The "Man Who Killed Halloween"  -   On October 31, 1974, 8-year old Timothy O'Bryan died after eating Halloween candy laced with cyanide.  Within days, his father, Ronald Clark O'Bryan, was accused of staging the crime as part of an insurance scheme to get out of debt.  O'Bryan, a deacon in his church, laced 5 21-inch giant Pixy Stix with cyanide and slipped them to his children and his friend's children while they were out trick-or-treating together, saying they came from an unfamiliar house.  His children were allowed to eat one piece before bedtime and Ronald suggested the Pixy Stix to his son, even helping him wash it down with Kool-Aid.  Timothy was dead within the hour.  Fortunately, the police were able to obtain the other Pixy Stix before anyone else ate one, although his friend's child was found clutching  the candy while sleeping.  He had been unable to open it because Ronald had stapled the Stix closed after he laced them.  By the way, he called about the insurance money the morning after the funeral. Wow.  This case was huge (besides the obvious) in that it changed the mindset of parents nationwide about letting their kids trick-or-treat any and everywhere.  Now we x-ray candy, go to Trunk-or-Treats, or only go to houses we know and that's a real shame.