Holcomb, Kansas, a serene farming town in western Kansas was rocked on November 15, 1959. A planned robbery, based on faulty information, went terribly wrong. Tragically, this resulted in the loss of a majority of a well-respected, local family.
The Clutter Family Murders left an indelible impression on the people of Holcomb, generated nationwide attention, and reshaped an entire literary genre with the release of In Cold Blood.
Within this piece, we illuminate the Clutter family’s lives. It delves into the investigation’s gripping tensions that swept Holcomb. The key role of Floyd Wells is also examined. The motives of Richard Hickock and Perry Smith. Moreover, it highlights how In Cold Blood by Truman Capote ushered in a new era for the True Crime genre.
Introducing the Clutter Family Members
Herbert William “Herb” Clutter, together with his wife, Bonnie, represented the picture-perfect embodiment of the revered American family. This emblematic family had four children;
The Clutter family was quintessential Americana. Herbert William “Herb” Clutter, together with his wife, Bonnie were pillars of the Holcomb Kansas community, highly active in local civic, religious and business organizations. They had four beautiful children, Eveanna and Beverly, the surviving family members who had left the family nest at the time of the crime, and Nancy and Kenyon who were still in high school.
Herbert Clutter
A leader in the Kansas state farming community, he remains an emblematic figure in the agricultural world. His murder continues to leave a deep impression on the state and the industry six decades on. Herb’s wide smile and warm hand shake coupled with tireless dedication to agricultural innovation driven by communal spirit are among his most revered characteristics. Herbert Clutter fostered an environment of mutual respect and trust that put workers first. Whether it was providing pay advancements if needed or a nice bonus at years end, he always had his worker’s back.
Bonnie Clutter
She was born in Roxbury, Kansas in the early part of 1914 and married Herbert Clutter on a sunny day on June 20, 1934. Known for her soft-spoken demeanor and caring nature, Bonnie Clutter was the embodiment of maternal love. Despite omnipresent chronic illness, Bonnie was deeply invested in the lives of her children. The dark shadows of depression are relentless and they often confined to her bed or unwelcomed hospital stays. Nonetheless, her influence permeated the Clutter family home and the lives of her children. Her twin passions of education and community were evident in her position with the United Methodist Church educational council.
Nancy Clutter
She was renowned for her academic prowess and role as the president of the student council at her school. Nancy Clutter was a dedicated member of the 4-H youth development program. Her strong sense or morality had her even consider embracing a religious path and becoming a nun.
Kenyon Clutter
Like his sister, Kenyon showcased precocious talent. He excelled in engineering innovative, complex games. Just a freshman at Holcomb High School at the time of his murder, his hobbies showcased a curiosity and creative inclination. He was involved in intricate models, crafts, and rebuilding an old truck that his father gifted him. He was in the process of handcrafting a beautifully intricate cedar chest for his eldest sister, Beverly, on his final day.
The Fateful Night: A Nightmare Unfolds
In the predawn twilight of November 15, 1959, two ex-convicts, Richard Hickock, and Perry Edward Smith, drove into the peaceful town of Holcomb, Kansas. Months earlier, a fateful conversation with a cellmate at the Kansas State Penitentiary planted the seeds for the night. Heading out from Olathe they covered the 400 mile trip in a stolen ’49 Chevy. They had their sights on River Valley Farm and home of the Clutter family.
Upon arrival, they entered the home through an unlocked door and kicked off an hours-long nightmarish ordeal for the Clutters. First, they roused the family from sleep. Next, they locked Bonnie and the kids in a second floor bathroom ordered Herb to follow.
Safe Search Comes Up Empty
After a thorough yet futile search for a supposed safe filled with cash, things turned upside down. Their total haul for the caper was a Zenith portable radio, a pair of bincoulars and $48 in cash.
Aggravated by the absence of the envisioned loot, the duo debated over their next move. The bound the hands of Bonnie and Nancy and tucked them into separate bads. Then they ordered Herb and Kenyon to the basement where they were both bound, gagged and placed into separate rooms. Kenyon was propped up against a chair while Herb was down onto mattress.
Perry Smith: The Tipping Point In The Clutter Family Murders
Frustration bubbled into violence. Perry Smith, known for his fits of rage, brutishly slit Herb Clutter’s throat before shooting him in the head. Moments later, young Kenyon met the same fate in the playroom.
Hickock and Smith moved upstairs, entering Nancy’s room, who, unlike the others, wasn’t gagged. A single shotgun blast ended Nancy’s life. Lastly, they entered Bonnie Clutter’s room, where she was shot to death, just like the others. Smith had reportedly considered desecrating Nancy, but Richard Hickock talked him out of it. Having completed their gruesome task, the pair fled, leaving behind a macabre tableau in the now silent house. Later, it became unclear if Perry Smith was the lone gunman.
A Town Turned Upside Down
Anxiety and Fear Spread around the Clutter Family Murders
The population of Holcomb was an estimated 300 in November 1959. Over 1,000 attended the Clutter family funeral as Valley View Cemetery. The now empty clutter home quickly became a tourist attraction for locals out-of-towners alike.
With solid leads absent in the aftermath of the horrendous crime, rumors began circulating, enveloping the tranquil corners of town. The Kansqas Bureau of Investigation had their hands full. Whispers of speculations metastasized into malignant speculation. Holcomb locals, respectable and reliable, suddenly transformed into amateur detectives piecing together the horrifying puzzle. Suggestions of illegitimate business dealings, family discord, and illicit love affairs wer part of the the daily discourse.
As days turned into weeks with law enforcement grappling with the unsolved murder, an eerie wave of fear shrouded the town. Measures perceived as unthinkable previously – locking doors at night, training firearms towards windows, and postponing community gatherings – abruptly became commonplace. The uncertainty revolving around the legal outcome of the Clutter family murders instilled a chilling reminder of the vulnerability of life. Suddenly, every resident was potentially the next victim, and the perpetrator could be anyone.
Religious attendance surged as people sought consolation in faith, solidarity in communal prayers. Others found relief in fortification, installing extra security measures, preparing for the worst. The comforting monotony of a secure existence evaporated into thin air, replaced with a continuous feeling of dread.
Floyd Wells: An Unexpected Link
Outside of the perpertrators and victims, Floyd Wells is the most consquential character in the Clutter murder saga. It all began with his stint as a farmhand at River Valley Farm. During this time he learned details about the family, Herb Clutter’s routines and business practices. Wells openly spoke his time working for the prosperous Clutter family with Dick Hickock during their time as cellmates. The opportunistic Hickock peppered Wells with questions about the Clutters wealth, daily routines and intimate details of River Valley’s layout. By the end of their time together, Hickock was openly bragged to Well’s that the Clutter’s were his main target upon parole. Floyd Well’s had unintentially set the plan in action.
Reluctance Inflames Suspicion Across Holcomb
While sitting in cell in Kansas State Prison, he learned of murders over his radio. Despite possessing crucial information regarding the Clutter murder case, Floyd Wells initially held back his knowledge. If he went forward immediately, he would have been branded a snitch by fellow inmates. This would have put his physical health at immediate risk, so he chose to remain silent. His hesitation allowed the rumors and theories to mushroom in Holcomb, exacerbating the community’s agony and grief in an environment starved of any firm leads. At the same time, Floyd was overwhelmed with remorse knowing he played a pivotal role in the massacre.
The Turning Point of the Clutter Family Murders
In a moment of internal convulsion, Floyd Wells summoned the bravery to expose Dick Hickock and Perry Smith as the true culprits of this crime. His crucial revelations marked a turning point in the investigation, assisting law enforcement in apprehending the culprits who had left Kansas City for Las Vegas. Holcomb’s reaction was a mix of relief, suspicion and disbelief. After spending weeks marinating in theories of which local resident committed this evil act, some could not believe it came from an outsider. Slowly, the town came to terms with most of the town attending the funerals and slowly
Truman Capote’s Pioneering Role
The mention of the Clutter Family Murders invariably invokes the critically acclaimed author Truman Capote. His groundbreaking novel, “In Cold Blood,” captured people’s attention internationally and pushed the boundaries of true crime literature.
How it began
His interest was initially piqued by a small story in the New York Times about the shocking murders in the otherwise quiet town of Holcomb. Capote, accompanied by his childhood friend and still unknown author Harper Lee, visited Holcomb to delve deeper into the events. As a testament to Capote’s charm and wit, he soon forged connections with both the residents and law enforcement, becoming a part of the community.
Capote also made a visible impact on Holcomb’s community while he researched the book. The residents opened their private lives, reliving the terrifying event over and over again.
Capturing The Clutter Family Murders
Capote’s rigorous exploration of the case involved detailed interview of the victims’ friends, family, acquaintances of the murderers, and immersion into the shattered lives of those affected by this dreadful incident. This painstaking research crystallized into “In Cold Blood”. It’s considered a literary masterpiece chronicling the Clutter Family Murders, combining fact with narrative storytelling while exploring the psychology of Richard Eugene Hickock and Perry Edward Smith.
Consequently, this exposed a range of emotions. The emotional toll the repeated retelling of the ordeal took and discomforted by the spotlight cast on their small town, Holcomb was spent. Capote’s intent was to deliver a true, sympathetic portrayal of the events and the people involved. However, it’s undeniable that the real-life retelling stirred mixed emotions amongst the Holcomb residents.
The complexities of Capote’s character come into play when acknowledging the controversial relationship he developed with one of the murderers – Perry Smith. Establishing a deep relationship, Capote was there during Smith’s confessions, becoming privy to undisclosed details of Smith’s life. Critics argue that this connection may have skewed Capote’s portrayal of Smith in the book. In contrast, others argue that the friendship simply provided unprecedented insight into the perpetrator’s mind, exposing the intricacies of human nature.
Reception
“In Cold Blood” first appeared in four installments in The New Yorker on September 25th 1965.
Capote’s “In Cold Blood” achieved not only global recognition but also ushered in a new ear in the genre of true crime writing. By blurring the distinction between journalism and storytelling, he injected the genre with narrative devices and psychological insights that engaged the readers. His unique approach of humanizing both the victims and the perpetrators of the Clutter Family Murders deviated from the traditional narration of good versus evil. It forced a confrontation with the complexities inherent in human nature.
Capote’s masterpiece undoubtedly magnified the tragic Clutter Family Murders. It illuminated the detrimental impact of violence on small communities, the quest for justice, and the psychology of criminal behavior. However, it’s essential to remember that this tragedy was a horrifying reality for many. The lives of the surviving Clutter family members and the people of Holcomb, their lives were permanently scarred by that horrific November night.
Conclusion
In the quiet, serene farming town of Holcomb, Kansas, a dark and chilling event forever changed the community. The Clutter Family Murders left behind a haunting legacy in the hearts and minds of the residents, while simultaneously capturing the attention of the nation.
It was through Truman Capote’s masterpiece, “In Cold Blood,” that the world was introduced to the gripping tale of the Clutter family and the harrowing investigation that followed their tragic deaths. Capote’s groundbreaking work not only shed light on the psychology of the perpetrators but also pushed the boundaries of the true crime genre, forever reshaping the way we understand and approach such stories.
While the impact of this literary milestone cannot be understated, it is crucial to remember that behind the pages lie the shattered lives of the Clutter family and the enduring scars left on the town of Holcomb. Their story serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and the resilience of those left in its wake.
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- In Cold Blood – NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The most famous true crime novel of all time “chills the blood and exercises the intelligence” (The New York Review of Books)—and haunted its author long after he finished writing it.