Aerial Insights into the Candy Man Murders: Using HistoricAerials to Investigate Cold Cases

Author: Jason Smith

Having lived in the Houston area most of my life, I was shocked to recently learn about Dean Corll—known as “the Candy Man”—a serial killer who brutally murdered at least 28 teenage boys and young men in the Houston area in the 1970s.

Intrigued and horrified, I quickly delved into Jack Olsen's book, The Man with the Candy. I began researching the locations where Dean Corll had abducted, murdered, and buried his victims.

While searching through Reddit threads, I was led to a post on Imgur where someone had used HistoricAerials to investigate some details they had found in Olsen’s book. The post features aerial images from HistoricAerials:

“…Olsen mentions Dean Corll doing some digging near White Oak Bayou during his time with the Corll Candy Company, in an area that later became a blacktop parking lot…

“The [book] was written in 1974, so we know the area was paved over before then. We also know the area was yet to be paved while Dean worked at the Corll Candy Company, which closed in 1968.

Looking on historicaerials.com, I found a location next to White Oak Bayou that was an open field in 1966 and a paved lot in 1973. It is 1.2 miles due west of the site of the old Corll Candy Company.

“An oft-repeated narrative of the Dean Corll case is that the Houston PD simply quit searching for bodies once the count surpassed that of Juan Corona's 25 murders.  They abruptly shut down the investigation, favoring damage control over locating possible additional victims.

“If this parking lot is the location spoken of in The Man with the Candy, then it seems like a good place to investigate with ground penetrating radar. If something was down there in 1973, it's still there now.”

Discovering potential new leads through historic aerial imagery demonstrates a fascinating and innovative approach to cold case investigations. By leveraging the resources available on HistoricAerials.com, both amateur sleuths and professional investigators can uncover new insights and reexamine old evidence from a unique perspective.

The case of Dean Corll, with its tragic history and unresolved mysteries, highlights how technology and historical records can intersect to breathe new life into decades-old investigations. Whether or not any investigative agency has pursued this specific lead remains unclear, but the potential of tools like HistoricAerials to aid in solving cold cases is undeniable. 

This case underscores the vital role accessible historical data plays in modern detective work, encouraging continued exploration and application of such resources in the quest for justice and closure.

Purchaser Unable to Assert BFPP Defense After Phase 1 Failed to Discover Historic Dumping on Farm Land

Author: Larry Schnapf, principal of Schnapf LLC, is a seasoned environmental attorney with over 35 years of experience. He specializes in managing environmental risks in real estate transactions, brownfield redevelopment, and commercial financing. For more details, you can read his full bio here.

In Stratus Redtail Ranch LLC v. IBM, Stratus sought Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser (BFPP) protection under CERCLA after a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) failed to detect historic hazardous waste dumping by IBM on newly acquired land near Boulder, Colorado. The court evaluated Stratus’s eligibility, finding material disputes regarding the adequacy of the ESA, including potential inspection and record review failures.

Stratus had bought the 290-acre parcel for residential development but was unaware of the 1,500 drums of hazardous waste until informed by CDPHE in 2016. After incurring significant remediation costs, Stratus sued WWD LLC (previous owners) and IBM for cost recovery, as well as their consultant for malpractice.

Despite the litigation, development proceeded. A settlement was reached, and Stratus completed required remediation, including installing sub-slab depressurization systems for future homes.

For the full story, click here.

New Images Added

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Mathews County Virginia in the year 1960. View of the county seat Mathews Virginia in 1960.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Hemphill County Texas in the year 1959. View of the county seat and largest city Canadian Texas in 1959.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Falls County Texas in the year 1960. View of the county seat and largest city Marlin Texas in 1960.

• Added aerial photo coverage for Shelby County Alabama in the years 1959 and 1960. View of University of Montevallo fka Alabama College, State College for Women as seen in the year 1959.

• Added aerial photo coverage for Hidalgo County Texas in the years 1960, 1961 and 1962. View of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley fka Pan American College located in Edinburg Texas in the year 1961.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Muskogee County Oklahoma in the year 1958. View of the county seat and largest city Muskogee Oklahoma in 1958.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Hardin County Texas in the year 1958. View of the county seat Kountze Texas in 1958.

• Added aerial photo coverage for Isle Of Wight County Virginia in the years 1958 and 1959. View of the largest city Smithfield Virginia in the year 1958.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Fisher County Texas in the year 1957. View of the county seat Roby Texas in 1957.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Nolan County Texas in the year 1957. View of the county seat and largest city Sweetwater Texas in 1957. 

• Added aerial photo coverage for Bibb County Alabama in the years 1959 and 1960. View of the county seat Centreville Alabama in the year 1959.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Maverick County Texas in the year 1959. View of Fort Duncan located in Eagle Pass Texas in 1959.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Ellis County Oklahoma in the year 1959. View of the county seat Arnett Oklahoma in 1959.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Henderson County Texas in the year 1960. View of the county seat and largest city Athens Texas in 1960.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Nottoway County Virginia in the year 1959. View of the largest city Blackstone Virginia in 1959.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of La Salle County Texas in the year 1959. View of the county seat and largest city Cotulla Texas in 1959.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Howard County Missouri in the year 1958. View of Central Methodist University fka Central College located in Fayette Missouri in 1958.

• Added aerial photo coverage for Walker County Alabama in the years 1958 and 1959. View of the county seat and largest city Jasper Alabama in the year 1958.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Rusk County Texas in the year 1960. View of the county seat and largest city Henderson Texas in the year 1960.

• Added aerial photo coverage for all of Harper County Oklahoma in the year 1959. View of the county seat Buffalo Oklahoma in 1959.

"Through the Lens" Documentary Update

Production is in full swing for our upcoming documentary “Through the Lens”.

This captivating film chronicles the journey of aerial photography, from its humble beginnings aboard hot air balloons to the cutting-edge satellite and drone technologies of today. We delve into pivotal innovations that have revolutionized our perspective of Earth from above, showcasing how these advancements have transformed our understanding of geography, urban planning, and environmental studies.

Our team is excited to share this fascinating story with audiences, highlighting the intersection of art, science, and technology in aerial imaging. We aim to inspire viewers with the breathtaking possibilities that come from seeing our world from new heights.

For a sneak peek at what's to come, we encourage you to watch our teaser trailer on our official Youtube channel here.

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