elmer wayne henley interview

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elmer wayne henley interview

I am sorry that I decided to leave but I just had to go. 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. Which Serial Killers Are in Mindhunter Season 2? - POPSUGAR Henley himself had actively participated in the search for them. The 15 Most Interesting Serial Killers On Mindhunter (& 5 They Should Corll was an average, submissive student who played the trombone in the Vidor school band, on the outskirts of Beaumont. In late 1971, Brooks introduced Elmer Wayne Henley to Corll, reportedly with the intention of selling him to the serial rapist and murderer. Most of those missing boys and young men had been branded as runaways by policeand their murders had gone undetecteduntil Henley killed Corll. There wasnt anything that could have made me more uptight than to have been drunk and stoned and hungover and having withdrawals, and then I just blew his life away. 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. He assumed that the boy had been sold to the Dallas organization Corll was a part of but he later found out that Corll had sexually assaulted the boy and then murdered him. 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.. However, Henley is not a typical aging and ailing Texas prisoner. Porras initially set out to interview "anybody on death row," she said. Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. | Mindhunter Wiki | Fandom Serial killer Henley grants interview Dec. 27, 2001 Between 1970 and 1973, Dean Corll, aided by David Owen Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley Jr., killed 26 young men in the Heights area of. Later, he got down to the fact that we was going to be killing people. Wikimedia CommonsDean Corll was viewed as a friend to many children in Houston. How Galvestonians used to dance until they dropped (for fun), a former figure skater turned journalist, and other Lone Star State stories. She inscribed it: From your 54-year-old mother who has just begun to live. 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. As promised, Henley was paid $200 the next day. Katy Vine has been a staff writer since 2002. He then released Kerley and Williams, phoned the Pasadena police and subsequently confessed to his role in the Houston Mass Murders.[22]. Because Holden and Bill were in Atlanta working on another case, Wendy and Gregg went to interview him themselves. 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 . At the end of the conversation, Henley told Porras, "You have your interview. In a few weeks, he would be transferred to the Ramsey Unit of the Texas prison system. As they made their way further into the house, investigators found a catalog of disturbing items, including Corlls torture board, handcuffs, and various tools. On August 13, 1973, a grand jury convened in Harris County to hear evidence against Henley and Brooks. Once Corll had raped and murdered Aguirre, Henley, Brooks, and Corll buried him at a beach near Houston called High Island. So Corll not only provided an addressa curious sense of belonging to his fictitious crime ringhe was also an inspiration, an intimation that life held some mystery beyond the Heights. Both Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley Jr., now in their late 50s, are serving life prison terms for their part in luring the boys to Corll's home, where they were sexually assaulted and killed.. [5][6], Prior to his leaving high school, Henley became acquainted with a youth one year his senior named David Brooks. Wayne seemed to enjoy causing pain, Brooks told police, a fact Henley readily admits. Partners must notify. This exhibition drew outrage from some victims' relatives. Henley unequivocally stated that since the winter of 1971, he had actively participated in the abductions and, later, the murders of the victims. As reported by ABC13, Elmer Wayne Henley led authorities to the bodies of the majority of the victims. Bail was set at $100,000. Emily McCullar is a senior editor covering pop culture, news, and Texas history. And if I'm going to make a documentary, I wanted to send a powerful message.". Other evidence included the "torture board" Corll handcuffed his victims to and the "body box" that he used to transport bodies to burial sites. The Last Kid on the Block - Texas Monthly Elmer Wayne Henley, The Teen Accomplice Of 'Candy Man' Dean Corll He was hoping to get enough money together to take his girlfriend to the latest James Bond movie. [45], A pen pal with whom Henley has corresponded has also organized several exhibitions of his artwork. I hated to lose my father, but since then weve just had a little friction. You either enjoy what you do which I did or you go crazy. HBO Maxs Love & Death Needed a Home for an Axe Killer. Bluish acne scars cover his cheeks and the back of his neck; beneath curving brows lies the intimation of his reputed IQ of 126. Elmer Wayne Henley feels many things, remorse not among them. [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. 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 . Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks were both convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Of course I said yesego would dictate that. [39][40][41]:7[39][42], David Brooks was tried for the June 1973 murder of Billy Ray Lawrence in February 1975. Weve got this problem of culpability, the lawyer had said earlier, when the two of us were seated outside in his dusty Cadillac, the windowsills too hot to touch. Hope you understand, but I had to go. Deans front was wholesome and masculine. That some things are best left under rocks is not a sentiment appropriate for journalists; yet is there any point in plumbing the random, insane horror known as the Houston Murders? At the age of 15, Henley dropped out of high school. He sits cross-legged on a folding chair in the hospital ward of the Harris County jailhouse, laughing and brandishing a Marlboro. Performance meets portability with Apple's 2023 MacBook Pro. Henley is the compleat American punk, the kid your mother warned you against becoming if you let smoking stunt your growth. PS I will be back in late August. 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. There were rumors going around school about Dean, but he was never overt. Murder mystery: Houston serial killer 'Candy Man's' last victim still The compassionate release process, which is confidential, first requires the board to consider whether Henleys request is based on a legitimate medical condition or other hardship covered under the law. At Corll's home, Aguirre was supplied with marijuana, then persuaded to handcuff himself. I feel remorse because Im supposed to, he says, and he is laughing. Porras was reluctant to say whether she considered Henley sincere in his thoughts, saying simply, "I think (the documentary) sends a powerful message. Dad just wasnt straightening out. No matter how much you talked to him, you didnt know him.. Henley referring to criticism of his art exhibitions. Texas did not adopt life without parole sentences until 2005. Elmer Wayne Henley - Trial and Conviction | Trial Conviction At first I wondered what it was like to kill someone, Henley once said. . But through all these years, one of his victims remains unidentified. Then, go inside the notorious crimes of Killer Clown John Wayne Gacy. [14], On March 24, Henley, in the company of Corll and Brooks, persuaded an 18-year-old friend of his named Frank Aguirre to accompany him to Corll's home on the promise of smoking marijuana with the trio. But film maker Teana Schiefen Porras managed to break through not only correctional system red tape, but Henley's reluctance, to come away with a filmed interview. Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. (born May 9, 1956) is a convicted American serial killer and painter incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. The footage played several times on KPRC-TV's local news and was picked up for nationwide broadcast by NBC Nightly News that evening.[23]. In all, 49 states provide some type of compassionate release. It was a great big knife. First appearance: Episode 4. Henley Sr. was a violent and abusive alcoholic who took his rage out on his family. 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). Instead, he was held several days and tortured before being murdered and buried in Corlls rented boatshed. When Henley does discuss the victims and his feelings, he speaks with an air of practiced regretfulness and seeming detachment. 'Mindhunter' season 2 episode 4 review and recap: Chilling ending If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Henley lured the victim to Corll's Schuler Street apartment on the promise of smoking some marijuana. 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. I dont really feel about it, you know. Corll was furious that a girl had been brought to his house, telling Henley in private he had "ruined everything." Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. (born May 9, 1956) is a convicted American serial killer and painter incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. 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. Its not.. Thats something Ive tried to build in me. Corll slumped naked against the wall, dead. 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. As reported by ABC13, Henley's last victim was Dean Corll who was known throughout Houston, Texas, as the Candy Man. Henley then left the youth alone with Corll, believing he was to be sold into the sex slavery ring. Unfortunately, this would lead him down a dark and deadly path. No one had the energy to discover what was common knowledge among students: that any kid who wanted could turn on and pick up a few bucks by allowing a certain fat electrician to go down on himand that some who had done so were no longer around. In interviews, Henley has stated that he suffers from a severe color deficiency in his eyesight that makes it impossible for him to clearly distinguish between Despite the abuse, Mary Henley tried to ensure that her children received a good education and stayed out of trouble. In August 1973, Henley, then 17, shirtless and jittery from a night of partying, was arrested and confessed to participating in a murder, rape, and torture ring led by Dean Corll, a Houston electrician and former candy maker with no criminal history. In an interview with Texas Monthly, Henley said Corll, who was in his early 30s, seemed like a "quiet" and friendly man, who simply liked spending time with the teens. Both were later buried in the boat shed. When Henley took the investigators there, they found 17 bodies. We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. Henley was initially fascinated by Dean Corll and later said, I admired Dean because he had a steady job. Henley asserted that the only murder he took part in was Corll, the man who was killing . That's exactly what I did." Henley's conviction was overturned on appeal on December 20, 1978. In July 1974, Elmer Wayne Henleys trial began in San Antonio. 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 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. Not all of the serial murder victims were immediately identified. He then turned himself over to police, confessing his involvement in one of the country's largest murder sprees. 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. Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. & Dean Corll documentary clip The oldest of the couples four sons, Henleys childhood home was an unhappy one. It focuses on FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench as well as Dr. Wendy Carr as they interview many of America's most famous serial killers in the hopes of gaining some insight into their methodology and having a better shot at catching criminals like them before their body count continues to grow. Lise has investigated many twisted Texas tales, including crooked judges, an unjust execution, massive environmental disasters, myriad cases of corporate and public corruption, and unsolved serial killings. The two boys were killed by strangulation later the same day. Their parents seemed unwilling or incapable of providing direction. Henley may represent the bottom of the trash barrel, but there is a disturbing resonance to his words. 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. Henley exchanges a few words with his attorney, and shuffles off down the hall. Before Corll was able to manacle Kerley to his torture board, the pair left Corll's home to purchase sandwiches. 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. 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. All the victims found were young males and many had been sexually tortured in addition to being sexually assaulted. 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. Because the Behavioral Science Unit expands in. As Corll began to assault and torture Tim Kerley, Henley began to cut away Williams' clothes with the knife Corll had handed him. One time she wrote about sports. Although I have conducted hundreds of interviews, I am uneasy in the presence of this high-school dropout from Houston Heights. 15-year-old Michael Baulch was the younger brother of Billy Gene Baulch Jr., who was murdered the previous spring. 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. I asked if he sleeps at night, and he doesnt. "[8], Nonetheless, in late 1971, Henley also began spending time in Corll's company. 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]. In the beginning he seemed quiet and in the background, which made me curious. He had a big build, but he was flabby. He would later develop a minor criminal record, being arrested for assault with a deadly weapon in 1971 and burglary one year later. My only regret is that Dean isnt here now, Henley would say afterward, so I could tell him what a good job I did killing him., Hed of been proud of the way I did it, he added, if he wasnt proud before he died.. She is the author of Code of Silence: Sexual Misconduct by Federal Judges, the Secret System that Protects Them and the Women who Blew the Whistle. 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. I had Dean in a corner, see, and he told me, You wont kill me. I shot himcoollyuntil I ran out of bullets. 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. There he gave free candy to young boys, and entertained them in a back room outfitted with a pool table and the big green frog whose eyes lit up when the phone rang. Corll agreed. There is a coziness here that goes beyond sweating together. Corll moved to an address at Westcott Towers in June 1972 and within one month, a 17-year-old youth named Steven Sickman had been murdered. [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. 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. Brooks would later tell investigators that Henley seemed to enjoy causing pain, something Henley admitted was true. Do you think free access to journalism like this is important? 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. Survivor of Dean Corll's slayings maintains contact with serial killer Bettmann/Getty Images (l.) / Netflix (r.), Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. (left) is portrayed by Robert Aramayo in the Netflix series. You can chip in for as little as 99 cents a month. Arkansas Online reports Brooks died on May 28, 2020, after contracting COVID-19 in prison. Corll spent much of his time at his mothers candy factory giving out sweets to kids, which earned him the nickname The Candy Man.. Elmer Wayne Henley is a convicted serial killer involved in a series of murders in Houston. [12] At Corll's home, Corll and Henley devised a ruse in which they would lure a youth to Corll's home and Henley would then cuff his hands behind his back, release himself, then con the victim into placing the handcuffs upon himself. Im glad I got it over with, telling. Filmed when he was 42 years old . 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 . Elmer Wayne Henley Documentary - YouTube In 2020, they released 60, including 40 terminally ill and 20 in long-term care. But Henley wanted money. I didnt have to do nothing but steal. 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. Dean Corlls deadly crime spree had finally come to an end. Hed of been proud of the way I did it, if he wasnt proud before he died.. reds and greens. Brooks introduced Henley to Corll, a heavyset employee of the Houston Lighting & Power Company, who was twice their ages. Henleys mother told police that Dean Corll was like a father to Wayne. Corll was himself the product of quarreling parents, who divorced when he was young, remarried, divorced again; his mother traveled around the South in a trailer, started a candy business with the help of a dutiful son. If I did go, I knew Dean would go after one of my little brothers, who he always liked a little too much.". On October 3, Henley assisted Corll in the abduction and murder of two Heights boys named Wally Simoneaux and Richard Hembree. 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. When Elmer Wayne Henley contacted authorities that August day in 1973, he initially stated that he killed only one man Dean Corll. Many children buggered, tortured, strangled, and discarded with fiendish intenta process that took years. Andy Kahan, the victim advocate for Houston Crime Stoppers, said that several murder other victims relatives are concerned and angry about the request. . All of Corlls 28 known victims had either been shot or strangled, and in at least six instances, Henley himself fired the shots or pulled the cords that killed them. "I thought I was looking at Hannibal Lector," she said of her first meeting with Henley. Henley was one of the subjects interviewed for the project. 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. Thats what kept me around before he started talking about killing people. Henley fatally shot Corll after Corll hog tied, handcuffed and began to torture two of Henleys friends on the morning of August 8, 1973. 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His father was an alcoholic who physically assaulted his wife and sons. Dean Corll Serial Killer The Candy Man Henley replied in the affirmative and Williams then asked Henley whether he intended to "do anything about it," upon which Henley grabbed the pistol Corll had laid on a bedside table and ordered Corll to stop what he was doing, shouting, "You've gone far enough, Dean! Dean searched for a climax he never found, says Henley. Besides, I liked him personally. The parents of the rings last known murder victim, 13-year-old James Stanton Dreymala, are among those who were alarmed after receiving notification of Henleys compassionate release request. She sent him a box of candy. 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. The couple divorced in 1970 when Henley was 14. Henley's motherwho worked as a cashier at a parking lot[4]retained custody of her four sons. 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." [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. White adults drink Pearl beer in Billies Gold Brick, and more than a few teenagers risk mind-dissolving highs by baggingspraying acrylic paint into paper sacks, and breathing the fumes. [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. He was 18 years old at the time of his conviction. Elmer Wayne Henley (left) admired Dean Corll (right) and wanted to make him proud. He was a loner in his own right. Autopsies revealed each victim had been killed by either strangulation, shooting or a combination of both.[25]. Phillips knows Brian Falcon and Mike Huffine of Silver Rock. How Teenager Elmer Wayne Henley Became The Accomplice Of One Of Americas Most Prolific Serial Killers, Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. gives an interview to. As a result of Henley killing Corll and Brooks dying in prison in 2020 from COVID-19, Henley is the only one of the trio still alive. Notorious Houston Serial Killer Requests Compassionate Release 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. There could be more. Henley will shortly be sentenced to 594 years by a San Antonio court, but that is a formality. [46] In 1997, the Hyde Park Gallery in Houston's Neartown area hosted Henley's first art show. After listening to the evidence presented, the jury initially indicted Henley on three counts of murder and Brooks on one count. [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. According to Texas Monthly, Henley and Brooks began roaming the Houston Heights neighborhood, smoking marijuana, drinking beer, and shooting pool. Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks were both convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Maybe thats what started it, the divorce and all I trapped him over the head with the vacuum cleaner, and called the police.. So he started getting up and he was like, Youre not going to do anything to me,' she continued. 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. I stayed around because there was no reason for me to leave. Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox. Transcript of letter Billy Lawrence was forced to write to his father by Corll.[21]. Henley will shortly be sentenced to 594 years by a San Antonio court, but that is a formality. At first I didnt sense that Dean might be a murderer, but later I did sense it. He agreed to accompany police to each of the burial sites to assist in the recovery of the victims. He loved his children and his grandchildren, he was sharp., We didnt get along. In 1991, 48 Hours produced a segment on the Houston Mass Murders, which included an interview with Henley in prison. 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). David Courtney, a.k.a. This is the company's first production outside of the corporate world, according to Huffine. ", Even with a weapon pointed at him, Corll was not cowed: he walked towards Henley, shouting, "Kill me, Wayne! 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.

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elmer wayne henley interview

elmer wayne henley interview

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