[WorldCase] Poisoned Candy
On October 31, 1974, in the small town of Deer Park, Texas, children were out trick-or-treating, their laughter filling the air as they went door to door collecting candy. It was a joyful night for most, but for one family, a nightmare was about to unfold.
Ronald Clark O'Bryan lived with his wife, Daynene, and their two children, Timothy and Elizabeth, in Deer Park. He was known as a trustworthy optician and a deacon at the local church, where he sang in the choir and helped with the church bus program. However, his life was far from stable. O'Bryan was deeply in debt and struggled to hold down a steady job, having bounced between numerous positions over the years.
On Halloween night, O'Bryan took his children out for trick-or-treating, accompanied by their neighbors. After visiting a house where no one answered the door, the children ran ahead, impatient for candy. O'Bryan stayed behind and then returned with five Pixy Stix, which he later claimed were given to him by the occupant of the unresponsive house. He distributed the poisoned candy to his children and the neighbors' kids, with one of the Pixy Stix containing cyanide.
Back home, Timothy chose a Pixy Stix to eat. He complained about the bitter taste, and his father gave him Kool-Aid to wash it down. But moments later, Timothy began to complain of stomach pain and rushed to the bathroom, where he began vomiting and convulsing. O'Bryan held him as he died in his arms, just minutes before arriving at the hospital.
Timothy's death sparked fear throughout the community. Parents rushed to have their children's candy checked by the police, fearing that it was laced with poison. Police did not initially suspect O'Bryan, but when Timothy's autopsy revealed cyanide poisoning, the investigation took a dramatic turn. It was discovered that all five Pixy Stix had been tampered with and that O'Bryan had poisoned them in a bid to kill his own children for life insurance money.
As the investigation continued, it became clear that O'Bryan was struggling financially. He had taken out life insurance policies on both of his children, including one just months before Timothy's death. Police found evidence that O'Bryan had even attempted to purchase cyanide in the days before Halloween. Eventually, the police were able to piece together his motive: he had poisoned the candy in an attempt to kill his children and collect the insurance money, even giving the poisoned candy to other children to cover his tracks.
In May 1975, O'Bryan was convicted of capital murder and attempted murder. His wife filed for divorce soon after, and his daughter was adopted by her new stepfather. O'Bryan was sentenced to death, and in March 1984, he was executed by lethal injection. His last words were a prayer for forgiveness, both for himself and others. The execution was met with protests, but also cheers from those who believed in justice.
To this day, O'Bryan's actions remain one of the most chilling cases in Halloween history, earning him the nickname "The Candyman."
