Forensic Files II: Corwin
Case Study of Serial Killer Daniel Lee Corwin
I was contacted by the television show Forensic Files II about featuring an unusual early composite drawing case of mine. They felt the uniquely difficult circumstances of the victim interview would make a compelling case study for the program. The episode is entitled "Portrait of a Serial Killer."
This case is a dramatic example of the power of a simple composite sketch and a very courageous young woman. On a beautiful day in College Station, Texas, a young coed approached her car in a parking lot on the campus of Texas A&M University intending to go feed her beloved horse. She was abducted at knifepoint and forced to drive to a rural area. There she was bound, sexually assaulted, beaten and stabbed repeatedly. The offender then tied her upright to a tree and slit her throat. She wisely pretended to be dead and he left, believing that he had killed her. But, he had messed with the wrong young woman. She struggled and got her hands free, found her way to a road and was rescued.
I was called in to attempt an interview in her hospital room. The problem was that she was totally unable to speak. At that point, it was unknown if she would ever speak again. In her critical state she had asked a nurse for paper and pen and written "Get me an artist!" I travelled to her location determined to give it my best effort. She was very determined which made ALL the difference. We used written notes and a facial identification catalog that contained photos of various facial features, hair styles, etc. I remember so well the constant rhythm of the machines that were breathing for her. It was a stressful interview to be sure. Eventually, we were together able to develop a sketch that met with her satisfaction.
This shows a re-enactment done by the Forensic Files II crew, showing the situation of the original hospital interview.
Our sketch was disseminated in the news media and was recognized almost immediately with more than one person providing the name Daniel Lee Corwin.
This is the comparison of the sketch and Corwin's Texas Driver's License. Incredibly, he seemed to be wearing the same shirt. Some excellent cooperative police work was done by multiple investigators from several different jurisdictions. Over time, they were able to tie Corwin to multiple rapes and at least three murders. One murder in Huntsville, Texas was committed at a carwash and a young mother was brutally stabbed in front of her 3-year-old daughter. I will never forget photos of this precious child in a white ballerina's tutu stained red with her mother's blood. Corwin was tried using new Texas laws that allowed for prosecution of a serial killer, and including several murders committed in varying jurisdictions...all in one trial. After a short deliberation period, he was convicted of capital murder and given the death penalty. He was executed by lethal injection in 1998.
My face appears grim here as I retell the story of this horrible killer. I still marvel at the courage of the young Texas A&M University student. Her determination allowed us to work together and create a facial composite sketch that literally stopped a serial killer. As I always say...May the Good Guys Always Win.
If you are interested in reading more about this fascinating case, author Bryan Burrough has written an Audible book about it called The Demon Next Door. He met with me to discuss details of my role and his commentary appears in the Forensic Files II episode.
Read More about Daniel Lee Corwin on Wikipedia.