DEER PARK, Texas – As Halloween descends upon us Thursday, the eerie tale of Ronald Clark O’Bryan, infamously known as ‘The Candy Man,’ casts a long shadow over the festivities -- like trick-or-treating.
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This chilling story, revisited in KPRC 2 Investigates’ documentary series “The Evidence Room,” in 2022, reminded us of an event that once shook the nation to its core.
On a fateful Halloween night in 1974, O’Bryan gave his son and four other children Pixy Stix candies laced with cyanide. The tragic poisoning resulted in the death of his son and sparked widespread panic, forever altering the way Americans approach Halloween trick-or-treating traditions.
The investigation that followed revealed O’Bryan as a desperate and greedy individual, willing to sacrifice his son for personal gain. His actions led to a notorious trial, where prosecutor Vic Driscoll described O’Bryan as “devoid of truth and driven by selfish motives.”
Despite being convicted and sentenced to death, O’Bryan never admitted his guilt.
In his final statement before his execution in 1984, he maintained his innocence, calling the execution a mistake, yet expressing forgiveness to those involved in his case.
As children wear their costumes and knock on doors tonight, the haunting legacy of ‘The Candy Man’ lingers.
This tale not only marks a dark chapter in history but also serves as a cautionary tale that continues to influence Halloween safety practices today.
