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The Serial Killer's Apprentice
By Katherine Ramsland and Tracy Ullman
Published by Crime Ink
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
A psychological examination of the blurred line between victim and accomplice—and how a killer can be created.
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.
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.
About The Authors
Dr. Katherine Ramsland is a professor of forensic psychology, a published author, a trainer for law enforcement, an international speaker, and an expert on extreme criminal psychology. She has consulted for multiple media outlets, been an executive producer, and is a frequent guest on podcasts and crime-centered programs.
Tracy Ullman is a documentary producer, director, and writer living in Chicago. She has produced dozens of non-fiction television programs for Discovery Networks, Oxygen, AETN Networks, and PBS. Her most recent production is a six-part limited documentary series about serial murderer John Wayne Gacy and the new discoveries made in his case for NBC’s Peacock streaming service.
Product Details
- Publisher: Crime Ink (April 16, 2024)
- Length: 336 pages
- ISBN13: 9781613164969
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Raves and Reviews
"Drawing on exclusive interviews with the surviving member of one of the most horrific serial killer teams in U.S. history, Katherine Ramsland and Tracy Ullman's consistently gripping book is not only the definitive account of the infamous Candy Man case—
– Harold Schechter, author of Murderabilia: A History of Crime in 100 Objects
"Distinctively insightful . . . In this sleep-stealing page turner, the authors effectively evoke consideration for an additional offender typology and sexual homicide classification by examining the motivational factors of dominant offenders and their groomed teenage accomplices."
– Gregory M. Cooper, ret. FBI Profiler and Supervisor Behavioral Profiling Unit, and Executive Director, Cold Case Foundation
"An intimate investigative account of a notorious serial killer . . . Not for the faint of heart, but true-crime aficionados will appreciate this fast-paced, illuminating report."
– Kirkus STARRED REVIEW
"The Serial Killer's Apprentice is a valuable cautionary tale of the dangers lurking in our world for, not only children, but anyone who may be vulnerable to the lure of acceptance by someone—by anyone."
– NY Journal of Books
"A valiant and dignified effort to confront a subject that defies easy analysis."
– Crimespree Magazine
"Distinctively insightful . . . In this sleep-stealing page turner, the authors effectively evoke consideration for an additional offender typology and sexual homicide classification by examining the motivational factors of dominant offenders and their gr
– Gregory M. Cooper, ret. FBI Profiler and Supervisor Behavioral Profiling Unit, and Executive Director, Cold Case Foundation
"Distinctively insightful . . . In this sleep-stealing page turner, the authors effectively evoke consideration for an additional offender typology and sexual homicide classification by examining the motivational factors of dominant offenders and their gr
– Dr. Gary Brucato, co-author of The New Evil: Understanding the Emergence of Modern Violent Crime
"The Serial Killer's Apprentice reveals the incredible story of the only known accomplice to have killed the predator who lured him into a killing partnership. The urgent lessons learned from Ramsland's interviews and study are priceless to law enforcemen
– Chris McDonough, ret. Homicide detective, Cold Case Foundation's Director of Investigations, host of The Interview Room podcast
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