If you reside in the True Crime realm or you’re simply a pop culture fiend than you’re familiar with the likes of Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and of course O.J. Simpson. So, I knew for this episode I wanted to tackle a case with less notoriety. I also wanted a case that took place on Halloween night. Today we’re looking into the Candyman Killer or better known as the man who killed Halloween.
Every Halloween we’re warned to check our candy before consumption. Any wrappers with tears or boxes bent and broken should be thrown away. You never know who’s contaminated the candy you’re given. Whether it’s damaged in your night’s travels, squashed in the palms of those handing it out, or just didn’t survive manufacturing you should never risk it. The idea that someone would cause harm through candy seems ripped straight from a fairytale. Not sounding so farfetched though, huh? The legend of poisoning through food has been around for years. Snow White herself was given a poisonous apple in the animated film from 1937. For decade’s urban legends and myths of people poisoning and hiding razors in candy as well as apples have plagued the trick-or-treating tradition. Though most of the claims are false some encourage trick-or-treaters to heed the warning.
Halloween seems to be the one night of the year where all of our instinctual responses and crime junkie life rules are thrown out the window. Think about it; the trick-or-treating tradition motivates us to travel from house to house accepting candy from strangers. Sometimes we’re even in unfamiliar places. Trick-or-treating rule #1: you always go where the king candies are. But you never go alone. Trick-or-treating rule #2: always go with a group. There is power in numbers, but what if kidnappers aren’t the biggest fear of the night? What if the kid down the block in the cheap Michael Myers mask carrying a plastic knife isn’t the biggest fear of the night either? What if the biggest fear of the night is the person taking you trick-or-treating, taking you home that night, and the person you share DNA with?
For eight-year-old Timothy O’Bryan, he didn’t know October 31st, 1974 would be filled with tricks disguised as treats.
Timothy Marc O’Bryan was born April 5th, 1966 in Deer Park, Texas to parents Daynene and Ronald. His younger sister Elizabeth joined him in 1969.
Thursday, October 31st, 1974 was like most Halloweens for Timothy and Elizabeth, regardless of the chilly, misty, and rainy nature of the night. Before taking part in the trick-or-treating tradition, the kids joined their parents for dinner with a family friend known as Jim Bates and his young son. Once the group was finished Jim, his young son, Ronald, and his two kids went out to collect their candy. Armed with decorative bags and plastic pumpkins the kids began knocking on door after door. A little while into their candy collecting, they knocked on a door. After waiting a few minutes and a couple more knocks they realized no one was home. The children and Jim started back down the driveway and onto the next house, but Ronald fell behind. Once he’d found his way back to the group, he revealed five 22-inch Pixie Sticks. Ronald claimed he had run into “some rich neighbors” who had given him “expensive treats.” Each of the kids was given 1 Pixie Stick. The other 2 sticks were given to Bates’ daughter who didn’t participate in trick-or-treating with the group and a 10-year-old boy from Ronald’s church who the group had run into while out and about. When the night was over Ronald, Timothy, and Elizabeth returned home. Ronald informed the children they could each have 1 treat before bed. Timothy couldn’t tear into the giant Pixie Stick fast enough. Ignoring the out of place staples holding the package together. Pouring the sugary powder into his mouth he knew something didn’t taste right. After announcing his disappointment in the bitter flavor, his father Ronald grabbed him a glass of Kool-Aid to wash down the taste. Ronald recalled it wasn’t long before Timothy was crying out in pain. Complaining of stomach cramps and an unsettling feeling. Not long after that, Ronald noted Timothy began vomiting. While trying to hold and soothe his son Ronald felt him go limp. An ambulance was on the way, but unfortunately, it was too late. It was determined that the Pixie Stick Timothy had consumed was filled with cyanide.
Panic began to sweep across Pasadena. Parents were collecting their children’s candy and dropping it off at the police station as a precautionary measure. Elizabeth, the Bates’ children, and the 10-year-old boy from church did not eat their Pixie Sticks. Police were able to confiscate the candies in time. Even pulling the pixie stick from the young boy’s hands while he was in bed. The peculiar staples saved his life because he wasn’t strong enough to pull them apart.
An investigation began right away. A former Pasadena Police detective, Bill LaNier took note of Ronald’s behavior. Bill said, “he wasn’t crying or bawling, or anything, but there was no reason to believe he was involved.” Despite being the one who was given the Pixie Sticks, Ronald was of no real help to the investigation. He was unable to recall which house and at one point unable to recall which street he was on when he received the poisonous Pixie Sticks. The more police probed Ronald the more his details changed. Ronald couldn’t remember the street, but the group only trick-or-treated on two streets. He also informed detectives that he never saw the face of the person who handed him the 5 Pixie Sticks. “All I could see was an arm,” said Ronald. His confusion of that night only lasted a few days. Police took Ronald out again and stood firm on the importance of any details he could remember. It was at that moment that all his memories became crystal clear.
Ronald pointed to a house. The house belonged to Courtney Melvin. It seemed like a plausible lead until a further look into the family proved problems for Ronald. Melvin was an air-traffic controller at William Hobby P. Airport in Huston and happened to be working Halloween night. His wife and daughter had been at home but turned their lights off once they’d run out of candy. District Attorney at the time, Mike Hinton, felt something was off.
The Pasadena police department began looking into Ronald’s back round. As far as anyone knew Ronald worked as an optician and was a strong member of their church. The family attended Second Baptist Church where Ronald was a deacon, sang in the choir, and was the leader of the local bus program.
Upon further investigation, local police uncovered a colorful past. Ronald had been fired from 21 different jobs over a decade. He was also dealing with a financial struggle. He was roughly $100,000 in debt. At the beginning of this investigation, the motive to poison a young child wasn’t clear, but now the motive was looking at the police. Ronald had taken rather large life insurance policies out on both his children, $60,000 for each child.
Former Pasadena detective sergeant Nassif had found an adding machine tape. Ronald had written all of his bills out next to the numbers on this adding machine tape. The equivalent was almost the exact number Ronald was going to collect. According to police, Ronald had also called the insurance company the morning after Timothy passed to inquire about collecting his payout.
It became harder for police to look away from Ronald. More and more evidence came to light. Mike Hinton pointed out that Ronald had been attending a community college. While in class he would ask concerning questions. Mike stated, that Ronald had asked his professor what was more lethal cyanide or a different poison. His curiosity towards cyanide grew. Visiting a local vendor to purchase some cyanide. Though he didn’t purchase any, the owner of the store recalled speaking to a man who bolted after learning he had to buy in bulk. This man couldn’t I.D. Ronald but did confirm this man was dressed like some sort of doctor.
Ronald was arrested on November 5, 1974. He never confessed to the murder or the other 4 attempted murders.
His trial began in May of 1975. Ronald’s wife swore that she had no idea what her husband was up to and even testified against him. The prosecutor stated, “the only inescapable conclusion is that this man killed his own flesh and blood for money.”
All of the jurors agreed. Ronald O’Bryan was found guilty on one count of capital murder and four counts of attempted murder on June 3rd, 1975 after 46 minutes of deliberation. He was sentenced to death.
On September 26th, 1979 Ronald filed an appeal.
On October 24th, 1979 his rehearing was denied.
On March 31st, 1984, Ronald consumed his final meal, which consisted of steak, fries, peas, and a desert of Boston cream pie. Ronald was executed and declared dead just before 1 a.m. A crowd gathered outside of the Texas State Penitentiary, some sporting Halloween costumes, all screaming “trick-or-treat.”
Halloween was taken much more seriously after this unfortunate incident. If you or someone you know is going out this Halloween or consuming candy, they didn’t personally purchase make sure you check it.
You never know what someone could have done, and it is always better to be safe than sorry. It’s okay to throw away a piece of candy that doesn’t feel, look, or even taste okay. Halloween is all about safe, spooky, fun!
If you haven’t listened to the podcast episode yet, you should definitely go and check that out now!
Wherever you listen!
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