Sex-murder Toll Raised To 23 (Press, 13 August 1973)
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Summary: Sex-murder Toll Raised To 23 (Press, 13 August 1973)
On 12 August 1973, a significant development in a horrific sex-and-murder case unfolded in Houston, Texas, as pathologists struggled to identify the remains of 23 victims. The investigation has already led to murder charges against two teenagers: David Owen Brooks, aged 18, and Wayne Henley, aged 17. Presently, only three bodies have been positively identified, with Dr Joseph Jachimczyk, the chief medical examiner for Harris County, indicating that some victims may never be identified. The ongoing search for additional bodies in southeast Texas has been halted due to high tides, the presence of crowds, and difficulties in locating other graves. The alleged killings are believed to have occurred over three years and may represent one of the most severe mass murder cases in American history. Henley confessed to police that he shot Dean Corll, a 33-year-old bachelor from Pasadena, during a chaotic paint-sniffing and sex party after an argument. Following his confession, Henley claimed he had been responsible for the murder, while Brooks, although denying involvement in any killings, admitted to being present during some acts and assisting in transporting bodies in Corll's specially modified van. Brooks mentioned an alarming perspective on the number of victims, estimating between 25 and 30, whereas Henley believed there were 24. The police's probe into this distressing case was sparked by Henley's initial claims about Corll. The investigation has so far led to the discovery of 17 bodies at a grave located in a boatyard in southwest Houston, with additional remains found near Lake Sam Rayburn, located 180 miles northeast of Houston, and on a beach near High Island, 80 miles east of Houston. As the investigations continue, the shocking extent of the crimes remains a disturbing point of focus for authorities and the public alike.
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