The Serial Killer’s Apprentice to Debut on Investigation Discovery
Investigation Discovery has announced the premiere date for a new, two-hour documentary titled The Serial Killer’s Apprentice. The documentary will revisit Dean Corll, one of the most sinister killers in recent history, and feature an in-depth interview with his accomplice, Elmer Wayne Henley Jr.
The Serial Killer’s Apprentice will premiere on Sunday, August 17, from 9-11 p.m. ET/PT on ID and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
Marking the first time Henley has spoken about his crimes in over 50 years, The Serial Killer’s Apprentice will feature Henley in conversation with renowned criminologist Dr. Katherine Ramsland. For two hours, Ramsland dives into the mind and memory of Henley – and what motivated him to act as Corll’s accomplice in what was known as the largest mass murder in U.S. history at the time.
Infamously known as “The Candyman Killer,” Dean Corll stalked the streets of Houston, Texas, in the early to mid-1970s, luring and brutally killing at least 28 young men. Corll operated largely undetectably for years due not only to his unassuming nature in the community, but also because of the help he received from two young accomplices – Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. and David Brooks.
However, in 1973, Henley fatally shot Corll and subsequently confessed to their crimes, leading authorities to Corll’s burial ground to recover the victims’ bodies. Decades later, Henley speaks now for the first time in 50 years with Dr. Ramsland, offering unprecedented and chilling insight into what led to his complicities in Corll’s crimes.
Featuring conversations between Dr. Ramsland and Henley from the 60 hours they spoke, The Serial Killer’s Apprentice will offer a holistic portrait of Henley, his psyche, and the tragedy that still lingers in Houston, Texas, following Corll’s reign of terror.
In addition to Dr. Ramsland bringing extensive experience to unpacking Henley’s accomplice and master dynamic with Corll, the docuseries will also offer access to expansive archival footage and insight from victims’ loved ones, local authorities, and journalists who are still unpacking the extent of Corll’s crimes decades later.
The Serial Killer’s Apprentice is produced for Investigation Discovery by Wolf Entertainment and Good Caper Content, an ITV America company. The ID and HBO Max documentary is inspired by the book The Serial Killer’s Apprentice, which Dr Katherine Ramsland and Tracy Ullman co-authored.
