Charles Raymond Starkweather Research Papers

“One thing about dead people, they’re all the same.” Those were the shocking words of Charles Raymond Starkweather. Accompanied by his girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate, went on a killing spree in 1957 through 1958. Inspiring music like We Didn’t Start the Fire by Billy Joel, films such as Natural Born Killers (1944), and books like Outside Valentine by Liza War. A few of many.

Charles Raymond Starkweather, born November 24, 1938, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Being the third of seven children grew up in the Great Depression Era. Money had always been a problem, which angered Charles greatly, believing it was an “injustice”. He was often bullied for his funny walk and a speech impediment. By age 16, he dropped out of school. He then started working as a

Then stealing his car. Later, on January 21, 1958, he drove to Ann Fugate’s home. Where Starkweather was denied entry by Fugate’s mother, Velda Barlett. Starkweather got into an argument with Mrs. Barlett that led him to shoot Mrs. Barlett and Mr. Barlett (stepfather) with a shotgun and stabbing to death 2-year old Betty Jean (stepsister.) They then stayed in the house for 6 days telling visitors the family was sick in bed with the flu. When family members grew suspicious they fled to a family friends farm, August Meyer. They killed him and when they tried to steal his car, it got stuck on his property. They later hitched a ride with two other teenagers, Robert Jensen and Carole King, eventually killing them and stealing their

The trail was held May 5-23, 1958, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He pleaded innocent all the way through. Unfortunately, Starkweather said some disturbing statements like “the more I looked at people, the more I hated them,” which did not help his case one bit. Evidence helped the jury declared Starkweather guilty. He was sentenced to death by electric chair. He died June 25, 1959, in Lincoln, Nebraska at age 21. Fugate’s trial was held on October 27 to November 21, 1958. She insisted to have been a hostage of Starkweather but the jury found her guilty of first-degree murder at age 15(the youngest female in United States history.) She was paroled in 1976 after serving 17 years in prison. She is still alive at age 72 living in Hillsdale,