The Serial Killer’s Apprentice | The Story of Elmer Wayne Henley Jr.

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator Sheryl McCollum sits down with Dr. Katherine Ramsland and Tracy Ullman, two crime experts who have spent years investigating and documenting the case of Elmer Wayne Henley Jr., the infamous accomplice to serial killer Dean Corll.

Together, they discuss the complexities of Henley’s involvement, his eventual decision to stop Corll, and the psychological and emotional manipulation Henley faced as a young teenager.

Henley himself joins Zone 7 as a special guest, offering personal insight into his mindset during his time with Corll. He shares his story, from being groomed and manipulated into participating in horrific crimes to his ultimate decision to kill Corll to prevent further murders.

Dr. Katherine Ramsland is a professor of forensic psychology at DeSales University. Dr. Ramsland has written over 70 books and appeared in more than 200 crime documentaries. Her work includes interviews with notorious criminals, including BTK (Dennis Rader).

Tracy Ullman: A documentary producer and director, Tracy has worked on numerous true-crime series for Discovery and PBS. She is best known for her work on John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise and her recent book with Dr. Ramsland, The Serial Killer’s Apprentice.

[Feature Photo: Elmer Wayne Henley, 17, is led into State District Court in Houston, Texas on August 13, 1973. His lawyer has asked that the court order an examination by a psychiatrist and also that he not be questioned by police without an attorney being present. Henley is formally charged with five counts of murder. (AP Photo)]