A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 4, Episode 1 - Teenage Wasteland - full transcript

[ BIRD SQUAWKING ]

Woman: NOTHING MUCH EVER
HAPPENED IN LINCOLN.

BUT NO ONE AROUND
HERE SEEMED TO MIND.

THERE'S A SPECIAL SORT OF QUIET

YOU JUST CAN'T FIND
ANYWHERE ELSE

BUT THE FIELDS
RIGHT OUTSIDE OF TOWN.

OR, AT LEAST, THERE WAS.

I DON'T GO OUT THERE
MUCH ANYMORE,

NOT SINCE THAT NIGHT.

Dispatcher: Unit 5?

We just got a frantic phone call



about a man laying down
out in Superior Street.

Please go check it out.

FOLKS MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD OF
LINCOLN

BEFORE THAT NIGHT.

BUT AFTERWARDS,
NO ONE COULD FORGET IT.

YOU SEE, THAT WAS THE NIGHT
THE HEARTLAND TURNED BAD.

MY DAD, SHERIFF MERLE KARNOPP,

GOT CALLED OUT TO
THE OUTSKIRTS OF LINCOLN,

WHERE THEY HAD FOUND THE BODY.

Gay: JUST OFF TO THE SIDE
OF THE ROAD,

THERE WAS A YOUNG WHITE MALE

WHO'D BEEN SHOT SEVERAL TIMES.

THEY FIND A WALLET
IN THE BACK POCKET.

THE WALLET INDICATES
THAT IT'S ROBERT COLVERT,



AN EMPLOYEE AT
THE CREST SERVICE STATION.

Officer: ACCORDING TO
THE STATION MANAGER,

ABOUT $160 STOLEN.

THIS INCLUDES ABOUT $10
IN LOOSE CHANGE.

Gay:
THEIR IMMEDIATE SUSPICION

IS THAT SOMEBODY
HAS COME THROUGH LINCOLN,

PERHAPS ON THEIR WAY
WEST TO DENVER,

AND MURDERED COLVERT
FOR THE MONEY

IN THE GAS STATION.

BUT THE CREST GAS STATION
IS BACK IN LINCOLN.

WELL, WHAT'S HE DOING
ALL THE WAY OUT HERE?

WHERE'S STALANDZ?

Dennis: THE PERSON WHO
DISCOVERED THE BODY

AND CALLED IT IN,
WILBUR STALANDZ,

WAS KIND OF A SELF-STYLED
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

THAT WOULD CHECK ON PLACES

TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE
LOCKED UP AT NIGHT.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING
OUT HERE, STALANDZ?

I WAS JUST DOING
MY NIGHTLY ROUNDS.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE,
DOING YOUR ROUNDS

WITH A AIRMAN
FROM THE BASE?

O'Donnell:
STALANDZ WAS ACCOMPANIED

BY A 21-YEAR-OLD AIRMAN

FROM THE LOCAL AIR BASE.

THAT'S MY BUSINESS
AS A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

TO KEEP
MY DOINGS PRIVATE.

Dennis: FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND,
STALANDZ DIDN'T HAVE

A REAL GOOD REPUTATION.

O'Donnell:
HE WAS A LITTLE BIT SHADY.

Dennis: DID HE HAVE MORE
TO DO WITH THIS

THAN HE'S TELLING US NOW?

THEY DECIDE TO TAKE THEM IN
FOR FURTHER QUESTIONING.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING
ON THAT ROAD?

I WAS JUST THERE
TO HELP, SIR.

DOING WHAT?

THIS GENTLEMAN WAS
WORKING WITH ME.

THEY WEREN'T TELLING
A STORY THAT MADE SENSE.

ONE THING'S FOR SURE --
WIND UP ON A DARK ROAD

WITH A DEAD BODY
AND NO GOOD STORY,

AND YOU CAN BET SOME QUESTIONS
ARE GONNA COME YOUR WAY.

Dennis: I THINK THIS AIRMAN
WAS NERVOUS.

THE POLICE DECIDED TO GIVE HIM
A LIE DETECTOR TEST.

AND HE EVEN FAILS THAT.

Dennis: FINALLY, THE AIRMAN DID
DISCLOSE WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

LISTEN, I WASN'T THERE,
AND NEITHER WERE YOU.

ALL I KNOW IS,
SHERIFF KARNOPP BELIEVED

IT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO

WITH ROBERT COLVERT'S
DEAD BODY.

Dennis:
WHATEVER IT WAS, IT WAS ENOUGH

THAT THEY ULTIMATELY DETERMINED

THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

UH, MRS. COLVERT,
THANK YOU FOR --

FOR COMING IN TODAY.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT I'M REALLY SORRY

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
TO ROBERT.

THANK YOU.

WHEN'S THE BABY DUE?

JUST A FEW WEEKS.

MRS. COLVERT, DO YOU KNOW

ANYONE THAT MIGHT HOLD A GRUDGE
AGAINST YOUR HUSBAND?

NO!

NOBODY!

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME
I REALIZED THAT WHEN YOU SAY,

"TILL DEATH DO US PART,"
YOU DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHEN.

SHE WASN'T MORE THAN A FEW
YEARS OLDER THAN I WAS.

SHE WAS ALL ALONE,
WITH A BABY ON THE WAY.

AND THE LONGER THE POLICE
LOOKED AT HIS DEATH,

THE MORE MEANINGLESS IT SEEMED.

HE WAS MURDERED FOR BARELY
MORE THAN POCKET CHANGE.

I'M SORRY.
EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY.

Dennis:
IT'S ALMOST A MONTH-OLD CASE.

AND WE DON'T HAVE
ANY SUSPECTS.

MY DAD, PARTICULARLY,
DOESN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL.

AT THIS POINT, INVESTIGATORS
WANT TIPS FROM THE PUBLIC.

I REMEMBER MY MOM SAID

THAT IF THE POLICE WERE ASKING
FOR OUR HELP,

THAT WAS A SURE SIGN

THEY WEREN'T EVER
GONNA FIND THE GUY.

BUT MAYBE THAT'S WHY
MY MAMA WASN'T A POLICEMAN.

MRS. KEMP.

SHERIFF KARNOPP.
THIS IS DETECTIVE JAMES.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

MRS. KEMP IS A WOMAN

WHO OWNS A USED-CLOTHING STORE
IN NORTH LINCOLN.

WE UNDERSTAND, UH, YOU HAD
A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER IN HERE.

YES. HE PAID ME
WITH ROLLED COINS.

INVESTIGATORS KNOW THAT $10
WORTH OF COINS WAS TAKEN

FROM THE CREST FILLING STATION
DURING THE ROBBERY.

COULD YOU DESCRIBE
WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE?

SHE SAYS THE DAY
AFTER THE COLVERT MURDER,

A YOUNG MAN
CAME INTO THE STORE.

HE PURCHASED $10 WORTH
OF CLOTHES AND PAID IN COINS.

HE WAS A SHORT
CAUCASIAN TEENAGER.

AROUND HERE, KIDS WERE
STILL JUST KIDS.

SO WHEN MRS. KEMP SAID IT WAS
A TEENAGER, SHERIFF KARNOPP

MUST HAVE DONE
A DOUBLE-TAKE.

HIS SON DENNY WAS
THE STRAIGHTEST ARROW AROUND.

YOU THINK YOU'D RECOGNIZE HIM
IF YOU SAW HIM AGAIN?

- MAYBE.
- OKAY.

IF THIS INDIVIDUAL COMES
IN AGAIN, YOU --

YOU GIVE US A CALL,
OKAY?

BUT THERE WASN'T
TIME FOR THAT.

THE BLOOD KEPT COMING.

HOPING THAT
ROBERT COLVERT'S MURDER

WAS A ONE-OFF
WAS JUST WISHFUL THINKING.

Gay:
27th OF JANUARY, 1958.

TWO MEN PARK IN FRONT
OF 924 BELMONT AVENUE.

COME ON.

THEY GO IN THE BACKYARD
AND NOTICE A SMELL.

THEY OPEN THE DOOR TO THE PRIVY

AND FIND THE BODY
OF A LITTLE GIRL.

Gay: ON MONDAY AFTERNOON,
27th OF JANUARY, 1958,

INVESTIGATORS ARE CALLED
TO 924 BELMONT AVENUE.

THEY IDENTIFY THE BODY
OF A SMALL CHILD,

ABOUT 2 OR 3 YEARS OLD,

AND OF A WOMAN WHO'S BEEN
WRAPPED AND STUFFED

IN ONE OF THE TOILETS.

THEY LOOK IN THE CHICKEN COOP

AND FIND THE WRAPPED BODY
OF A MAN.

INVESTIGATORS
KNOW THAT THIS IS

THE RESIDENCE OF MARION
AND VELDA BARTLETT.

THEY IDENTIFY THE CORPSES
AS THE TWO OF THEM,

AND THE CHILD AS BEING
THEIR DAUGHTER, BETTY JEAN.

THE FATHER, MARION BARTLETT,
HAS BEEN SHOT

WITH A .22 LONG RIFLE
AND STABBED IN THE THROAT.

THE MOTHER HAS BEEN SHOT
AND BLUDGEONED.

AND THE LITTLE GIRL
HAS BEEN KILLED

BY BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA
TO THE HEAD,

PROBABLY THE BUTT OF A GUN,

BUT HAS ALSO BEEN STABBED
IN THE THROAT.

IT'S JUST SHOCKING,
ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING.

Gay:
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER CONCLUDES

THAT THEY'VE BEEN DEAD
FOR AT LEAST 2 DAYS.

Man: SHERIFF!

THERE'S ANOTHER DAUGHTER

BY A PREVIOUS MARRIAGE,
CARIL ANN.

AND SHE'S NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

Woman: GOSH, CARIL ANN.

SHE WAS MY YEAR IN SCHOOL.

BUT CARIL ANN WASN'T
PART OF OUR REGULAR GROUP.

SHE'D NEVER TALK MUCH.

I THOUGHT MAYBE SHE WAS
JUST ONE OF THEM

WHO WAS ALWAYS
IN HER OWN WORLD.

MY BROTHER SAID HE BET SHE
WAS DEAD LIKE THE REST OF THEM.

BUT I HAD A DIFFERENT
FEELING ABOUT IT.

SOMETHING TOLD ME
SHE WAS ALIVE.

STILL, I KNEW
IT COULDN'T BE GOOD.

BECAUSE EVEN IF
SHE WASN'T DEAD YET,

SHE COULD BE REAL SOON.

Gay: THE TWO FELLOWS
THAT FOUND THE BODIES

ARE BOB VON BUSCH
AND RODNEY STARKWEATHER.

DO YOU KNOW
CARIL ANN FUGATE?

SHE'S DATING
MY BROTHER, CHARLIE.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE
CARIL ANN COULD BE?

RODNEY IS THE BROTHER
OF CHARLIE STARKWEATHER,

WHO HAS BEEN DATING CARIL ANN

FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME
YOU SAW YOUR BROTHER CHARLIE?

MORE THAN A WEEK AGO.

Gay: CHARLIE HAS HAD
A TOUGH CHILDHOOD.

HE'S FROM THE PART
OF TOWN YOU END UP IN

IF YOU DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF MONEY.

HE'S BEEN PICKED ON
CONSTANTLY IN SCHOOL.

O'Donnell: HE WAS WORKING
AS A GARBAGE MAN,

MAKING, YOU KNOW,
NOT VERY MUCH.

CHARLIE'S MAIN PROBLEM
IS THAT HE'S ANGRY AT THE WORLD.

Dennis: I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH
AND KNEW CHARLIE STARKWEATHER.

HE WAS DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.

PEOPLE WERE AFRAID
OF HIM, YOU KNOW?

CHARLIE STARKWEATHER
WASN'T LIKE

MOST OF THE OLDER BOYS
IN TOWN.

HE WAS OUR VERY OWN
"REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE."

AFTER THAT MOVIE CAME OUT,

HE FOUND HIMSELF
A LEATHER JACKET

AND STARTING SWAGGERING
AROUND TOWN,

JUST LIKE HE THOUGHT
JAMES DEAN WOULD,

PICKING FIGHTS WITH ANYONE
THAT LOOKED AT HIM WRONG.

I DON'T KNOW.

HE SEEMED LIKE
A REAL PHONY TO ME.

BUT MY GRANNY ALWAYS SAID,

"THERE'S NO ACCOUNTING
FOR TASTE."

CARIL ANN THOUGHT
HE WAS THE BEE'S KNEES.

Gay: CHARLIE IS 19.

AND CARIL ANN IS 14.

RODNEY SAYS THAT AGE DIFFERENCE

IS VERY PROBLEMATIC
FOR HER PARENTS.

MARION AND VELDA HAD TOLD CARIL

THAT SHE NEEDED TO END
THE RELATIONSHIP.

ALL RIGHT.
WHEN'S THE LAST TIME

EACH OF YOU SAW
OR SPOKE TO CARIL?

WE WERE HERE LAST WEEK,
BUT SHE WOULDN'T LET US IN.

THE POLICE LEARN THAT OVER
THE COURSE OF THE LAST WEEK,

PEOPLE HAVE COME
TO SEE THE BARTLETTS.

EVEN CARIL ANN'S
GRANDMOTHER CAME BY.

Caril Ann: GRANDMA,
EVERYONE'S REAL SICK RIGHT NOW.

Grandmother:
WHAT'S WRONG?

Gay: CARIL ANN TURNED PEOPLE
AWAY FROM THE DOOR.

WE FINALLY DECIDED ENOUGH
WAS ENOUGH AND CAME OVER AGAIN.

YOU THINK YOUR BROTHER MIGHT
HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS?

Gay: THIS IS SHOCKING
FOR THE POLICE.

THEY'RE SEEING A BROTHER
ESSENTIALLY ADMIT

THAT HIS BROTHER COULD BE
INVOLVED IN A TRIPLE MURDER.

Dennis: AT THAT POINT IN TIME,
MY FATHER,

HE HAD TO WONDER ABOUT
THE COLVERT CASE AS WELL.

Gay: NO ONE HAS SEEN
CHARLIE OR CARIL ANN

FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

THAT NATURALLY RAISES
THE QUESTION -- WHERE ARE THEY?

IS CARIL ANN
POSSIBLY HIS HOSTAGE?

HE BORROWED
MY RIFLE LAST WEEK.

WHAT KIND?

LONG RIFLE, A .22.

Dennis:
.22 RIFLE HAD BEEN USED

FOR THE KILLINGS OF MARION
AND VELDA BARTLETT.

IN ADDITION, MARION'S SHOTGUN
APPEARS TO BE MISSING.

THIS IS AN ALL-POINTS BULLETIN.

CHARLES R. STARKWEATHER.

Gay:
THE POLICE SWING INTO ACTION,

PUT OUT AN APB
FOR CHARLIE'S CAR.

AND THEY SAY THAT CHARLIE
IS ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

EVERYBODY JUST HITS THE DECK
PRETTY MUCH RUNNING.

AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT,

CHARLIE'S CAR WAS SPOTTED

THE NEXT MORNING 20 MILES
OUTSIDE OF LINCOLN,

STUCK IN THE MUD
NEAR OLD AUGUST MEYER'S FARM.

O'Donnell:
THEY SURROUND A FARMHOUSE.

CHARLES STARKWEATHER!

WE KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE!

COME ON OUT
WITH YOUR HANDS UP!

[ GLASS SHATTERS ]

Woman: ALL THOSE MEN
WITH GUNS AND TEAR GAS...

OUR QUIET FARMLAND

WAS STARTING TO FEEL
MORE LIKE A WAR ZONE.

AND EVEN AFTER ALL THAT,

HE SLIPPED RIGHT
THROUGH THEIR FINGERS.

Dennis:
THERE'S NO CHARLIE STARKWEATHER.

THERE'S NO CARIL ANN FUGATE.
THERE'S NO AUGUST MEYER.

THERE'S NOBODY.

Man:
I SEE SOMETHING OVER HERE!

NOT EVERYONE WAS LUCKY
ENOUGH TO MISS HIM.

Dennis:
THE FARMER, AUGUST MEYER,

HAD BEEN SHOT
BY A .410-GAUGE SHOTGUN.

Gay:
THE BODY'S BEEN COVERED.

EXCUSE ME, SHERIFF.

WE'VE GOT TWO TEENS IN BENNET
THAT HAVE GONE MISSING,

ALONG WITH THEIR CAR.

SHERIFF KARNOPP WAS ALERTED

TO THE FACT THAT CAROL KING
AND BOB JENSEN

WENT OUT ON A DATE
AND HAVEN'T COME BACK.

THE LOCALS ARE LOOKING
FOR CAROL KING AND BOB JENSEN.

THEY'RE BOTH HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS AT BENNET, NEBRASKA.

THERE WAS A UNDERGROUND STORAGE
FACILITY NEAR THE MEYER FARM.

THEY FOUND THE BODIES
OF THESE TWO YOUNG PEOPLE.

O'Donnell:
THERE'S BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

Gay: THEY HAD BEEN SHOT
MULTIPLE TIMES.

O'Donnell: THE MURDERS OF BOB
JENSEN AND CAROL KING ARE DIFFERENT.

Gay: CAROL HAD BEEN SEXUALLY
MUTILATED WITH A KNIFE.

THE POLICE THINK
CHARLIE TOOK THE JENSEN CAR.

BUT WHERE ARE THEY GOING?

HE HAS HAD 20 HOURS TO ESCAPE
AFTER THE LAST KILLING.

HE COULD BE 1,000 MILES AWAY.

POLICE SET UP CHECKPOINTS
ALL OVER THE STATE.

HOWEVER,
ANOTHER NIGHT PASSES

AND NO ONE SPOTS
BOB JENSEN'S CAR.

THERE'S NOTHING WORSE
THAN WAITING BY THE PHONE.

WE ASSUMED CHARLIE WAS
MAKING A BEELINE

FOR THE BORDER.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

KARNOPP.

BOY, WERE WE WRONG.

THREE MORE BODIES
HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED

IN A PROMINENT NEIGHBORHOOD,

RIGHT IN LINCOLN ITSELF.

THE VICTIMS ARE C. LAUER WARD,
A PROMINENT INDUSTRIALIST

AND HIS WIFE, CLARA,

AND THEIR MAID,
LILLIAN FENCL.

LAUER AND CLARA WARD
ARE MY GRANDPARENTS.

MY FATHER WAS FAR AWAY
AT BOARDING SCHOOL.

LAUER WARD IS LYING
IN THE DOORWAY,

SHOT IN THE BACK.

CLARA WARD IS UPSTAIRS
IN HER NIGHTGOWN, TIED UP.

SHE IS DEAD FROM MULTIPLE STAB
WOUNDS TO THE HEAD AND CHEST.

LILLIAN FENCL WAS ALSO
TIED UP AND STABBED.

ANY SIGNS
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT?

DOESN'T SEEM TO BE.

NOTHING MUCH HAS BEEN STOLEN.

HOWEVER, IN PLACE
OF THE WARD'S PACKARD

IS BOB JENSEN'S CAR.

O'Donnell: BOTH MRS. WARD AND
THE HOUSEKEEPER WERE TIED UP.

THAT SEEMS LIKE A FAIRLY
HARD THING TO DO

WHEN YOU'RE TRYING
TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON ONE

AND TIE UP THE OTHER.

I GUESS CHARLIE'S
HOLDING THE GUN ON CARIL

WHILE SHE TIES 'EM UP.

POSSIBLE.

UNLESS CHARLIE'S
TYING 'EM UP

AND CARIL'S
HOLDING THE GUN.

IT COULD BE
THAT WAY, TOO.

AT 14,
WE WERE STILL GIGGLING

ABOUT THE IDEA
OF PARKING AND PETTING.

AND ALL ALONG,
CARIL ANN NEVER LET ON

THAT SHE AND CHARLIE
HAD GONE ALL THE WAY.

STILL WATERS, YOU KNOW?

Johnston: CHARLIE AND CARIL
HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP.

THIS 19-YEAR-OLD DATING
THIS 14-YEAR-OLD,

SEEMS LIKE THERE WOULD BE
A HUGE DIFFERENCE

IN POWER AND INFLUENCE.

THERE WASN'T
ANY OTHER EXPLANATION.

MAYBE CARIL ANN
WAS A LITTLE LOOSE,

BUT SHE WASN'T STUPID.

EVEN AT 14, WE ALL KNEW
NO BOY WAS WORTH ALL THAT.

I COULDN'T MAKE SENSE
OF IT ANY WHICH WAY.

CARIL ANN ALWAYS MARCHED
TO THE BEAT OF HER OWN DRUM.

AND THE CHARLIE I KNEW
DIDN'T SEEM LIKE

HE COULD CONVINCE ANYONE
TO DO MUCH OF ANYTHING.

Johnston:
CHARLIE WAS VERY IMMATURE.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE HIM

IMPRESSING A GIRL HIS OWN AGE.

WHICH LEADS
THE POLICE TO WONDER --

IS CARIL ANN A HOSTAGE

OR A WILLING ACCOMPLICE?

Man on radio: THE BODIES
OF C. LAUER WARD, 47,

PRESIDENT OF CAPITAL
STEEL COMPANY,

HIS WIFE, CLARA WARD, 46,

AND FAMILY MAID
LILLIAN FENCL, 51,

WERE DISCOVERED THIS MORNING

IN THE WARDS' HOME
IN SOUTH LINCOLN.

THIS MARKS THE THIRD
CONSECUTIVE DAY

THAT MULTIPLE MURDER VICTIMS
HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED

IN EITHER LINCOLN
OR THE BENNET AREA.

LINCOLN POLICE ARE ENGAGED
IN A STREET-BY-STREET SEARCH

FOR PRIMARY SUSPECT
CHARLES STARKWEATHER.

BY NOW, THE NEWSPAPERS
AND THE RADIO

ARE ALL OVER THIS STORY.

Dennis: MY FATHER WAS UNDER
TREMENDOUS PRESSURE.

Gay: THE CITY OF LINCOLN,

AND INDEED THE ENTIRE STATE
OF NEBRASKA,

IS IN FULL-BLOWN PANIC.

PARENTS ARE HIDING
THEIR KIDS UNDER BEDS.

SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

THE NATIONAL GUARD
HAS BEEN CALLED OUT.

IT PUT THE WHOLE STATE
ON ITS EAR.

HE IS TO BE CONSIDERED ARMED
AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

Ward: ANYBODY MIGHT BE
HIS NEXT VICTIM.

Woman: WE HAD NO IDEA
WHERE CHARLIE WAS,

OR WHEN
HE WOULD STRIKE AGAIN.

BEING AFRAID
OF SOMEONE YOU KNOW

IS A SPECIAL KIND OF FEAR.

I'LL NEVER FORGET THE DAYS
I SPENT AT HOME,

WAITING TO HEAR THAT
CHARLIE HAD BEEN CAUGHT,

JUST PRAYING ME AND MY FAMILY
WOULD MAKE IT THROUGH ALIVE.

Woman: SEE, TO US,
CHARLIE WASN'T JUST A KILLER.

HE USED TO GO
TO OUR SAME HIGH SCHOOL.

HE WAS DATING
A GIRL IN MY CLASS.

HELL, HE EVEN PICKED UP OUR
OLD GARBAGE FOR A WHILE.

AND FOR SHERIFF KARNOPP...

CHARLIE HAD BEEN FRIENDS
WITH HIS SON

WHEN THEY WERE JUST LITTLE.

AIN'T THAT A KICK
IN THE HEAD?

IT WAS THE STRANGEST THING,

KNOWING THAT THE BOY
WE'D SEEN CRUISING AROUND TOWN

JUST LAST MONTH WAS DRIVING
AROUND KILLING PEOPLE NOW.

AND HE HAD CARIL ANN WITH HIM!

NO ONE KNEW
IF SHE WAS IN DANGER

OR IF HE JUST LIKED
KEEPING HIS GIRL CLOSE.

IT'S HARD TO KNOW A PERSON.

IT'S HARDER STILL
TO UNDERSTAND THEM

OR IMAGINE WHAT'S GOING ON
IN THEIR HEAD.

WAS THERE A RHYME OR A REASON
TO CHARLIE'S MADNESS?

IF NOT, HOW EXACTLY
WAS ANYONE GONNA STOP HIM?

OR FORGET
ABOUT STOPPING HIM.

HOW WAS ANYONE
GONNA FIND HIM?

Gay: THE AFTERNOON
OF WEDNESDAY, THE 29th,

WILLIAM ROMER, WHO'S A DEPUTY
SHERIFF IN WYOMING,

IS DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY 87.

ROMER SEES A STRUGGLE
AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

TWO MEN ARE FIGHTING OVER
WHAT APPEARS TO BE A GUN.

AND IN ONE OF THE CARS,

A MAN IS SLUMPED DEAD
IN THE FRONT SEAT.

Caril Ann: IT'S
CHARLES STARKWEATHER!

AND I SAW HIM KILL
10 PEOPLE!

HE KIDNAPPED ME!

BE ADVISED,
CHARLES STARKWEATHER!

HE'S GOING SOUTH ON 87!

Gay: CARIL ANN SAYS,
"STOP! STOP!

THAT'S CHARLIE STARKWEATHER!
AND HE'S KIDNAPPED ME!

I SAW HIM MURDER 10 PEOPLE!"

FEEL LIKE
IT GONNA RAIN, HUH?

YEP.

MY KNEES TELL ME
IT'S GONNA RAIN.

I GIVE IT ABOUT AN HOUR.

[ DISPATCHER
SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

We got a report that says
Charlie Starkweather

from Nebraska is
heading your direction on 87.

- THAT'S OUR GUY.
- THAT'S OUR GUY. LET'S GO.

Gay: THE LOCAL SHERIFF
JOINS THE CHASE.

THEY START SHOOTING
AT THE CAR.

[ GUNSHOT ]

ONE OF THE BULLETS
GOES THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW

AND SHATTERS THE SAFETY GLASS.

CHARLES STARKWEATHER!

GET OUT OF THE CAR
AND GET ON THE GROUND!

NOW!

NOW!

HE LIES DOWN ON THE GROUND.

THEY CAPTURE HIM.

AND HE SAYS,
"YOU SHOT ME!

I'M BLEEDING!"

AND ONE OF THE SHERIFFS
LATER SAID,

"THAT'S WHAT A YELLOW SON
OF A BITCH HE WAS."

DON'T BLAME CARIL.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE NOTHING
TO DO WITH THIS.

Woman: FOR A GUY WHO KILLED
SO MANY PEOPLE,

CHARLIE SURE WAS CALM.

HE DIDN'T SEEM LIKE HE HAD
A CARE IN THE WORLD.

Dennis: SOMEONE HAS TO GO BRING
CHARLIE BACK TO LINCOLN.

HE HAD SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED
THAT SHERIFF KARNOPP BE,

UH, THE ONE WHO DID THIS.

- CHARLIE?
- HI, SHERIFF!

HOW'S DENNY?

DENNY'S ME.

MEANTIME, SOMEBODY
HAD TO GO GET CARIL.

AND THAT FELL TO MY MOTHER.

CARIL, I'M GOING TO BE
ESCORTING YOU BACK TO LINCOLN.

ONCE CARIL ANN WAS SAFE,

WE THOUGHT WE'D FINALLY FIND
OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

ARE MY FOLKS DEAD?

D-- DON'T YOU KNOW?

COULD CARIL ANN
REALLY HAVE NO IDEA

WHAT CHARLIE HAD BEEN
DOING THIS WHOLE TIME?

OR DID SHE ACTUALLY KNOW
MORE THAN SHE WAS LETTING ON?

THE CARIL ANN I KNEW
SURE KNEW HOW TO KEEP A SECRET.

Merle: WE FOUND THESE
AT THE BARTLETT HOME.

DECEMBER 1, 1957.

CREST SERVICE STATION.

TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED.

I NEEDED MONEY
TO PAY MY RENT.

SO I EASED UP
TO THAT GAS STATION

AND PUT ON A BANDANNA
RIGHT BELOW THE EYES.

O'Donnell:
AND HE GOT MR. COLVERT

INTO THE VEHICLE AT GUNPOINT.

HE KNEW
WHAT I WAS THERE FOR.

PUT UP A HELL
OF A FIGHT, TOO.

BUT ONCE I PUT A SHELL
IN HIS HEAD,

HE DIDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH
FIGHT LEFT IN HIM.

WHY HE DIDN'T JUST SHOOT
AND KILL HIM AT THE STATION,

WE DON'T KNOW.

OKAY, CHARLIE.

THE BARTLETT HOME.

I WAS TRYING TO TELL 'EM
THAT I LOVED CARIL.

THEY DIDN'T WANT
NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.

AND BESIDES,
I WAS TOO OLD FOR HER.

THERE WAS BAD BLOOD
BETWEEN CHARLIE

AND MARION
AND VELDA BARTLETT.

THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT
HE WOULD GET CARIL ANN PREGNANT.

WAIT JUST A MINUTE.

CHARLIE HAD BORROWED
HIS BROTHER RODNEY'S

.22-CALIBER RIFLE.

I WANT YOU TO GET OUT
OF HERE, NOW!

WHY ARE YOU SAYING
ALL THIS?

AND THEN
THEY JUST CAME AT ME.

- YOU'RE NO GOOD!
- WE LOVE EACH OTHER!

AND WE'RE GONNA BE TOGETHER!
- JUST GO!

GO, NOW!
PLEASE!

YOU'RE NO GOOD FOR HER!

THEY WOULDN'T QUIT.

O'Donnell: CHARLIE SHOT HIM WITH
THE RIFLE AND KILLED HIM.

VELDA CAME AT CHARLIE
THEN WITH A BUTCHER KNIFE.

AND CHARLIE SHOT HER.

I HAD --
I HAD TO TAKE A STAND.

I COULDN'T LET 'EM
KEEP PUSHING ON ME.

WHAT ABOUT THE BABY,
CHARLIE?

WHY'D YOU KILL HER?

[ BABY CRYING ]

SHE WOULDN'T STOP CRYING.

SHUT UP.

SHUT UP!

[ CRYING CONTINUES ]

WHERE WAS CARIL
DURING ALL THIS?

SHE WAS AT SCHOOL.

O'Donnell: HE SAID THAT CARIL
HAD COME HOME AFTERWARD.

HE CLAIMED THAT HE HAD TOLD HER
HE HAD TAKEN HER FAMILY HOSTAGE

AND KEPT THEM IN A GARAGE
ON WOODSDALE AVENUE.

AND THAT THEY WOULD BE OKAY

AS LONG AS SHE SAID NOTHING.

GRANDMA, GO AWAY.

O'Donnell:
BUT IF SHE DIDN'T DO THAT,

HE WOULD KILL THE FAMILY.

I KNEW
IT WAS TIME TO GO.

THEY TAKE OFF IN THE CAR
TO THE MEYER FARM.

WE GOT STUCK IN THE MUD
OVER AT AUGUST MEYER'S FARM.

AUGUST MEYER LIVED ALONE.

AND CHARLIE HAD GOTTEN
PERMISSION

TO HUNT THERE IN THE PAST.

O'Donnell: CHARLIE SAID AUGUST
HAD A GUN IN HIS HAND.

AND CHARLIE THOUGHT MAYBE AUGUST
HAD HEARD A RADIO REPORT.

SO CHARLIE SHOT
AND KILLED HIM.

Detective: HOW DID YOU KILL
THE TEENAGERS?

WHAT HAPPENED WITH 'EM?

O'Donnell:
THEY SAW HEADLIGHTS.

BOB JENSEN, CAROL KING.

WELL, WE THREW A STORY
AT THAT GUY

THAT WE NEEDED
A RIDE TO BENNET.

SO HE LET US IN HIS CAR.

HE WASN'T TOO CALM
WHEN I PUT THAT GUN

AGAINST
THE BACK OF HIS HEAD.

AND WHAT'D YOU DO THEN?

WHEN I SAW THAT CELLAR,
I HAD HIM PULL OVER.

[ CAROL SCREAMING ]

SHE WAS STABBED, TOO,
CHARLIE, BETWEEN HER LEGS.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WHY'D YOU DOUBLE
BACK TO LINCOLN?

WELL, UH, UH, BOB'S CAR
HAD THOSE WHITEWALL TIRES.

BUT IT DIDN'T RUN
SO GOOD.

Ward: THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO FIND
A GOOD GETAWAY CAR.

CHARLIE WAS A GARBAGE COLLECTOR

IN THIS NICER
NEIGHBORHOOD IN LINCOLN

WHERE MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED.

THAT'S WHY HE DECIDED
TO GO BACK THERE.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

I HAD THOSE WOMEN
MAKE ME BREAKFAST.

CHARLIE ASKS MY GRANDMOTHER
TO MAKE HIM PANCAKES

AND THEN CHANGES
HIS ORDER TO WAFFLES.

I TAKE
THOSE LADIES UPSTAIRS,

TIED 'EM UP AND WAITED

FOR THE HUSBAND
TO COME HOME.

AROUND 6:00, MY GRANDFATHER

CAME IN THROUGH
THE KITCHEN DOOR.

I TOLD HIM EVERYTHING
WAS GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

BUT HE TRIED TO RUN,
SO I SHOT HIM IN THE BACK.

BUT YOU STABBED
THOSE LADIES.

WHY?

AIN'T THEY ALIVE?

Gay: CHARLIE SEEMS TO EXPRESS
GENUINE SURPRISE

THAT BOTH WOMEN WERE DEAD.

IN THE END, CHARLIE SAID
HE KILLED 11 PEOPLE.

O'Donnell: THE LAST ONE BEING
THE SHOE SALESMAN,

MERLE COLLISON,

WHO WAS KILLED ON THE ROAD
IN WYOMING

BECAUSE CHARLIE WANTED
TO TRADE CARS WITH HIM,

AND HE REFUSED.

BUT IF WE WERE HOPING
TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE DID IT,

WE WERE LEFT
SCRATCHING OUR HEADS.

WHY'D YOU DO IT, SON?

I ALWAYS WANTED
TO BE AN OUTLAW.

JUST NOT THIS BIG OF ONE.

ULTIMATELY, HE'S CONVICTED
AND SENTENCED TO DEATH.

CARIL ANN'S DEMEANOR
MADE HER VERY UNPOPULAR

IN THE PUBLIC PRESS.

THE MORE WE LEARNED,
THE LESS WE UNDERSTOOD.

I THOUGHT
FOR CERTAIN CARIL ANN

WAS JUST CAUGHT UP
IN SOMEONE ELSE'S MESS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT
THE STATE THOUGHT.

THEY CHARGED HER
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

Gay: THE PROSECUTORS
FELT THAT CARIL ANN

HAD TO BE LEGALLY COMPLICIT.

SHE HAD MANY CHANCES
TO ESCAPE AND DIDN'T.

THEY FELT THEY REALLY
HAD NO CHOICE

OTHER THAN
TO TRY HER AS AN ADULT.

AFTER CHARLIE WAS CONVICTED,

HE BECAME A BORN-AGAIN
CHRISTIAN.

AND HE WAS A PARTICIPANT
IN CARIL ANN'S TRIAL.

CARIL ANN FUGATE MAINTAINED

THAT SHE WAS BEING HELD HOSTAGE.

RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR
TO TELL THE TRUTH,

THE WHOLE TRUTH
AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH,

SO HELP YOU GOD?
- I DO.

Gay: THE D.A. CONVINCED
CHARLIE TO TESTIFY

AT HER TRIAL.

AND HIS STORY
CHANGED CONSIDERABLY.

I'M HERE TO SAY THAT CARIL ANN
WAS NO INNOCENT HOSTAGE.

ON THE STAND
AT CARIL ANN'S TRIAL,

HE NOW CLAIMED THAT
SHE WAS FULLY COMPLICIT

IN ALL OF THE MURDERS,

AT LEAST AS AN ACCESSORY,
INCLUDING HER FAMILY.

CHARLIE SAID THAT AS
HE WAS CLEANING THINGS UP...

...SHE WAS WATCHING TELEVISION.

CHARLIE SAID HE DIDN'T
FORCE CARIL ANN

TO DO A DAMN THING.

GRANDMA, GO AWAY.

SHE LIED BECAUSE
SHE WANTED TO.

CARIL ANN WAS CALLING ME
A DIRTY BASTARD

AND ACCUSING ME OF DOING
SEXUAL STUFF WITH CAROL KING.

FROM WHAT CHARLIE SAID,

THAT GIRL HAD MORE
THAN A TEMPER ON HER.

O'Donnell: CHARLIE SAYS
SHE HAD THE KNIFE.

SHE WENT BACK DOWN
INTO THAT CELLAR.

AND SHE STABBED THE BODY
OF CAROL KING IN THE GENITALS.

Ward: ALL ALONG THE HIGHWAY
AND BACK TO THE WARD HOUSE,

CHARLIE SAID CARIL ANN
WAS WREAKING HAVOC

AND HAVING THE TIME
OF HER LIFE.

I TIED UP THEM WOMEN

AND LEFT 'EM UP THERE
WITHOUT A SCRATCH.

SHE SAID MAYBE SHE
WANTED TO GO UPSTAIRS

AND MAKE SURE THE MAID
DIDN'T TRY TO RUN AWAY.

CHARLIE SAID SHE WAS JEALOUS,

THINKING THAT HE SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED MY GRANDMOTHER.

AND SHE PROCEEDED
TO STAB THEM TO DEATH.

FROM WHAT HE SAID,
IT SOUNDED LIKE CHARLIE

AND CARIL ANN
WERE MADE OF THE SAME STUFF.

O'Donnell: HOWEVER, HOW RELIABLE
CHARLIE IS, IS DIFFICULT TO SAY.

HIS STORY CHANGES
FROM ONE MOMENT TO THE NEXT.

WILLIAM ROMER, THE DEPUTY
SHERIFF FROM WYOMING,

HE THOUGHT THE SAME THING.

I WAS MAKING
MY REGULAR ROUNDS

WHEN I ENCOUNTERED
THE SUSPECT,

MISS CARIL ANN FUGATE,

WHO APPROACHED MY VEHICLE.

MISS FUGATE SAID THAT
SHE SAW HIM KILL 10 PEOPLE.

MEANING THAT SHE HAD SEEN

CHARLIE KILL HER PARENTS
AND HER BABY SISTER.

IF CARIL ANN REALLY
WAS CHARLIE'S HOSTAGE,

WOULDN'T SHE HAVE
BEEN AFRAID, ANGRY, SAD?

BUT THEY SAID HER
FACE WAS LIKE STONE.

CARIL ANN FUGATE
WAS SULLEN,

UNCOOPERATIVE, DIFFICULT.

Gay:
SHE'S A TOUGH CUSTOMER.

Ward: THE OUTCOME
OF CARIL ANN'S TRIAL

IS THAT SHE IS CONVICTED
OF THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

SHE IS SENTENCED
TO LIFE IN PRISON.

Gay: WAS CARIL ANN FUGATE

A HOSTAGE
OR A WILLING ACCOMPLICE?

Dennis: MY MOTHER SAID THERE
WERE JUST TOO MANY THINGS

THAT CARIL KNEW THAT SHE
COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE KNOWN

IF SHE WOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

WE COULDN'T GET OVER IT.

WHO WAS THIS GIRL?

Gay: THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON
THAT REALLY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED.

AND THAT'S CARIL ANN FUGATE.

* I DON'T WANT TO PLAY
IN YOUR YARD *

CARIL ANN WAS
THE YOUNGEST GIRL EVER

TO STAND TRIAL AS AN ADULT.

WE WEREN'T MORE
THAN CHILDREN.

HOW GUILTY CAN
A 14-YEAR-OLD ACTUALLY BE?

* I DON'T LIKE YOU ANYMORE *

AT THE SAME TIME,

WHAT KIND OF 14-YEAR-OLD
GOES ON A JOYRIDE

WITH A MAN WHO KILLED
HER 2-YEAR-OLD SISTER?

* YOU'LL BE SORRY *

* WHEN YOU SEE ME *

* SLIDING DOWN OUR CELLAR DOOR *

ADOLESCENTS DON'T HAVE
THE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

THAT ALLOWS THEM TO THINK
THROUGH CONSEQUENCES.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT CARIL ANN
DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS WRONG?

NO.
OF COURSE NOT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

TEENS ENGAGE
IN MAGICAL THINKING.

YOU KNOW, "WE'RE GONNA LIVE
TOGETHER IN THE HOUSE

FOR 6 DAYS

WITH THESE DEAD PEOPLE HERE

AND THINGS ARE JUST
GONNA WORK OUT."

DOES THAT MAKE
ANY SENSE AT ALL?

TEENS DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY

TO UNDERSTAND CONSEQUENCES
THAT ADULTS HAVE.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING

TO HURT SOMEONE WITH IT.

LOSING MY GRANDPARENTS
CREATED A BIG VOID.

I WONDER WHAT MY FATHER
WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE.

IT GOES ON AND ON.

THE REAL MYSTERY

ISN'T HOW CHARLIE AND CARIL ANN
DID WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

IT'S HOW COULD THEY?

BUT SOME MYSTERIES
CAN'T BE SOLVED.

A PERSON'S NOT A PUZZLE.

AND THE PIECES DON'T HAVE
TO FIT TOGETHER JUST RIGHT.

**

* YOU CAN HOLLER
DOWN MY RAIN BARREL *

* YOU CAN CLIMB
OUR APPLE TREE *

* I DON'T WANT TO PLAY
IN YOUR YARD *

* IF YOU CAN'T BE GOOD
TO ME *