Nothing interesting ever happened in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. The 300 people who lived here knew each other, went to church on Sundays, and lived normal lives. The Clutter family owned several hundred acres. Herb Clutter was a deeply religious man who did not tolerate drinking, and who never carried cash. He was a fair employer, and had four children, two of whom still lived at home. His wife had an undiagnosed mental illness, while his daughter Nancy was a senior in high school who was appreciated by all, and his son Kenyon was a musician and athlete.
On November 15, 1959, the four members of the Clutter family were slaughtered, shot at point blank range after a robbery. Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, two criminals who had done time together, had planned the "perfect" score. Based on information from another inmate that Herb Clutter had a safe in the house that had at least $10,000, they constructed an alibi, then drove 400 miles to rob the house. When they were unable to find the safe, they tortured and killed Herb, and then killed his wife, Nancy, and Kenyon to eliminate any witnesses.
At first the police could not find any evidence. Nothing but a small radio seemed to have been taken. Nancy's boyfriend was an early suspect, as was a man who believed himself wronged by Herb. The fact that Herb had just taken out a life insurance policy the day before was also suspicious. But through a lucky photograph that revealed boot prints, and through investigative work, the police were soon on the trail of Hickock and Smith, who thought they had gotten away with the perfect murders, even if they found no money.
Reconstructed from newspaper and court records, and from investigation reports and witness interviews, In Cold Blood reconstructs the sequence of events that led to one of the most violent and senseless crime to take place in the United States.
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