Investigators soon discovered that the killer wasn’t a mysterious stranger slipping poison into Halloween candy. It was someone much closer to home — his own father, Ronald Clark O’Brien. His crime forever changed the way parents across the United States viewed Halloween, giving rise to decades of fear over tampered sweets.
Books:
Read collections of The Evidence Locker Files (https://evidencelockerpodcast.com/books) , available in print and digital editions.
Follow us on: YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-3vROB1gpEWM1YoEr9vLA) , Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/evidencelockerpodcast/) , Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/evidencelockerpodcast/) , X (https://x.com/EvLockPodcast) , TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@evidencelockerpodcast)
For more information, visit: Evidence Locker Website (https://apple.co/3td9ivp)
For ad-free content: Visit our page at Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/evidencelocker)
25% of Evidence Locker Patreon proceeds are donated to support the Doe Network (https://www.doenetwork.org/) , solving international cold cases. To learn more, visit their website at: https://www.doenetwork.org/
Resources
Articles
In 1974, 'Candyman' turned Halloween truly terrifying in Pasadena, Texas - ABC13 Houston (https://abc13.com/post/1974-candyman-turned-halloween-terrifying-pasadena-texas/375883/)
The Man Who Killed Halloween - Fort Worth Weekly (https://www.fwweekly.com/2024/10/23/the-man-who-killed-halloween/)
'Man Who Killed Halloween' still haunts holiday - Houston Chronicle (https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Man-Who-Killed-Halloween-still-haunts-holiday-1971811.php)
The Haunting Legacy of Ronald Clark O'Bryan, the Man Who Killed Halloween - A&E True Crime (https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/the-man-who-killed-halloween)
50 years ago, a Houston killer dubbed the 'Candyman' poisoned his son's Halloween candy - KHOU (https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/candyman-killer-pasadena-texas-halloween/285-c577b150-1945-47d4-baf1-733499b711fb)
Looking into the eyes of evil: The day I covered the execution of Texas' infamous Halloween killer - Breckenridge Texan (https://breckenridgetexan.com/2021/10/28/looking-into-the-eyes-of-evil-the-day-i-covered-the-execution-of-texas-infamous-halloween-killer/)
The True Story of the Notorious Trick-or-Treat Murderer - Vice (https://www.vice.com/en/article/halloween-killer-ronald-clark-o-bryan-candy-man/)
Halloween Horrors: The Poisoning of Timothy O'Bryan - Criminal (https://vocal.media/criminal/halloween-horrors-the-poisoning-of-timothy-o-bryan)
The ex-wife of Ronald Clark O'Bryan - UPI Archives (https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/30/The-ex-wife-of-Ronald-Clark-OBryan-awaiting-execution-for/6595449470800/)
The neighbor who accompanied condemned killer Ronald Clark O'Bryan - UPI Archives (https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/25/The-neighbor-who-accompanied-condemned-killer-Ronald-Clark-OBryan/3945449038800/)
Web Resources
Ronald Clark O'Bryan - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Clark_O'Bryan)
Timothy Marc O'Bryan - Find a Grave Memorial (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15208882/timothy_marc-o'bryan)
Ronald Clark O'Bryan - Murderpedia (https://murderpedia.org/male.O/o1/obryan-ronald-clark.htm)
Ronald Clark O'Bryan - Alchetron (https://alchetron.com/Ronald-Clark-O'Bryan)
1984: Ronald Clark O'Bryan, candyman - Executed Today (https://www.executedtoday.com/2011/03/31/1984-ronald-clark-obryan-candyman/)
Court Documents
THE CASE OF THE HALLOWEEN CANDY KILLER - Harris County District Clerk (https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/Common/HistoricalDocument/pdf/COTM_Oct_2021.pdf)
Video Archives
Ronald Clark O'Bryan Murder Trial (1975) - KPRC-TV Collection
(https://texasarchive.org/2017_03761)
Created & Produced by Sonya Lowe
Narrated by Noel Vinson
Music: “Nordic Medieval” by Marcus Bressler
Background track: Doblado Studios: (https://www.youtube.com/c/DobladoStudios) https://www.youtube.com/c/DobladoStudios
This True Crime Podcast was researched using open-source or archival materials.