This week, K & G recap Episode 89: The Finch. Georgia covered serial killer Dean Corll and Karen told the story of the Silent Movie Theater Murder. Tune in for all-new commentary, case updates and more!
Whether you've listened a thousand times or you're ne…It's time to Rewind with Karen & Georgia!
This week, K & G recap Episode 89: The Finch. Georgia covered serial killer Dean Corll and Karen told the story of the Silent Movie Theater Murder. Tune in for all-new commentary, case updates and more!
Whether you've listened a thousand times or you're new to the show, join the conversation as we look back on our old episodes and discuss the life lessons we’ve learned along the way. Head to social media to share your favorite moments from this episode!
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My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921.
The Exactly Right podcast network provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics, including true crime, comedy, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
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CSI Sheryl McCollum welcomes back Dr. Katherine Ramsland and Tracy Ullman to discuss the release of their documentary The Serial Killer’s Apprentice. This two-hour film revisits the chilling case of Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. and Dean Corll, blending archival footage, exclusive interviews, and rare audi…CSI Sheryl McCollum welcomes back Dr. Katherine Ramsland and Tracy Ullman to discuss the release of their documentary The Serial Killer’s Apprentice. This two-hour film revisits the chilling case of Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. and Dean Corll, blending archival footage, exclusive interviews, and rare audio recordings.
Dr. Ramsland and Ullman share behind-the-scenes insights on producing the documentary. They reveal what has surfaced since the book’s release, and why this case, rooted in grooming, complicity, and trafficking, continues to offer powerful lessons today.
Resources:
• Zone 7 Part I The Serial Killer's Apprentice | The Story of Elmer Wayne Henley Jr.
• Zone 7 Part II How to Prevent Young People From Falling Victim to Predatory Criminals
• The Serial Killer's Apprentice
• How to Catch a Killer
• The Mind of a Murderer: A Glimpse into the Darkest Corners of the Human Psyche, from a Leading Forensic Psychiatrist
• John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise
• The Serial Killer’s Apprentice documentary is now streaming on HBO Max
• (Originally aired on Investigation Discovery (ID) on August 17, 2025)
Highlights:
• (0:00) Sheryl kicks off Zone 7 with Dr. Katherine Ramsland and Tracy Ullman, introducing The Serial Killer’s Apprentice documentary
• (2:00) How the documentary expands on the book with new interviews, archival footage, and Henley’s own voice
• (4:00) Condensing the sprawling Dean Corll case into a two-hour film without losing depth
• (8:45) “Corll picked two adolescent boys to do his dirty work for him.” – Dr. Ramsland on how predators groom children into crimes
• (11:00) The purpose of the documentary: helping parents, teachers, and kids recognize signs of grooming and recruitment
• (12:45) The Devil’s Den murders and how predators hide in plain sight
• (17:15) Henley’s cries for help that were ignored, and how the film reframes him as both victim and accomplice
• (22:15) Tracy Ullman urges viewers to move beyond the old “fixed villain” narrative, while Henley confronts the reality of being part of a trafficking network and how it reshaped his view of guilt and remorse
• (32:00) Henley’s evolving understanding of his role, his remorse, and why the full truth behind these crimes may still be unfolding
• (36:45) Sheryl closes with a quote from A Darker Shade of Magic: “Some people steal to stay alive. Some people steal to feel alive.”
Thanks for tuning in to Zone 7. If you are enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating and review. Your support helps us continue to educate, investigate, and advocate.
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Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, forensic and crime scene expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings.
Dr. Katherine Ramsland is a professor of forensic psychology at DeSales University and the author of numerous books and articles. Her works include How to Catch a Killer, The Mind of a Murderer, and The Serial Killer’s Apprentice. She is also a frequent contributor to crime documentaries and television shows, where she shares her expertise on serial killers, criminal behavior, and the psychology of predators.
Tracy Ullman is a writer, producer, and investigative journalist who specializes in true crime storytelling and victim advocacy. She co-authored The Serial Killer’s Apprentice with Dr. Katherine Ramsland and has conducted research into John Wayne Gacy and sex trafficking networks. She also served as an executive producer on The Serial Killer’s Apprentice documentary, helping bring new perspective to the story of Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. And Dean Corll.
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Dean Corll, known as the "Candy Man," was one of the most chilling serial killers in American history. Luring young boys with candy and promises of fun, Corll's reign of terror in Houston ended only when his accomplice turned on him. This episode explores the dark secrets behind the man responsible …Dean Corll, known as the "Candy Man," was one of the most chilling serial killers in American history. Luring young boys with candy and promises of fun, Corll's reign of terror in Houston ended only when his accomplice turned on him. This episode explores the dark secrets behind the man responsible for the infamous "Houston Mass Murders."
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Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. was only fourteen when he first became entangled with serial rapist and murderer Dean Corll in 1971. Fellow Houston, Texas, teenager David Brooks had already been ensnared by the charming older man, bribed with cash to help lure boys to Corll’s home. When Henley unwittingly e…Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. was only fourteen when he first became entangled with serial rapist and murderer Dean Corll in 1971. Fellow Houston, Texas, teenager David Brooks had already been ensnared by the charming older man, bribed with cash to help lure boys to Corll’s home. When Henley unwittingly entered the trap, Corll evidently sensed he’d be of more use as a second accomplice than another victim. He baited Henley with the same deal he’d given Brooks: $200 for each boy they could bring him. Henley didn’t understand the full extent of what he had signed up for at first. But once he started, Corll convinced him that he had crossed the line of no return and had to not only procure boys but help kill them and dispose of the bodies, as well. When Henley first took a life, he lost his moral base. He felt doomed. By the time he was seventeen, he’d helped with multiple murders and believed he’d be killed, too. But on August 8, 1973, he picked up a gun and shot Corll. When he turned himself in, Henley showed police where he and Brooks had buried Corll’s victims in mass graves. Twenty-eight bodies were recovered―most of them boys from Henley’s neighborhood―making this the worst case of serial murder in America at the time. The case reveals gross failures in the way cops handled parents’ pleas to look for their missing sons and how law enforcement possibly protected a larger conspiracy. The Serial Killer’s Apprentice tells the story of Corll and his accomplices in its fullest form to date. It also explores the concept of “mur-dar” (the predator’s instinct for exploitable kids), current neuroscience about adolescent brain vulnerabilities, the role of compartmentalization, the dynamic of a murder apprenticeship, and how tales like Henley’s can aid with early intervention. Despite his youth and cooperation, Henley went to trial and received six life sentences. He’s now sixty-five and has a sense of perspective about how adult predators can turn formerly good kids into criminals. Unexpectedly, he’s willing to talk. This book is his warning and the story of the unspeakable evil and sorrow that befell Houston in the early 1970s. THE SERIAL KILLER'S APPRENTICE: The True Story of How Houston's Deadliest Murderer Turned A Kid Into A Killing Machine-Katherine Ramsland Follow and comment on Facebook-TRUE MURDER: The Most Shocking Killers in True Crime History https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064697978510Check out TRUE MURDER PODCAST @ truemurderpodcast.com more
When Dean Corll’s crimes finally came to light in 1973, grief and outrage flooded the community. The trials of his two teenage accomplices would paint a picture of one of the most gruesome serial killers in American history.
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When teen boys start disappearing in Houston in the 1970s, they’re mostly written off as runaways by local police. Their true fate is only revealed after Dean Corll, known around town as “the Candyman,” is shot and killed.
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The “CandyMan” is what all the little boys called him. He was a candy factory owner who passed out free candy to all the kids.
In the same small town of Houston Heights 29 boys go missing in the span of a few years…
At a time where it felt like nobody could be trusted - the CandyMan seemed like …The “CandyMan” is what all the little boys called him. He was a candy factory owner who passed out free candy to all the kids.
In the same small town of Houston Heights 29 boys go missing in the span of a few years…
At a time where it felt like nobody could be trusted - the CandyMan seemed like a wholesome adult figure. But you know where this story goes.
After his candy store closed in 1968, Dean Corll needed a new way to bring in young victims from the greater Houston area. So, he recruited two teenage boys to lure their friends to his apartment, where he would drug and kill them.
Sponsors! Pair of Thieves - Get 20% off your first order at PairOfT…After his candy store closed in 1968, Dean Corll needed a new way to bring in young victims from the greater Houston area. So, he recruited two teenage boys to lure their friends to his apartment, where he would drug and kill them.
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In 1962 he took over the family candy shop outside of Houston and was only too happy to give away treats to the children who would come 'round after school. Of course, nobody suspected that the local Candyman, Dean Arnold Corll, was also abducting said children, killing them, and burying them under …In 1962 he took over the family candy shop outside of Houston and was only too happy to give away treats to the children who would come 'round after school. Of course, nobody suspected that the local Candyman, Dean Arnold Corll, was also abducting said children, killing them, and burying them under the shed.
Parcasters - Did you know that Hollywood, CA was originally conceived as an alcohol free religious utopia? Learn more about the founding of tinseltown on our new podcast, THE DARK SIDE OF... Listen now at parcast.com/darkside
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Dean Corll was a monster who was given the nickname "The Candyman". In the early 1970s, Corll preyed on teenage boys around the Houston, Texas area. He is thought to have tortured, sexually assaulted, and murdered as many as 27 from 1970 to 1973. But Corll didn't totally act alone. He was able to co…Dean Corll was a monster who was given the nickname "The Candyman". In the early 1970s, Corll preyed on teenage boys around the Houston, Texas area. He is thought to have tortured, sexually assaulted, and murdered as many as 27 from 1970 to 1973. But Corll didn't totally act alone. He was able to convince other teenage boys to lure his victims to him. But in the end, it would be one of these teenage boys that would turn on Corll.
Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss the details surrounding this case that would become known as the Houston Mass Murders. What would make Dean Corll turn into such a prolific sexual sadist and murderer? And how was he able to convince others to help bring his victims to him? These crimes are some of the most heinous in American history.
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Credits:
Writing/Research - Maggie Dobschuetz
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