Kriti Mehrotra
As a documentary living up to its title in every way conceivable, HBO Max’s/Investigation Discovery’s ‘The Serial Killer’s Apprentice’ can only be described as intriguing and haunting. That’s because it delves deep into the case of Elmer Wayne Henley, an accomplice of serial rapist as well as serial killer Dean Corll, who actually went on to become a serial killer himself. He ultimately shot Dean to death at the age of 17 before coming forward about everything to the police, shocking not only them and the community, but also his mother to the very core.
Mary Henley Was an Alleged Survivor of Domestic Abuse
It was reportedly on September 25, 1955, when Mary Pauline Weed tied the knot with Elmer Wayne Henley Sr. in a cozy, intimate ceremony in their hometown of Houston, Texas. According to records, they were merely 17 at the time, yet they were happy and in love, leading them to welcome their first child, Elmer Wayne Henley Jr., on May 9, 1956. The truth is, the couple initially lived with Mary’s parents in Houston Heights, that is, until Elmer graduated, landed a job as a stationary engineer, and managed to accumulate enough money to get a home of their own.
While Mary and Elmer did manage to settle down, they did so as neighbors to the latter’s family in Houston Heights, enabling them to have a sound support system by their side. The couple then went on to have three more children, all sons, and they were initially an almost idyllic, tight-knit group, full of affection and care every step of the way. However, things changed when their eldest was 7 years old, as Elmer Sr. lost his father, resulting in his grief taking such a hold of him that he allegedly evolved into an abusive alcoholic.
According to Mary’s own accounts in the aforementioned production, her husband was an alcoholic, an adulterer, and an abuser, who often took out his anger on her and their sons. Therefore, she primarily raised her boys with the help of her mother-in-law and parents, all the while trying her best to shield them from her husband’s violence. She was very protective of her little boys, but owing to the situation and the fear she had, it wasn’t until Elmer Jr. was 14 that she found the courage to file for divorce. She then worked hard to provide for her kids as best as she could, even if it meant sacrificing a lot for herself – she just wanted to give them a good life.
Mary Henley Stood By Her Son Through Everything
Mary Henley might have been her kids’ protector, but her eldest was hers. In fact, Elmer Jr. reportedly came in between his parents’ fights on more than one occasion to ensure his father couldn’t harm his mother anymore, per the documentary. In one case, after he allegedly saw his father hit his mother as well as his grandmother, he hit his father over the head with a vacuum to stop the abuse, only to then run away so as not to get hurt himself. According to his own accounts, he was only in elementary school at the time. Moreover, as per other records, he once pointed a shotgun at his father as an adolescent to get him to stop striking his mother.
Elmer Jr. was also protective of his brothers, as per Mary. In fact, she stated in an interview that he started working after she filed for divorce to help her take care of the household and ensure that his brothers didn’t have to drop out of school either. This, along with the fact that she remembered how her son wanted to become a Methodist Minister or a State Trooper when he was younger, also made her believe he was just a kind soul.
That’s why it was so baffling to Mary when he called her on August 9, 973, to admit that he had shot Dean Corll and taken the police to the place where they had previously buried bodies together. She could not believe that her son was an accomplice to a serial killer or that he had killed young boys himself, which she publicly stated too. In the end, though, despite her son’s actions, she stood by him. She felt deeply for the victims as well as their families, but she showed up to support her son not only during his trial but also in prison after he had been convicted. She never gave up on him because it was evident he was a victim too, groomed to partake in heinous acts.
Mary Henley Has Sadly Passed Away
While Mary didn’t ever stop supporting her son, she did move well away from the limelight following his conviction because his actions were indeed undeniable. However, after more than 5 decades of silence, she did give an interview to express how Elmer’s childhood likely shaped how he responded to people and events as he grew older. Moreover, she added that he had tried to come forward about the ordeal before 973, but no one believed him. Unfortunately, a few months after her interview, she passed away. The exact date or cause of her death is unclear as of writing, but it does seem like it happened in the early 2020s, likely from natural causes, considering her age.
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