A trail of BODIES
The murderous road trip of Charles Starkweather and his girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate inspired the hit film Natural Born Killers.
In December 1957, Charles, then 19, was working as a garbage collector.
Living in poverty and suffering years of bullying due to a speech impediment and a leg deformity, he’d developed a resentment towards anyone he perceived as having more than he did. He also had a violent temper.
‘He could be mean as hell, cruel,’ his friend, Bob von Busch, later said.
But when he met Caril, then 14, through mutual friends, she was instantly besotted.
Charles became obsessed with actor James Dean, and formed the view that he could only make something of himself through drastic actions.
On November 1, 1957, he shot and killed petrol attendant Robert Colvert after demanding $100 from the till.
Then, on January 21, 1958, he shot and killed Caril’s mum Velda and stepdad Marion after a confrontation about dating their daughter,. He also killed her sister Betty Jean, aged just two.
The pair then went on the run together, killing more people as they went.
First, it was Fugate’s family friend August Meyer, then teens Robert Jensen and Carol King, who’d given the two fugitives a lift.
They then killed wealthy couple C. Lauer and Clara Ward, and their maid Lillian Fencil, before stealing jewellery and the Wards’ car.
Police finally caught up with the couple moments after they killed travelling salesman Merle Collison.
Charles Starkweather, 20, was sentenced to death, and executed in 1959.
Caril Ann Fugate spent 17 years in prison and was released in 1976. ●