Charles Cary Cobble, a 17-year-old white male, tragically lost his life on July 25, 1973, in Houston Heights, Texas. His death was a result of two gunshot wounds to the head, as confirmed by the autopsy conducted by the Harris County Medical Examiner. His body was discovered in a state of advanced decomposition, wrapped in plastic and tied with heavy hemp cord. This grim discovery was part of a larger investigation into the heinous crimes of Dean Arnold Corll, infamously known as 'The Candy Man,' a serial killer who, along with his teenage accomplices David Owen Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley, was responsible for the abduction, torture, and murder of at least 28 young males between 1970 and 1973.
Charles Cobble was one of the many victims of Corll's gruesome spree, which became known as the Houston Mass Murders. On the day of his death, Cobble, along with his friend Marty Ray Jones, was last seen walking towards Corll's apartment in the company of Henley. Cobble's wife was reportedly pregnant at the time of his murder. Before his death, Cobble had made a frantic phone call to his father, claiming that he and Jones had been kidnapped by drug dealers. His body was later found in a boat shed, a location that served as a burial site for many of Corll's victims.
The investigation into these murders unraveled following the death of Dean Corll, who was shot and killed by his accomplice Elmer Wayne Henley in what Henley claimed was an act of self-defense. Henley's confession to the police led to the discovery of the bodies, including that of Charles Cobble, in the boat shed. Henley and Brooks were subsequently arrested and charged for their roles in the murders. Both were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for their participation in these horrific crimes.
The case of Charles Cobble and the other victims of the Houston Mass Murders remains one of the most chilling chapters in the history of American crime. It highlights the devastating impact of Corll's actions and the complicity of his accomplices, who lured unsuspecting young males into a web of unimaginable horror. The legacy of this case continues to serve as a somber reminder of the importance of vigilance and justice in the face of such atrocities.
