The Last Survivor: 5 Chilling Facts About Elmer Henley’s Life After The ‘Candy Man’ Murders And His 2025 Parole Denial

Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. remains one of the most infamous figures in American criminal history, not only for his direct involvement in the horrific Houston Mass Murders but for the shocking act that brought the killing spree to an end. As of December 15, 2025, Henley is a man in his late sixties, serving multiple life sentences for his crimes, a case that continues to haunt the state of Texas and the families of his young victims.

The story of Henley is inseparable from that of Dean Corll, the "Candy Man," a serial killer who targeted and murdered dozens of teenage boys in the early 1970s. Henley, alongside fellow accomplice David Owen Brooks, helped lure the victims, but it was Henley who ultimately shot and killed Corll, a desperate act that uncovered one of the worst crime sprees in U.S. history. The most recent and critical update in his case is the November 2025 parole denial, ensuring he remains incarcerated for the foreseeable future.

Elmer Wayne Henley Jr.: A Chilling Biographical Profile

Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. was a teenager when he became entangled in the dark world of Dean Corll, transitioning from a vulnerable youth to an active participant in a series of heinous crimes. His profile details a life marked by tragedy and unspeakable violence.

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• Full Name: Elmer Wayne Henley Jr.
• Born: May 9, 1956
• Place of Birth: Houston, Texas
• Age (as of 2025): 69
• Co-Conspirator: Dean Arnold Corll (The "Candy Man" Killer)
• Period of Crimes: Approximately 1970–1973
• Number of Victims (Corll's Spree): Minimum of 28 boys and young men
• Henley's Convictions: Convicted in 1974 for the murder of six boys
• Sentence: Six consecutive life sentences
• Current Status: Incarcerated in a Texas state prison
• Latest Parole Decision: Denied on November 7, 2025
• Next Parole Review: November 2035

The Entanglement with Dean Corll and the Houston Mass Murders

Henley was only fourteen years old when he first encountered Dean Corll, a man fourteen years his senior who was known in the Heights neighborhood of Houston for his kindness to children and his candy-making business, earning him the sinister moniker, the "Candy Man."

The relationship began with Corll offering money to Henley and his friend, David Owen Brooks, to recruit other boys for homosexual encounters. This quickly escalated into a partnership of abduction, rape, torture, and murder.

The victims, mostly teenage boys, were lured from working-class neighborhoods in Houston, including the Heights and Pasadena. Corll would often hold the boys captive for days, subjecting them to unimaginable abuse before murdering them. Henley and Brooks were initially victims themselves, but they became active accomplices, receiving payment for each boy they delivered to Corll.

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The sheer scale of the operation—the Houston Mass Murders—was unprecedented. The bodies of the victims were buried in various locations, including a rented boat shed and under the floorboards of Corll's rented home. The complicity of two teenagers, Henley and Brooks, made the case even more shocking to the public.

The Final Act: Killing the "Candy Man" and Uncovering the Horrors

The killing spree came to a sudden and violent end on August 8, 1973. Henley, then 17, was at Corll's home when Corll brought another victim, a 15-year-old boy. A confrontation erupted when Corll attempted to assault Henley and the new victim.

In a moment of terror and desperation, Henley seized a .22 caliber pistol and shot Dean Corll multiple times, killing him. Henley immediately called the police and confessed to the murder, claiming self-defense and stating he was trying to protect the other boy.

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Henley's confession and subsequent cooperation with authorities led to the immediate discovery of the buried bodies and the full scope of the mass murders. The police investigation uncovered the remains of 28 victims, though the total number is believed to be at least 29. Henley's testimony was instrumental in the investigation and the subsequent trial of David Owen Brooks.

Despite his role in stopping the killings, Henley was not absolved of his own crimes. He was charged with and convicted of six counts of murder for the victims he had personally assisted in killing. His defense argued he was a victim of Corll's manipulation, but the jury found him guilty, sentencing him to six life terms in prison.

Life Behind Bars and the 2025 Parole Denial

Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. has spent the vast majority of his life incarcerated within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. He is the last surviving member of the trio responsible for the Houston Mass Murders, as Dean Corll was killed in 1973 and David Owen Brooks died in prison in 2020.

Over the decades, Henley has been eligible for parole multiple times, and each hearing has brought the painful memories of the crimes back to the forefront for the victims' families. In the lead-up to his 2025 review, there was renewed media attention, with some reports even suggesting he was being considered for "medical parole" due to his advanced age and health, though this was met with immediate and fierce opposition from the families.

The most recent and significant update is the decision rendered by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. On November 7, 2025, Henley was officially denied parole. The decision mandates that he will not be eligible for review again until November 2035, effectively ensuring that he will remain in prison until he is nearly 80 years old.

Henley has occasionally broken his silence, giving interviews where he attempts to explain his role, often portraying himself as a victim who was manipulated and coerced by Corll. However, the severity of the crimes and his active participation in the abduction and murder of multiple young men continue to weigh heavily on the parole board’s decisions. The denial is a small measure of justice for the families of the victims of the "Candy Man" and his accomplices.