'Man Who Killed Halloween' still haunts holiday 'Candy Man' still haunting Halloween 
 
 Father's poisoning of his son gave trick-or-treat a new scare 
 
 Timothy O'Bryan's name may have faded from popular memory, but 30 years ago this Sunday his death shocked the country and earned the culprit the nickname "The Man Who Killed Halloween." 
 
 The 8-year-old Deer Park boy died Oct. 31, 1974, after eating trick-or-treat candy laced with cyanide. Within days, his father, Ronald Clark O'Bryan, stood accused of staging the crime as part of a life insurance scheme. 
 
 With his wife testifying for the prosecution, O'Bryan was convicted and sentenced to death. Dubbed the "Candy Man" by fellow prisoners, he was executed by lethal injection in 1984. 
 
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 Halloween has lived on. But not the way it was. 
 
 The case horrified parents and helped usher in an era in which carefree costumed trick-or-treating has given way to X-rayed candy bags and tightly controlled Halloween parties and festivals. 
 
 The decades-old idea that depraved strangers are targeting children with tainted Halloween candy, however, is more fiction than fact, says a sociologist who has studied the phenomenon for 20 years. University of Delaware Professor Joel Best said he has yet to find a case in which a stranger deliberately poisoned trick-or-treaters. 
 
 "This is a contemporary legend that speaks to our anxiety about kids," Best said. "Most of us don't believe in ghosts and goblins anymore, but we believe in criminals." 
 
 Thirty years ago, after Timothy's death, the idea of a madman poisoning children with Halloween candy was all too real. 
 
 "We were all shocked that someone would kill their own son, their own flesh and blood, for a lousy ... $40,000 life insurance policy," said former Harris County Assistant District Attorney Mike Hinton, who prosecuted the case. 
 
 O'Bryan apparently was willing to go further, passing the poisoned Pixy Stix to at least four other children, including his 5-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. Miraculously, officers were able to retrieve the remaining tampered candy before any other children ingested it. 
 
 'Shivers down your spine' 
 
 An 11-year-old boy who was given one of the tainted Pixy Stix was found asleep in bed later than night, cradling the tube of poisoned candy in his arms. He had been unable to pry out the staples O'Bryan had used to reseal the plastic container. 
 
 "He didn't have enough strength to get it open," Hinton said. "It just sends shivers down your spine." 
 
 O'Bryan's wife, Daynene, filed for divorce after the trial. She remarried and remains in the Houston area. The family declined to discuss the case, offering only a brief statement issued through their attorney: 
 
 "October 31, 1974, was a tragic night that changed our family forever. Tim, son and brother, was violently taken from us. Our family, like all others that have experienced a loss, has a hole in it that cannot be filled with anyone or anything else. Tim touched many individuals in his short eight years of life and through his untimely death. We choose to remember Tim's life, not how or by whom he was taken. We look forward to seeing him at the gate." 
 
 The O'Bryan family had spent Halloween 1974 at a friend's home in Pasadena, where Ronald O'Bryan volunteered to escort the children on their candy-collecting rounds. 
 
 He later told police that someone at a darkened home, who only opened the door a crack, had handed him five Pixy Stix — oversized plastic tubes filled with candy powder — for the children in his group. 
 
 It was crucial to O'Bryan's plan, detectives said, that only his son eat the tainted treats. Back at the friend's house, investigators said, O'Bryan leaped over a coffee table to prevent his friend's 8-year-old son from eating one of the candies. 
 
 After returning to their home in Deer Park, O'Bryan told Timothy he could choose a single piece of candy before bedtime. Prosecutors said he urged his son to try the Pixy Stix. 
 
 The boy gulped down a mouthful of the powder, then went to bed after complaining that it tasted bitter. Minutes later, Timothy ran to the bathroom and began vomiting, police said. By the time he got to the hospital, he was dead. 
 
 Initially, O'Bryan was of little help to investigators. Accompanying police as they searched the Pasadena neighborhood, the 30-year-old father was unable to remember any details of the house where he got the poisoned candy or the person who gave it to him. 
 
 O'Bryan's story abruptly changed on his third trip with officers through the neighborhood. Detectives said he suddenly remembered the suspect was a white man and pointed out the home. 
 
 Investigators quickly cleared the homeowner, and O'Bryan's plot to reap a windfall from his son's death began to unravel. 
 
 Curious about poison 
 
 A few days after Timothy was buried, an insurance agent had called police to report that, unknown to his wife, O'Bryan had taken out policies on his two children shortly before Halloween. 
 
 Detectives also learned that O'Bryan, deep in debt, had been boasting to co-workers at Texas State Optical that his financial health soon would undergo a remarkable recovery. 
 
 O'Bryan also quizzed one of his customers, a chemist, about poisons. He seemed particularly curious about potassium cyanide and asked where it could be purchased, the customer told police. 
 
 Investigators later scoured the family home, where they found O'Bryan's pocketknife with traces of plastic and powdered candy stuck to the blade. 
 
 The jury took about an hour to convict O'Bryan and only slightly longer to hand down the death sentence. 
 
 Despite his findings, even professor Best admits he was not immune to trick-or-treat fears, though he said he made it a point not to closely examine his own kids' candy hauls. 
 
 "I had too much pride in my research," he said. "But I think my wife checked them." 
 
 ruth.rendon@chron.com 
 
 mike.glenn@chron.com ||||| EMBED More News Videos **WARNING** This video is very graphic. This video is an ABC13 special that aired just days after 27 bodies were discovered 
 
 Houston's "Candyman" has become something of an urban legend. But to many parents and children, the story of a father who poisoned his own son's Halloween candy with cyanide is a reminder of an evil far scarier than ghosts or goblins.Forty years have passed since that Halloween night in 1974, but families have never forgotten."It was kind of a cold, and kind of a misty, damp night," remembers Harold Nassif, a former Pasadena Detective Sergeant who investigated the case. "Since it had been raining, Mr. O'Bryan had a raincoat on. Unbeknownst to his friends who he was with, he had the pixie sticks shoved up the sleeves of his raincoat."Ronald O'Bryan gave pixie sticks to five children, including two of his own. His eight-year-old son, Timothy, asked for one first."He said the boy responded after he ate some of it that it was very bitter and didn't taste right," Nassif said.An hour later, Timothy was dead. The pixie sticks were found to be filled with cyanide.None of the other children had eaten theirs, but one child tried."He had gone home, showed it to his mother and she wouldn't let him have it that night," said Nassif. "She said he could have it after school the next afternoon."Parents across the country vowed to never celebrate Halloween again.O'Bryan said he was shocked, even giving an emotional eulogy at his son's funeral. The home where O'Bryan claimed to get the pixie sticks was shrouded in suspicions."Someone took it upon themselves to take away the trust and fun away from a lot of parents and a lot of children," said Elizabeth Bagwell, who lives in the home now.Then, police learned O'Bryan had just taken out life insurance policies for his children."I found an adding machine tape," said Nassif. "It had all of his bills written out next to the numbers on an adding machine tape. It came to almost the exact amount of what he stood to collect."O'Bryan maintained his innocence. A jury took less than an hour to convict him, and an hour and five minutes to sentence him to death."He was just very cold and calculating. He saw a means to an end to get out of debt and it's as simple as that," Nassif said. "Halloween will never be the same. Not like it was before this happened."O'Bryan was executed 10 years after his son's death, on March 31, 1984. ||||| Poisoned Halloween candy? True story behind urban legend traces back to Houston 'Candyman' murder 
 
 On Halloween night 1974, perhaps the worst Halloween crime in living memory occurred. Father-of-two Ronald O'Bryan laced candy with cyanide and poisoned his son earning him the name The Candyman. On Halloween night 1974, perhaps the worst Halloween crime in living memory occurred. Father-of-two Ronald O'Bryan laced candy with cyanide and poisoned his son earning him the name The Candyman. Photo: Harris County TDC 
 
 Here, Ronald Clark O'Bryan, right, is escorted from the courtroom by a bailiff after hearing the guilty verdict on June 3, 1975. He was sentenced to death. Here, Ronald Clark O'Bryan, right, is escorted from the courtroom by a bailiff after hearing the guilty verdict on June 3, 1975. He was sentenced to death. Photo: Othell O. Owensby Jr., Houston Chronicle 
 
 8-year-old Timothy O'Bryan was one of five children who were passed the poisoned candy but he was the only one who ingested it. 8-year-old Timothy O'Bryan was one of five children who were passed the poisoned candy but he was the only one who ingested it. Photo: COURTESY FAMILY 
 
 The poison had been hidden in Pixy Stix, as shown here by investigating officers. The poison had been hidden in Pixy Stix, as shown here by investigating officers. Photo: Darrell Davidson 
 
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 Poison so toxic that here in 1986, a Harris County sheriff's deputy had to wear surgical gloves for protection from the poison in Ronald Clark O'Bryan's deteriorating Pixy Stix. Poison so toxic that here in 1986, a Harris County sheriff's deputy had to wear surgical gloves for protection from the poison in Ronald Clark O'Bryan's deteriorating Pixy Stix. Photo: STEVE UECKERT, HOUSTON CHRONICLE 
 
 O'Bryan had taken out insurance policies on his children and prosecutors said he had hoped to earn $40,000 from their deaths. O'Bryan had taken out insurance policies on his children and prosecutors said he had hoped to earn $40,000 from their deaths. Photo: Larry Evans/Houston Chronicle 
 
 Ronald Clark O'Bryan protested his innocence to the end, sending letters to the judge asking for a stay of execution. Ronald Clark O'Bryan protested his innocence to the end, sending letters to the judge asking for a stay of execution. Photo: ED KOLENOVSKY, AP 
 
 Here is one of those letters written by Ronald O'Bryan in 1984, a last ditch attempt to persuade the judge to grant a further stay of execution. In it he says underlined, "I do not want to die!" Later he writes that he would use the extra time to "fight for the truth in the death of my son." less Here is one of those letters written by Ronald O'Bryan in 1984, a last ditch attempt to persuade the judge to grant a further stay of execution. In it he says underlined, "I do not want to die!" Later he writes ... more Photo: Associated Press 
 
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 Whilst on death row, O'Bryan took up drawing and became a prison artist. Whilst on death row, O'Bryan took up drawing and became a prison artist. Photo: Reuters 
 
 Ronald O'Bryan was executed in 1984 after giving an hour long press conference to crowds of media. Ronald O'Bryan was executed in 1984 after giving an hour long press conference to crowds of media. Photo: Associated Press 
 
 
 
 
 
 Here are the others: The Candyman case was listed as one of the top ten scariest real Halloween crimes by England's Mirror.co.uk 
 
 
 
 Here are the others: The Candyman case was listed as one of the top ten scariest real Halloween crimes by England's Mirror.co.uk Photo: Mike Finn-Kelcey, Getty Images 
 
 Jealous Guy 
 
 Housemates Lauren Meanza and Leslie Ann Mazzara were stabbed to death on Halloween 2004 in Napa Valley. After spending the night out trick or treating, another housemate was awakened by their screams and discovered they had been killed by the jealous fiance of one of Adriane's friends. less Jealous Guy 
 
 Housemates Lauren Meanza and Leslie Ann Mazzara were stabbed to death on Halloween 2004 in Napa Valley. After spending the night out trick or treating, another housemate was awakened by their screams ... more Photo: Tetra Images, Getty Images 
 
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 Massachusetts Chainsaw Classacre 
 
 A teacher faced a $100,000 lawsuit after her prank went horribly wrong and a child was injured as she stormed into the classroom at Taunton High School dressed in a mask and wielding a chainsaw. It's not as bad as you think, the 15-year-old simply fractured his knee falling over as he tried to run away. less Massachusetts Chainsaw Classacre 
 
 A teacher faced a $100,000 lawsuit after her prank went horribly wrong and a child was injured as she stormed into the classroom at Taunton High School dressed in a mask and ... more Photo: Johner Images, Getty Images 
 
 Things that go skunk in the night 
 
 On Halloween night 2012 and unlucky 9-year-old chose to dress all in black with a white tassel tail. While she was outside her Pennsylvania home a relative mistook her for a real skunk and shot her injuring her back, arm, shoulder and neck. less Things that go skunk in the night 
 
 On Halloween night 2012 and unlucky 9-year-old chose to dress all in black with a white tassel tail. While she was outside her Pennsylvania home a relative mistook her for a ... more Photo: Comstock Images, Getty Images 
 
 Yoshihiro Hattari 
 
 This 16-year-old Japanese exchange student was shot and killed when he tried to go to a Halloween party. He and a friend tried the front door and when no-one answered went to the back where they were shot by homeowner Rodney Pearis. They had got the wrong house. In the photo above Hattari's parents visit with then-President Bill Clinton. less Yoshihiro Hattari 
 
 This 16-year-old Japanese exchange student was shot and killed when he tried to go to a Halloween party. He and a friend tried the front door and when no-one answered went to the back where ... more Photo: Time Life Pictures, Getty Images 
 
 Little Tree of Horror 
 
 On Halloween night 2005, in Frederica, Delaware trick-or-treaters spent the night passing by a body hanging from a tree, a realistic Halloween decoration, they thought. But the body was real. A 42-year-old woman had committed suicide and was left for three hours before anyone realized the body was real and not fake. less Little Tree of Horror 
 
 On Halloween night 2005, in Frederica, Delaware trick-or-treaters spent the night passing by a body hanging from a tree, a realistic Halloween decoration, they thought. But the body was ... more Photo: Gg, Getty Images 
 
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 Egging turns nasty 
 
 On October 31, 1998 New Yorker Karl Jackson, 21, had gone to pick up his girlfriend's son from a party. When they arrived a group of teens started egging the car. When Jackson got out to protest one in the group pulled a gun and shot him dead. less Egging turns nasty 
 
 On October 31, 1998 New Yorker Karl Jackson, 21, had gone to pick up his girlfriend's son from a party. When they arrived a group of teens started egging the car. When Jackson got out to ... more Photo: Piotr Powietrzynski, Getty Images 
 
 Death by Lawnmower 
 
 The North Carolina Halloween decoration was so realistic passersby actually called 911 to report a man injured. Death by Lawnmower 
 
 The North Carolina Halloween decoration was so realistic passersby actually called 911 to report a man injured. Photo: CBSnews.com 
 
 Butt burn 
 
 An Austrian teen couldn't sit down for much of the holiday season after his 2010 Halloween prank went wrong. The 13-year-old and a friend poured petrol on a slide and set it alight before sliding down in an attempt to put out the flames. Result: Second degree butt burns. less Butt burn 
 
 An Austrian teen couldn't sit down for much of the holiday season after his 2010 Halloween prank went wrong. The 13-year-old and a friend poured petrol on a slide and set it alight before sliding down ... more Photo: David Hanson, Getty Images 
 
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 Photo: Harris County TDC Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Poisoned Halloween candy? True story behind urban legend traces back to Houston 'Candyman' murder 1 / 24 Back to Gallery 
 
 Of all the urban legends about poison-laced Halloween candy, one is true. 
 
 And 43 years later, the true story of Houston's "Candyman" murder still feels very real for residents who remember the shocking crime. 
 
 On Halloween night 1974, Ronald O'Bryan, a father from suburban Deer Park who had volunteered to take his son and friends trick-or-treating in nearby Pasadena, fatally poisoned his 8-year-old son Timothy with a Pixy Stix laced with cyanide. 
 
 At trial, it was found that O'Bryan had opened the Stix, added the cyanide and stapled it back shut. 
 
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 Four other friends were also given the poisoned Stix, which O'Bryan claimed had been given to the boys while trick-or-treating at a darkened home. 
 
 None of the other boys ingested the candy, though one was found asleep that night with the candy in his hand; he had been unable to remove O'Bryan's staple. 
 
 Prosecutors said O'Bryan pushed his son into eating the candy before going to bed Halloween night. After complaining of the bitter taste, the boy went to bed, but moments later he began vomiting. 
 
 By the time he was taken to a nearby hospital, Timothy had died. 
 
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 Two days after the boy's burial, an insurance agent discovered that O'Bryan had taken out a $40,000 life insurance policy on each of his children prior to Timothy's death, unbeknownst to their mother. 
 
 A jury convicted O'Bryan of murder in less than an hour. He was executed in 1984 by lethal injection. 
 
 His fellow prisoners had named him the "Candy Man." 
 
 Many longtime Houston residents, however, still remember him as "the man who killed Halloween." 
 
 See more about the Ronald O'Bryan "Candyman" killing along with other infamous crimes that happened on Halloween in the photos above ...
– He became known among fellow inmates as the "Candyman," but in Houston, Ronald O'Bryan is recalled as "the man who killed Halloween." The Houston Chronicle revisits the story of the father of two, who on the rainy Halloween of 1974 left his horrifying mark on the area when he added cyanide to Pixy Stix candy and gave them to five kids, including his 8-year-old son Timothy and 5-year-old daughter Elizabeth. The Chronicle reports O'Bryan prodded Timothy to eat his before bed and the boy was vomiting within minutes. He didn't make it to the hospital alive. O'Bryan's story that the candy came from a house they trick-or-treated at in Pasadena didn't hold up, especially as it was revealed that O'Bryan had taken out fresh life-insurance polices on his kids, unbeknownst to his wife. "I found an adding machine tape," Harold Nassif, a former detective on the case, told ABC13 last year. "It had all of his bills written out next to the numbers. It came to almost the exact amount of what he stood to collect." A previous Chronicle article notes O'Bryan's pocket knife was found to have bits of plastic and powdered candy on it; Nassif says O'Bryan hid the sticks up the sleeves of his raincoat as they trick-or-treated. O'Bryan was convicted of murder by a jury in less than an hour and was executed in 1984 by lethal injection after years of appeals, including a letter asking for a stay of execution with the underlined sentence, "I do not want to die!" The Chronicle has this somewhat incredible detail: None of the other four kids ate the candy, but one was found asleep holding it; he had apparently tried to open it, but was unable to get past the staple O'Bryan used to reseal the Pixy Stix.