Ronald Clark O'Bryan was broke. He was about to lose his job. Things weren't looking good for him. He decided the only thing that he could do was cash in on some life insurance policies.

Sources:

https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/1979/59731-3.html

https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/Pixy-Stix-and-Poison-The-Murder-of-Timothy-OBrien

https://www.newspapers.com/image/15711462/?terms=ronald%20clark%20o%27bryan&match=1

https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/the-man-who-killed-halloween

https://www.vice.com/en/article/8ge87v/halloween-killer-ronald-clark-o-bryan-candy-man

https://murderpedia.org/male.O/o1/obryan-ronald-clark.htm

https://breckenridgetexan.com/2021/10/28/looking-into-the-eyes-of-evil-the-day-i-covered-the-execution-of-texas-infamous-halloween-killer/

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/30/The-ex-wife-of-Ronald-Clark-OBryan-awaiting-execution-for/6595449470800/

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2016/10/14/35-years-later-memories-of-notorious-halloween-candyman-murder-remain-vivid/9867992007/

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/26/Jimmy-Bates-who-accompanied-condemned-killer-Ronald-Clark-OBryan/3671449125200/

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/candyman-poisoned-halloween-candy-pixie-stix

https://www.chron.com/local/article/Man-Who-Ruined-Halloween-Recounting-the-14662451.php