Daniel Lee Corwin
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Huntsville, Texas
TIME PERIOD
1975-1988
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Daniel Lee Corwin, an American serial killer, was executed by lethal injection on December 7, 1998, in Huntsville, Texas, after being convicted of capital murder, attempted capital murder, and aggravated rape. His criminal activities spanned from 1975 to 1988, during which he committed multiple violent crimes, including the abduction, rape, and murder of three women. Notably, in October 1988, he attempted to murder college student Wendy Gant, who survived and provided crucial information that led to his identification through a forensic sketch. Corwin's criminal history began with a 1975 incident where he raped and nearly killed a classmate, for which he was sentenced to 40 years but released after serving only nine. The case remains significant due to the brutal nature of his crimes and the eventual resolution through his execution.
Daniel Lee Corwin is believed to have had a pattern of escalating violence, with early incidents foreshadowing his later murders. Some speculate that his release from prison after serving only nine years for aggravated rape contributed to his ability to commit further crimes. Additionally, there are theories that his choice of victims, ranging from elderly women to young adults, indicates a specific psychological profile that investigators sought to understand.
The Dark Path of Daniel Lee Corwin: A True Crime Story
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
Born on September 13, 1958, in the sun-drenched landscapes of Orange County, California, Daniel Lee Corwin's life began without any immediate signs of the darkness that would later envelop it. The paths he would tread, however, would soon turn sinister, marking him as one of America's most notorious serial killers.
The First Strike: 1975 Incident
The seeds of Corwin's violent tendencies first sprouted in 1975. It was in the familiar setting of his high school parking lot that he perpetrated his first known crime. Armed with a knife, Corwin abducted a classmate as she was about to enter her car. The terror did not end there; he drove her to a secluded location, where he subjected her to a brutal assault. After raping her, he attacked with merciless precision, slitting her throat and stabbing her in the stomach and heart. Thinking his victim was left for dead, Corwin covered her with a board and foliage, concealing her in a dirt pit. Miraculously, she survived, crawling to safety and ultimately being rescued. For this heinous act of aggravated rape, Corwin was sentenced to forty years in prison. However, in a decision that would later be gravely questioned, he was released after serving only nine years.
A Deadly Escalation: 1987-1988 Spree
In February 1987, Daniel Corwin's violent spree resumed with chilling intensity. Alice Martin, a 72-year-old woman, was his next victim. As she walked toward her home in Normangee, Texas, Corwin abducted her, driving her to a field in Robertson County. There, he raped, gagged, and ultimately stabbed her, leaving no witness to his crime.
The following July, Corwin struck again. Debra Lynn Ewing, aged 26, was taken from her workplace in Huntsville and driven to Montgomery County. Like Martin, Ewing was raped and stabbed, adding another name to Corwin's growing list of victims.
On Halloween of the same year, Corwin made a brazen attempt to kidnap 36-year-old Mary Carrell Risinger at a car wash in Huntsville. Risinger resisted fiercely, but Corwin stabbed her in the throat, a savage act that underscored his escalating brutality.
The violence continued into October 1988, when college student Wendy Gant was abducted from the parking lot of Kyle Field at Texas A&M University. Corwin used her own car to transport her to an isolated area where he bound, raped, beat, and stabbed her repeatedly. In a final act of cruelty, he tied her to a tree and slit her throat. Remarkably, Gant managed to free herself and hid until Corwin departed, later found by a county employee who rushed her to the hospital. In 1989, Corwin faced justice for this attack, pleading guilty to attempted capital murder and receiving a sentence of 99 years in prison.
The Forensic Breakthrough
Despite her grievous injuries, Wendy Gant played a pivotal role in identifying her attacker. Her throat too damaged for speech, she communicated through writing with forensic artist Karen T. Taylor. With a series of nods for affirmation, she helped create a sketch of her assailant. This collaboration yielded a crucial breakthrough. A corrections officer, familiar with Corwin from his time in prison, recognized the face in the sketch and reported Corwin to the authorities. Forensic evidence solidified the case: Corwin's fingerprint was discovered on the driver's side door of Gant's vehicle, sealing his fate.
A Confession and a Conviction
During his trial, Daniel Corwin confessed to an earlier, unreported crime—a rape he committed at the tender age of 13 or 14, targeting a 13-year-old girl in 1972. Although the police were notified at the time, the victim had been unable to identify her attacker, leaving the crime unresolved for years.
In 1990, Daniel Lee Corwin was convicted of capital murder. The conviction was secured under a newly implemented Texas state law that allowed for capital convictions if murders were committed "during different criminal transactions but pursuant to the same scheme or course of conduct." The Montgomery Court sentenced him to death, setting the wheels of justice in motion.
The Final Chapter: Execution
On December 7, 1998, in the solemn confines of Huntsville Unit, Daniel Lee Corwin met his end. Executed by lethal injection, he offered an apology to the families of his victims in his final statement. Corwin expressed regret and sought forgiveness, acknowledging the pain inflicted on both sides by his actions. He spoke of the duality of the death penalty's impact, recognizing it as a complex issue fraught with emotional turmoil.
"I just ask and hope that sometime down the line you can forgive me," he implored, leaving behind a legacy of sorrow and reflection.
In Media
Daniel Lee Corwin's case continues to resonate. It was revisited in an episode of Forensic Files II, titled "Portrait of a Serial Killer," which aired on HLN on March 15, 2020. The episode delves into the forensic efforts that ultimately brought him to justice.
Sources
For further reading, please refer to the original Wikipedia article on Daniel Lee Corwin.
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First Abduction and Attack
Daniel Corwin abducts a classmate at knifepoint, rapes, and nearly kills her.
Alice Martin Murder
Corwin abducts and murders 72-year-old Alice Martin in Texas.
Debra Lynn Ewing Murder
Corwin kidnaps and murders 26-year-old Debra Lynn Ewing.
Attempted Kidnapping
Corwin attempts to kidnap Mary Carrell Risinger, stabbing her in the process.
Wendy Gant Abduction
Corwin abducts college student Wendy Gant, who survives after a brutal attack.
Guilty Plea
Corwin pleads guilty to attempted capital murder in the Wendy Gant case.
Capital Murder Conviction
Corwin is convicted of capital murder for multiple killings.
Execution
Daniel Corwin is executed by lethal injection in Texas.
Daniel Lee Corwin, an American serial killer, was executed by lethal injection on December 7, 1998, in Huntsville, Texas, after being convicted of capital murder, attempted capital murder, and aggravated rape. His criminal activities spanned from 1975 to 1988, during which he committed multiple violent crimes, including the abduction, rape, and murder of three women. Notably, in October 1988, he attempted to murder college student Wendy Gant, who survived and provided crucial information that led to his identification through a forensic sketch. Corwin's criminal history began with a 1975 incident where he raped and nearly killed a classmate, for which he was sentenced to 40 years but released after serving only nine. The case remains significant due to the brutal nature of his crimes and the eventual resolution through his execution.
Daniel Lee Corwin is believed to have had a pattern of escalating violence, with early incidents foreshadowing his later murders. Some speculate that his release from prison after serving only nine years for aggravated rape contributed to his ability to commit further crimes. Additionally, there are theories that his choice of victims, ranging from elderly women to young adults, indicates a specific psychological profile that investigators sought to understand.
The Dark Path of Daniel Lee Corwin: A True Crime Story
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
Born on September 13, 1958, in the sun-drenched landscapes of Orange County, California, Daniel Lee Corwin's life began without any immediate signs of the darkness that would later envelop it. The paths he would tread, however, would soon turn sinister, marking him as one of America's most notorious serial killers.
The First Strike: 1975 Incident
The seeds of Corwin's violent tendencies first sprouted in 1975. It was in the familiar setting of his high school parking lot that he perpetrated his first known crime. Armed with a knife, Corwin abducted a classmate as she was about to enter her car. The terror did not end there; he drove her to a secluded location, where he subjected her to a brutal assault. After raping her, he attacked with merciless precision, slitting her throat and stabbing her in the stomach and heart. Thinking his victim was left for dead, Corwin covered her with a board and foliage, concealing her in a dirt pit. Miraculously, she survived, crawling to safety and ultimately being rescued. For this heinous act of aggravated rape, Corwin was sentenced to forty years in prison. However, in a decision that would later be gravely questioned, he was released after serving only nine years.
A Deadly Escalation: 1987-1988 Spree
In February 1987, Daniel Corwin's violent spree resumed with chilling intensity. Alice Martin, a 72-year-old woman, was his next victim. As she walked toward her home in Normangee, Texas, Corwin abducted her, driving her to a field in Robertson County. There, he raped, gagged, and ultimately stabbed her, leaving no witness to his crime.
The following July, Corwin struck again. Debra Lynn Ewing, aged 26, was taken from her workplace in Huntsville and driven to Montgomery County. Like Martin, Ewing was raped and stabbed, adding another name to Corwin's growing list of victims.
On Halloween of the same year, Corwin made a brazen attempt to kidnap 36-year-old Mary Carrell Risinger at a car wash in Huntsville. Risinger resisted fiercely, but Corwin stabbed her in the throat, a savage act that underscored his escalating brutality.
The violence continued into October 1988, when college student Wendy Gant was abducted from the parking lot of Kyle Field at Texas A&M University. Corwin used her own car to transport her to an isolated area where he bound, raped, beat, and stabbed her repeatedly. In a final act of cruelty, he tied her to a tree and slit her throat. Remarkably, Gant managed to free herself and hid until Corwin departed, later found by a county employee who rushed her to the hospital. In 1989, Corwin faced justice for this attack, pleading guilty to attempted capital murder and receiving a sentence of 99 years in prison.
The Forensic Breakthrough
Despite her grievous injuries, Wendy Gant played a pivotal role in identifying her attacker. Her throat too damaged for speech, she communicated through writing with forensic artist Karen T. Taylor. With a series of nods for affirmation, she helped create a sketch of her assailant. This collaboration yielded a crucial breakthrough. A corrections officer, familiar with Corwin from his time in prison, recognized the face in the sketch and reported Corwin to the authorities. Forensic evidence solidified the case: Corwin's fingerprint was discovered on the driver's side door of Gant's vehicle, sealing his fate.
A Confession and a Conviction
During his trial, Daniel Corwin confessed to an earlier, unreported crime—a rape he committed at the tender age of 13 or 14, targeting a 13-year-old girl in 1972. Although the police were notified at the time, the victim had been unable to identify her attacker, leaving the crime unresolved for years.
In 1990, Daniel Lee Corwin was convicted of capital murder. The conviction was secured under a newly implemented Texas state law that allowed for capital convictions if murders were committed "during different criminal transactions but pursuant to the same scheme or course of conduct." The Montgomery Court sentenced him to death, setting the wheels of justice in motion.
The Final Chapter: Execution
On December 7, 1998, in the solemn confines of Huntsville Unit, Daniel Lee Corwin met his end. Executed by lethal injection, he offered an apology to the families of his victims in his final statement. Corwin expressed regret and sought forgiveness, acknowledging the pain inflicted on both sides by his actions. He spoke of the duality of the death penalty's impact, recognizing it as a complex issue fraught with emotional turmoil.
"I just ask and hope that sometime down the line you can forgive me," he implored, leaving behind a legacy of sorrow and reflection.
In Media
Daniel Lee Corwin's case continues to resonate. It was revisited in an episode of Forensic Files II, titled "Portrait of a Serial Killer," which aired on HLN on March 15, 2020. The episode delves into the forensic efforts that ultimately brought him to justice.
Sources
For further reading, please refer to the original Wikipedia article on Daniel Lee Corwin.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Abduction and Attack
Daniel Corwin abducts a classmate at knifepoint, rapes, and nearly kills her.
Alice Martin Murder
Corwin abducts and murders 72-year-old Alice Martin in Texas.
Debra Lynn Ewing Murder
Corwin kidnaps and murders 26-year-old Debra Lynn Ewing.
Attempted Kidnapping
Corwin attempts to kidnap Mary Carrell Risinger, stabbing her in the process.
Wendy Gant Abduction
Corwin abducts college student Wendy Gant, who survives after a brutal attack.
Guilty Plea
Corwin pleads guilty to attempted capital murder in the Wendy Gant case.
Capital Murder Conviction
Corwin is convicted of capital murder for multiple killings.
Execution
Daniel Corwin is executed by lethal injection in Texas.