When she was just 13 years old, Caril Ann Fugate crossed paths with Charles Starkweather. He, five years her senior, captivated her with his charms and James Dean-like persona. Swiftly, she became his constant companion, joining him in cars across town, then across the nation, partaking in all his rebellious exploits — even those culminating in homicide.
Starkweather, a high school dropout turned garbage truck driver, initiated his killing spree on Dec. 1, 1957. Swiftly escalating, he even took the lives of members of Fugate's own family, ultimately claiming 11 lives before his arrest in late January 1958.
Both Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate faced murder charges. Starkweather met his fate through execution, while Fugate received a life sentence, later granted parole. However, the extent of her involvement in the murderous rampage remains a subject of debate. Was Caril Ann Fugate truly a victim of Starkweather's influence, as she professed later? Or did she willingly aid him as his eager accomplice?
The Fateful Meeting Of Caril Ann Fugate And Charles Starkweather
Caril Ann Fugate, born on July 30, 1943, enjoyed a typical upbringing in Lincoln, Nebraska, until her thirteenth year. In 1956, her sister introduced her to Charles Starkweather, a friend of her boyfriend. Despite Starkweather's seniority by five years, the two formed a connection.
The Tale Of The 14-year-old Who Assisted In One Of America's Notorious Killing Sprees Starkweather displayed occasional kindness, such as teaching his younger girlfriend how to drive. Yet, beneath this veneer, lurked a darker aspect. Bullied for his bow-legged stance and slight stutter during his school years, Starkweather harbored a deep-seated rage. Despite Fugate's attempts to sever ties, he remained fixated on her.
"I told him I didn't want to see him again but he came back," she later claimed. "I kept telling him to leave. I told him to leave and I didn't ever want to see him again."
The first victim fell on Dec. 1, 1957, when Starkweather murdered a gas station attendant, purportedly to acquire $100 for their escape together. This act marked the inception of their deadly journey.
Inside The Teenage Couple's Blood-Soaked Killing Spree
On Jan. 21, 1958, Starkweather's violence escalated, targeting Fugate's family. He mercilessly killed her father, stepmother, and even her two-year-old half-sister, Betty Jean.
The Tale Of The 14-year-old Who Assisted In One Of America's Notorious Killing Sprees Fugate maintains her innocence regarding her family's slaughter. In her petition for clemency, as detailed by the Washington Post, she recounts returning home to find Starkweather aiming a gun at her, claiming her family was held captive by two members of his gang.
"He threatened me by telling me that if I didn't do everything he said that he would make one phone call and have his gang kill my family and it would be my fault," Fugate said said.
Six days later, they embarked on one of the most infamous killing sprees in American history. Their victims included a farmer, two high school students, and a couple along with their housekeeper. Fugate contends she played no role in the killings but admits to taking a wallet from one of the dying high schoolers.
On Jan. 29, Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate encountered a sleeping shoe salesman in his Buick near Douglas, Wyoming. Starkweather shot him to hijack his car, attracting the attention of another driver and a Wyoming sheriff's deputy.
Amidst the struggle between Starkweather and the third driver for the rifle, the deputy arrived. Fugate seized the opportunity, fleeing towards the deputy, screaming for help. "Save me! Save me! He's going to shoot me, too!"
Though Starkweather briefly evaded capture, law enforcement swiftly apprehended him and Fugate. Both were arrested and charged with murder.
Was Caril Ann Fugate Innocent?
The Tale Of The 14-year-old Who Assisted In One Of America's Notorious Killing Sprees Upon her arrest, Fugate maintained ignorance of her family's fate, alleging Starkweather masterminded the entire spree. Initially corroborating her story, Starkweather later accused her of willingly participating in the murders.
"Well, by now, I'm sure he hates me for running away," she said at a press conference when asked why Starkweather would claim she was his accomplice. "He's trying to make it look like I'm just as guilty as he is."
Starkweather received a death sentence by electric chair for his crimes. Fugate, then the youngest female charged with first-degree murder, faced a guilty verdict after Starkweather testified against her. She was sentenced to life imprisonment. Despite Starkweather's execution on June 25, 1959, Fugate served only 17 years of her term.
The Tale Of The 14-year-old Who Assisted In One Of America's Notorious Killing Sprees Post-release, Fugate endeavored to reintegrate into society. She held roles as a medical technician and janitorial assistant before retiring. In 2007, she married (her husband passed away in 2013).
The infamous crime spree has inspired several films, such as Badlands and Natural Born Killers. Bruce Springsteen immortalized Fugate and Starkweather's tale in his song "Nebraska," depicting them as a Bonnie and Clyde-esque duo.
"Me and her went for a ride, sir, and 10 innocent people died," Springsteen sings in the song.
Fugate consistently professed her innocence. In 2020, she sought a full pardon to clear her name.
"The idea that posterity has been made to believe that I knew about and/or witnessed the death of my beloved family and left with Starkweather willingly on a murder spree is too much for me to bear anymore," she wrote in her application according to the Washington Post. "Receiving a pardon may somehow alleviate this terrible burden."
However, her application was denied, leaving unanswered questions about her involvement with Charles Starkweather and their violent spree. Was she truly an innocent victim, as she maintained, or an active participant, as Starkweather alleged?
Only Caril Ann Fugate holds the definitive truth.
