Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. was just a teen when he got involved with Dean Corll, a man later known for his horrific crimes.
Elmer Wayne Henley Jr., who became known as an accomplice to Texas serial killer Dean Corll, also known as the 'Candy Man', is now sharing his story for the first time.
His words come through a new documentary that takes a closer look at how he ended up entangled with a brutal murderer. Back then, Henley was only a teenager.
He crossed paths with Dean Corll, a man from Houston who had a reputation for handing out candy to local kids, thanks to his family's candy business.
Now, fifty years later, Henley is at the center of a true-crime documentary called The Serial Killer's Apprentice.
The show uncovers how, during the early 1970s, Henley helped Corll lure teenage boys and young men from nearby neighborhoods—victims who were later killed.
Henley ended up being convicted of six murders. Meanwhile, Dean Corll is believed to have taken the lives of at least 28 boys in total.
Their killing spree finally came to a stop in 1973 when Henley turned on Corll and killed him during a confrontation.
After Corll’s death, Henley led officers to the hidden burial sites of the victims he had helped conceal, shedding light on the full extent of the horrific crimes.
What did Henley and Corll do?
According to All That's Interesting, Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. met Dean Corll when he was just 15 years old.
Their introduction happened through another teen, 16-year-old David Owen Brooks, who had already known Corll for quite some time.
Despite Corll being more than twice Brooks’ age, they had a long-standing connection that didn’t seem unusual to those around them.
Through Brooks, Henley was pulled into Corll’s world.
Henley later shared in a confession that Corll had told him about a so-called organization he was part of, which he claimed was involved in trafficking young boys and teenagers.
Corll reportedly said: "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."
Eventually, when Henley found himself in need of money, he agreed to take part. He and Corll would drive through local neighborhoods, actively searching for a target.
Once they spotted a teenage boy, Henley would approach and ask if he wanted to hang out and smoke weed with them.
One teen said yes, and the three of them headed back to Corll’s apartment. After they arrived, Henley left. It was only later that he found out what had really happened — Corll had sexually assaulted and murdered the boy.
Even after learning the truth, Henley didn’t report it to the police. Instead, he continued helping Corll. Alongside Brooks, he kept luring boys into danger, bringing them straight to Corll.
What is Henley saying about the crimes?
More than five decades have passed since the horrifying killing spree, but Henley is now breaking his silence in a brand-new documentary set to air on Investigation Discovery (ID) this August 17.
In the trailer for the documentary, Henley — often referred to as the killer’s ‘apprentice’ — says he’s not looking to excuse his actions.
Instead, he wants people to understand the reality of what happened. As he puts it, he’s “not trying to absolve [himself] of guilt,” but is trying to “make people see the truth.”
Henley opens up about the horrifying experience of taking someone’s life. He talks about what it was like to strangle a person, sharing: "It's memorable. It's poignant. I was horrified."
The new documentary doesn’t just feature Henley’s own words. It also includes insights from forensic psychologist Dr. Katherine Ramsland, who offers her expertise throughout the film, along with interviews from investigators and law enforcement officers involved in the case.
In a statement about the program, Investigation Discovery (ID) explained: "Over the course of two hours, Ramsland will work to delve into the mind of Henley — and what motivated him to act as an accomplice in such tragic, violent crimes."
Where is Henley now?
After admitting to his involvement in the killings carried out by Dean Corll, Henley was handed a life sentence and has remained in prison ever since.
Even though he’s still behind bars, Henley is technically eligible for parole — a possibility that has deeply upset and angered many of the victims’ families.
In an emotional interview with Click2Houston, James Dreymala — the father of Corll’s last known victim, Stanton — spoke out about Henley's potential release. He said: "You know it's coming. You might as well prepare for it mentally, but what are you going to say? What are you gonna do? You're going to tell the parole board exactly how you feel."
Back in 2022, Henley’s attempt to secure compassionate release was denied. Now, he's once again under parole review, with a final decision expected later this fall.
As for David Owen Brooks, Henley’s former accomplice, he also received a life sentence for his role in the crimes. Brooks remained incarcerated until his death in 2020.