Who was Dean Corll, Houston's Candyman series murderer? New details about the murders of the 1970s come out in a new book

Houston, Texas (KTRK) – Terrifying questions have lingered for more than half a century: there were more victims of Houston's notorious “confectionery”, Dean Corll, the serial killer, whose crime even the term “serial killer” and if so, who are you?

Family members, friends and true crime enthusiasts had been put together on a recent Tuesday evening Murder through the book Bookstore to get answers.

“There is still a reason to tell this story because there are still people like that, and young people have to know,” said investigative journalist Lise Olsen in an interview before starting their new book “The scientist and the serial killer.”

On this Tuesday evening, the complete space should celebrate its publication, a reading that took four years of Olsen's life to research, research and write.

Debra Christy, who was in the audience, lived with history all her life.

“I heard the stories like the search,” she said.

Christy's uncle was Donnie Falcon, who believes for a long time to be one of Corll's victims, but was never identified until recently.

Falcon moved from Corpus Christi to Houston in 1971 at the age of 16. In August he disappeared without a trace

“We could never find it,” recalled Christy. “Some people said he had joined the mafia. Everyone had a story.”

Texas true crime: the candy murders

During the same time, dozens of boys and young men of teenagers disappeared into Houston. The police often dismissed these cases as a runaway, until August 8, 1973. On this day, 17-year-old Elmer Wayne Henley Dean Corll shot into a house in Pasadena and revealed a number of terrible crimes.

Corll, who was called “The Candyman” because of his family's candy business together with Henley and another accomplice, David Brooks, was kidnapped, sexually tortured and murdered more than two dozen boys and young men in the early 1970s. After Corll's death, Henley and Brooks led the authorities to mass graves at three locations: a beach on High Island, forests near the Sam Rayburn lake and a boat deposit in the southwest of Houston, where 17 corpses were found.

A total of 27 victims were identified.

“Wouldn't we be so grateful to know the truth, even if it is terrible?” asked Dr. Sharon Derrick.

Derrick is a forensic anthropologist and the “scientist” in Olsen's book title. For over 20 years, Derrick has been working carefully to identify the remains from the mass graves, starting during her term in the office of the medical examiner in Harris County.

“We will offer some very old identifications that should have been done by the police many years ago,” said Derrick.

Her work, which was driven by a mixture of obsession and compassion, led the remains to the identification of Donnie Falcons and brought long awaited closure to his family.

“I have no doubt,” said Christy, whose mother lived long enough to see her brother identified. “It meant the world to my mother. I remember his body came home. She hugged her and cried and was so happy. It was almost 45 years.”

Olsen's book discovers even more identifications, including the office of the medical examiner, still does not officially recognize how the so -called “swimsuit”. The book also reveals Corll's connections to an international pornography ring and underlines the lost potential of its many victims.

“What a high price that people paid,” considered Olsen.

For Olsen and those who packed the bookstore to hear them speak, the story of Dean Corll remains deeply relevant.

“The next generation has to be told,” emphasized Christy. “Pay attention to these sweets because they are out there.”

You can find more information about this story Jessica Willey on Facebook. X and Instagram.