosewood and his book 5 STARS.

[Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free from the Members Giveaway on LibraryThing. However, I had also received the manuscript from the author before publication. That being said, I found this book to be well researched and a more than interesting read. It left me shaking my head for a couple of reasons. One, how could someone do what Dean Corll did to these boys, and two, how could the police react the way they did to all these disappearances. Mr. Rosewood really knows how to take you into the mind of the serial killer he is writing about, yet also make the victims real. I am looking forward to his next book.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tragic story

The book was well written, but the story was a very sad tragedy. The families should not have had to bare that kind of loss. The author did a good job with the balance between facts and keeping the story from becoming just another journal of news about the crime. The book gave a look into a world of a very disturbed individual.

[Steve Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Interesting that this crime wasn't reported nationwide. I found the information disturbing but insightful into how humans can be so inhuman to each other.

Shocking but true. Why was this crime not more well know across this country? Why were the police not concerned about so many young children missing from the same neighborhood?

[Rex · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn´t a favorite of mine. I´ve read several of Mr. Rosewoods books and I have loved ever single one, but this was not for me.

This book doesn't match the excellent standard I´m used to from Mr. Rosewood

But I for sure will be waiting for his next books

[Dan Meador · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Sick, twisted and manipulative tactics to get his pleasure and release...one sick mind that aided help of two youngsters whom collaborated with this Serial Killer