Crazy Incidents in My Hometown and Beyond: Two Shocking True Stories

Living in a tourist town can bring a range of unexpected and sometimes bizarre situations. For instance, one of the craziest incidents that occurred not in my hometown but nearby, was a high-speed chase through the center of a small town. This event, particularly memorable, involved a stolen vehicle and a chase through multiple towns and even up into the mountains, ending in quite an anticlimactic manner.

The High-Speed Chase in My Hometown's Neighboring Town

When you live in a place where the town is only about three blocks long, it's not unusual for interesting, albeit sometimes frightening, events to occur. One such event that stands out for me was a high-speed chase that went through the center of a neighboring town. The chase, although not a rampage at high speeds, involved numerous police cars following a stolen vehicle supposedly driven by a joy rider.

I was watering a small garden in front of the gallery where I worked when the stolen vehicle rounded the corner onto the main street. My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as I witnessed the scene. There was tremendous fear that a child might run between two parked cars, leading to an accident. The chase was short-lived, but it took quite a while for all the police cars to pass by the area. The two-lane, mountainous route with sharp curves made it challenging for the police to keep up with the suspect."

A Dumptruck Stolen and the Chase

It turned out that the vehicle being hotwired and chased was none other than a dumptruck. While it may seem a little unusual to be chasing a rubbish truck, the situation illustrated the unpredictability of life in such a small, tight-knit community. The chase ended when the suspect ran out of gas on the way down from the mountains, realizing his predicament too late. It was quite a spectacle for those who witnessed it, but with a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion.

A More Tragic Event: The Houston Serial Killer, Dean Corll

While the dumptruck chase was one of the more memorable and unique incidents, there is another story deeply rooted in history that is far more tragic and disturbing: the case of Dean Corll, an American serial killer and sex offender who perpetrated a horrific series of crimes in the 1970s. The crimes took place in Houston and Pasadena, Texas, and are a stark reminder of the dark side of human behavior.

The Details of Dean Corll's Crimes

Between 1970 and 1973, Corll abducted at least 28 teenage boys and young men. The victims were driven to Corll's house, where he tricked them, drugged them, and in some instances, physically restrained them. The abductions often involved alcohol and drugs, which rendered them unconscious or compliant.

At Corll's residence, the process of torture and sexual assault commenced. Victims were bound and subjected to brutal treatment. Some were killed through strangulation or gunfire with a 0.22 caliber pistol. Their bodies were then wrapped in plastic and buried in one of four locations: a rented boat shed, a vacant lot, a vacant building, and a local river.

The Legacy of Dean Corll

Corll's crimes caused a significant impact on the community and society as a whole, leading to stricter laws and increased vigilance in protecting vulnerable groups.

In conclusion, while my hometown has its share of quirky and unusual incidents, it's essential to also remember the darker, more tragic events that have unfolded. The stories of the high-speed chase and the serial killer serve as stark reminders of the unpredictability of life and the importance of vigilance in our communities.