The Man With The Candy Jack Olsen
Jack Olsen was an American journalist and author who gained notoriety for his true crime books. One of his most famous works is "The Man With The Candy," which tells the chilling story of serial killer Dean Corll. Corll, also known as the Candy Man, terrorized Houston, Texas in the early 1970s by abducting, torturing, and murdering at least 28 young boys.
Dean Corll's Childhood
Dean Corll was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1939. He was the oldest of three boys and grew up in a dysfunctional household. Corll's parents divorced when he was young, and his mother remarried several times. Corll had a strained relationship with his stepfather and was often physically abused.
As a teenager, Corll moved with his family to Houston, Texas where he became known as a friendly and outgoing young man. However, he also had a dark side. Corll was fascinated with guns and enjoyed shooting small animals. He also had a strong interest in pornography and frequently visited adult bookstores.
The Candy Man Murders
Corll's killing spree began in 1970 when he abducted and murdered two teenage boys. He recruited two teenage accomplices, David Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley, to help him lure in victims. Corll would offer the boys a ride or a place to hang out, and then he would take them to his apartment where he would torture and kill them.
The murders continued for two years before Henley finally turned on Corll and shot him to death. Police were alerted to the murders when Henley led them to a storage shed where Corll had buried many of his victims.
The Man With The Candy Book
Jack Olsen's book "The Man With The Candy" was published in 1974, just two years after Corll's arrest. The book is a detailed account of Corll's crimes and the investigation that led to his capture. Olsen conducted extensive research and interviewed many people involved in the case, including the families of the victims and the police officers who worked on the investigation.
"The Man With The Candy" is considered a groundbreaking work in the true crime genre. Olsen's writing style is both engaging and informative, and he provides readers with a deep understanding of the impact that Corll's crimes had on the community.
Legacy of "The Man With The Candy"
Jack Olsen passed away in 2002, but his legacy lives on through his writing. "The Man With The Candy" remains a classic true crime book and is often cited as one of the best examples of the genre.
In addition to "The Man With The Candy," Olsen wrote several other true crime books, including "Doc," which tells the story of a Texas doctor who murdered several of his patients, and "Salt of the Earth," which examines a brutal murder in a small town in Idaho.
Conclusion
Jack Olsen's "The Man With The Candy" is a chilling account of one of America's most notorious serial killers. Olsen's meticulous research and engaging writing style make the book a must-read for anyone interested in true crime.
Although Dean Corll's crimes were horrifying, "The Man With The Candy" serves as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. The families of the victims have found ways to cope with their loss and to honor the memories of their loved ones.