After Dean Corll’s parents divorced for a second and final time, ThoughtCo writes that he and his family settled in Houston. He was reputedly a good student and was described as a regular boy. Per Radford University, Corll’s mother, Mary, remarried and divorced multiple men throughout his life. Texas Monthly suggests that this was because her son was the main man in her life; no one else could compare. All That’s Interesting reports that in the 1950s, she ventured into the candy-making business with a new husband.
Corll’s mother deeply involved her son in the process, and he helped run the candy factory. In 1964, Corll was drafted into the army (via ThoughtCo). However, he returned home within a year, citing that his mother and their family business needed him. According to Texas Monthly, Corll was known for being friendly with local young boys and often invited them into the candy factory, earning him the nickname “The Candy Man.” This led his mother’s third husband to believe that he was perhaps a homosexual.
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Mary, on the other hand, disagreed and stated (via Texas Monthly), “He was the kind of person who never wanted to get close enough to anyone so they could get ties on him.” When a male worker accused Corll of making sexual advances toward him, Heavy states that Mary dismissed him. In 1968, Mary moved to Colorado while Corll stayed behind in Texas (per Texas Monthly). After his mother left, Corll, who was, in fact, gay, began to seek the companionship of teenage boys.
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