One night in 1994, Nora Perez stood onstage at a cavernous Corpus Christi nightclub, awaiting her turn to unleash a scream before a crowd of sweaty partygoers. As the prismatic stage lights glimmered above her, the 23-year-old considered how the night had unfolded from a simple outing with her sisters into a surreal series of events. She had just moved to the coastal enclave and barely knew anyone in town. She was shy and didn’t drink. At the club, she’d crossed paths with a gregarious man who was now introducing people, including Nora, who were about to take part in a grito contest with a grand prize of $50. She’d recognized the man when they had first met: He was Johnny Canales, host of The Johnny Canales…