Bloody Bloody Texas

Fifty years ago today, American serial killer Dean Arnold Corll was murdered by one of his teenaged accomplices. While spending some time online, I found that quite a few serial killers have called the Lone Star State home. Here's a list of the five most prolific Texas killers . . . in order of their number of victims:

#1 Dean Arnold Corll: (28+) The Candy Man targeted, raped, tortured, and killed boys in the Houston-area, particularly runaways and teenage male sex workers who frequented in his candy factory.

Movie: In a Madman's World, directed by Josh Vargas

Stage Play: The Boys From Houston Heights, written by Bradley Nies

#2 Carl Eugene Watts (22+) The Sunday Morning Slasher kidnapped, tortured, and murdered young women between the ages of 14 and 44, usually around 4:00 AM on Sunday mornings.

Movie: The Empty Chair, directed by Andrew Shebay

Book: Hidden Brutality: The Life of Serial Killer Carl Eugene Watts, written by Jack Smith

#3 Ángel Maturino Reséndiz: (16+) The Railroad Killer was a Mexican serial killer who committed his crimes near railroads, where he jumped off the trains he used to travel around the country.

Movie: The Texas Railroad Killer, directed by Luis Antonio Rodriguez

Book: Along the Rails: A Juror's Journey, written by Thomas McHenry

#4 Joseph Douglas Ball: (5+) The Alligator Man murdered area women and disposed of the bodies in a pond containing six alligators.

Movie: Eaten Alive, directed by Tobe Hooper

Book: The Alligator Man: The True Story of Joe Ball, written by Pete Dove

#5 Faryion Edward Wardrip: (5) The Wichita Falls Body Snatcher killed four women in Wichita Falls, and one woman in Fort Worth, between the ages of 20 and 25 and weighing less than 120 pounds.

Movie: Forensic Files: Sip of Sins, directed by Michael Jordan

Book: The Wichita Falls Body Snatcher: The Life of Serial Killer Faryion Wardrip, written by Jack Smith

Sources:

Gurwell, J. K. (1974). Mass murder in Houston. Houston, TX: Cordovan Press.

Murderpedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/ball-joseph.htm

Murderpedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://murderpedia.org/male.W/w/wardrip-faryion.htm

Murderpedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://murderpedia.org/male.W/w/watts-carl-eugene.htm

Resendiz, A., & Lukacs, D. (2017) 5 worst serial killers in Houston, Texas. Retrieved from https://serialkillershop.com/blogs/true-crime/5-worst-serial-killers-in-houston-texas

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