Lise Olsen: The Scientist and the Serial Killer

In this episode of Words on a Wire, host Daniel Chacón sits down with investigative journalist and author Lise Olsen to discuss her chilling yet deeply compelling book, The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston’s Lost Boys. The book unearths the harrowing story of the Candyman Killer, Dean Corll, who preyed on teenage boys in 1970s Houston, and the relentless efforts of forensic anthropologist Dr. Sharon Derrick to identify his forgotten victims. Olsen delves into the failures of law enforcement, the systemic neglect of missing boys from working-class neighborhoods, and the power of scientific persistence in the face of injustice. She also reflects on her own journey reporting on serial crimes and forensic investigations, revealing how one woman’s determination brought long-overdue names to the nameless. Part true crime, part investigative triumph, this conversation explores the intersection of forensic science, journalism, and justice. A must-listen for those who believe that every victim deserves to be remembered.