Frank Anthony Aguirre, an 18-year-old Hispanic male, was one of the victims of the infamous Houston Mass Murders, a series of killings orchestrated by serial killer Dean Corll between 1970 and 1973. Aguirre was last seen on March 24, 1972, when he left his job at a Long John Silver's restaurant on Yale Street in Houston, Texas. He was lured by Elmer Wayne Henley, an acquaintance, along with David Brooks, to Corll’s residence under the pretense of drinking beer and smoking marijuana.
Once inside, Aguirre unknowingly picked up a pair of handcuffs left on a table, prompting Corll to attack him, restrain him, and ultimately subject him to horrific abuse before murdering him. His remains were later discovered buried at High Island Beach.
Dean Corll, known as "The Candy Man," was a serial killer who abducted, raped, tortured, and murdered at least 28 teenage boys and young men in Houston and Pasadena, Texas. He was assisted by two teenage accomplices, Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks, who helped lure victims to Corll’s home. Henley later claimed that he was unaware of Corll’s true intentions when he convinced Aguirre to accompany them. However, once Corll had bound and gagged Aguirre, Henley allegedly attempted to persuade Corll to spare him, only to be told that Aguirre would suffer the same fate as previous victims. Henley ultimately assisted in burying Aguirre’s body.
The Houston Mass Murders came to light on August 8, 1973, when Henley shot and killed Corll in what he claimed was self-defense. Following Corll’s death, Henley and Brooks led authorities to mass graves where the bodies of numerous victims, including Aguirre, were discovered. Henley and Brooks were subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the murders. Henley was convicted of six murders and sentenced to six consecutive life terms, while Brooks received a life sentence for his involvement.
The case remains one of the most gruesome serial killings in American history, with Corll’s methods of torture and murder leaving a lasting impact on the community. Aguirre’s tragic death was part of a larger pattern of violence that exposed the horrifying crimes committed by Corll and his accomplices.
