Podcast
Questions and Answers
How many people attended the Clutter Funeral?
How many people attended the Clutter Funeral?
1000 people
Who said the mass?
Who said the mass?
Reverend Leonard Cowan
How many people went to the Valley View Cemetery and what did they do?
How many people went to the Valley View Cemetery and what did they do?
600 people went; recited the Lord's prayer
How did Dick get enough money to get them to Mexico?
How did Dick get enough money to get them to Mexico?
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Who is Perry supposedly marrying?
Who is Perry supposedly marrying?
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What is the supposed treasure off the coast of Costa Rica?
What is the supposed treasure off the coast of Costa Rica?
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At what time did Dewey's phone ring again?
At what time did Dewey's phone ring again?
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What are Dewey's two sons' names?
What are Dewey's two sons' names?
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What was the reward for information leading to the solution of the crime?
What was the reward for information leading to the solution of the crime?
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What was Mr. Smith's alibi?
What was Mr. Smith's alibi?
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Who is Mrs. Elaine Selsor?
Who is Mrs. Elaine Selsor?
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What did Elaine find while sorting Nancy's clothes?
What did Elaine find while sorting Nancy's clothes?
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What did Mrs. Helm realize was missing after taking a KBI agent with her and exploring all the rooms?
What did Mrs. Helm realize was missing after taking a KBI agent with her and exploring all the rooms?
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Why did the mattress box and bedcovers bother Dewey?
Why did the mattress box and bedcovers bother Dewey?
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When did Perry and Dick leave Kansas City in the old Chevrolet?
When did Perry and Dick leave Kansas City in the old Chevrolet?
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How did Perry and Dick fit all their stuff in the car?
How did Perry and Dick fit all their stuff in the car?
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When did Perry and Dick cross the border into Oklahoma?
When did Perry and Dick cross the border into Oklahoma?
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When did Beverly get married?
When did Beverly get married?
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Who are Mrs. Leonard Cowan and Mrs. Howard Blanchard?
Who are Mrs. Leonard Cowan and Mrs. Howard Blanchard?
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What is the setting of the day after the murder?
What is the setting of the day after the murder?
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Who is Andy Erhart?
Who is Andy Erhart?
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How long have Andy and Herb been friends?
How long have Andy and Herb been friends?
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Who are Herb's 3 other close friends?
Who are Herb's 3 other close friends?
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Who is the superintendent of the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station?
Who is the superintendent of the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station?
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What did Andy, Dale, Carl, and Everett all volunteer to do and what did they bring with them?
What did Andy, Dale, Carl, and Everett all volunteer to do and what did they bring with them?
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Who was the patrolman?
Who was the patrolman?
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How much longer did the 4 men have to drive after passing the patrolman?
How much longer did the 4 men have to drive after passing the patrolman?
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Who admitted the 4 friends into the Clutter house?
Who admitted the 4 friends into the Clutter house?
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In what order of the rooms did the 4 men clean?
In what order of the rooms did the 4 men clean?
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What was special about the couch that Kenyon was found on?
What was special about the couch that Kenyon was found on?
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What did the 4 men find in Nancy and Bonnie's room?
What did the 4 men find in Nancy and Bonnie's room?
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What are the reasons that Alfred Stoecklein couldn't have heard the gunshots?
What are the reasons that Alfred Stoecklein couldn't have heard the gunshots?
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Where does Alfred want to move to?
Where does Alfred want to move to?
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How long did the 4 friends clean up for?
How long did the 4 friends clean up for?
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What did the 4 friends do with all of the items from the Clutter house?
What did the 4 friends do with all of the items from the Clutter house?
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What is the farm's north field?
What is the farm's north field?
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Who sprinkled the pyramid of items with paraffin and struck a match to light it on fire?
Who sprinkled the pyramid of items with paraffin and struck a match to light it on fire?
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What did Herb's life evolve from?
What did Herb's life evolve from?
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What did Erhart wonder about when he heard of Herb's death?
What did Erhart wonder about when he heard of Herb's death?
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What is the Kansas Bureau of Investigation?
What is the Kansas Bureau of Investigation?
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Who is Alvin Adam Dewey?
Who is Alvin Adam Dewey?
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Who is Earl Robinson?
Who is Earl Robinson?
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What was Dewey before he became an agent at KBI?
What was Dewey before he became an agent at KBI?
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What was Dewey's attitude to the Clutter murder investigation?
What was Dewey's attitude to the Clutter murder investigation?
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Who are some of KBI's best investigators?
Who are some of KBI's best investigators?
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What are some characteristics of the sheriffs' office?
What are some characteristics of the sheriffs' office?
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Who is Mrs. Edna Richardson?
Who is Mrs. Edna Richardson?
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Where have the case headlines of the Clutter's murders reached?
Where have the case headlines of the Clutter's murders reached?
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When did Dewey hold a press conference?
When did Dewey hold a press conference?
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What is the estimated time of the murders?
What is the estimated time of the murders?
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What does Dewey think is a mere coincidence?
What does Dewey think is a mere coincidence?
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Who are the only 2 people that benefit financially from the deaths?
Who are the only 2 people that benefit financially from the deaths?
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What is the single killer concept?
What is the single killer concept?
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What is the double killer concept?
What is the double killer concept?
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What are some doubts about the single killer concept and the double killer concept?
What are some doubts about the single killer concept and the double killer concept?
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Where did Dewey retire to after the news conference?
Where did Dewey retire to after the news conference?
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What was Dewey's desk littered with?
What was Dewey's desk littered with?
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What did the photographs of the crime scene consist of?
What did the photographs of the crime scene consist of?
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What valuable surprise did a close-up of Mr. Clutter and the mattress box upon which he lay provide?
What valuable surprise did a close-up of Mr. Clutter and the mattress box upon which he lay provide?
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What were the only serious clues that the investigators could claim?
What were the only serious clues that the investigators could claim?
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What did Nancy's diary start and end with?
What did Nancy's diary start and end with?
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What were the three lines written in her diary an hour or two before Nancy died?
What were the three lines written in her diary an hour or two before Nancy died?
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What have the investigators done with Bobby Rupp already?
What have the investigators done with Bobby Rupp already?
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What was Bobby's motive?
What was Bobby's motive?
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What happened to Nancy's cat Boobs?
What happened to Nancy's cat Boobs?
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What does Dewey think of the poisoning of Boobs?
What does Dewey think of the poisoning of Boobs?
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What were Agents Church, Duntz, and Nye doing while Dewey was reading Nancy's diary?
What were Agents Church, Duntz, and Nye doing while Dewey was reading Nancy's diary?
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When was the funeral to take place?
When was the funeral to take place?
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What are some characteristics of Harold Nye?
What are some characteristics of Harold Nye?
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What are the nicknames of the KBI members?
What are the nicknames of the KBI members?
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What are some characteristics of Clarence Duntz?
What are some characteristics of Clarence Duntz?
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What are some characteristics of Roy Church?
What are some characteristics of Roy Church?
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What did Duntz's story consist of?
What did Duntz's story consist of?
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What was Church's story?
What was Church's story?
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Why couldn't robbery be an explanation?
Why couldn't robbery be an explanation?
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Why does Nye think it could be a robbery?
Why does Nye think it could be a robbery?
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What did Dewey do when he interrupted the consultation?
What did Dewey do when he interrupted the consultation?
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What are some characteristics of the Dewey family?
What are some characteristics of the Dewey family?
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Who is the only person not scared?
Who is the only person not scared?
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How did Mrs. Myrtle Clare die?
How did Mrs. Myrtle Clare die?
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What are the current fastest-going items?
What are the current fastest-going items?
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What did a carload of pheasant hunters from Colorado encounter on Tuesday, at dawn?
What did a carload of pheasant hunters from Colorado encounter on Tuesday, at dawn?
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What were some reasons that everyone was so scared?
What were some reasons that everyone was so scared?
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Who is Arthur Clutter and what did he say while talking to journalists in the lobby of a Garden City hotel on 17 November?
Who is Arthur Clutter and what did he say while talking to journalists in the lobby of a Garden City hotel on 17 November?
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What is the Eagle Buffet?
What is the Eagle Buffet?
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Who were the two men sitting at the Eagle Buffet and what were they doing?
Who were the two men sitting at the Eagle Buffet and what were they doing?
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What was Perry reading?
What was Perry reading?
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What are some examples of Perry's extrasensory perception?
What are some examples of Perry's extrasensory perception?
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Who is Floyd Wells?
Who is Floyd Wells?
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What has been Perry's dream since he was a kid?
What has been Perry's dream since he was a kid?
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How was Perry's childhood?
How was Perry's childhood?
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Who tormented Perry about the parrot?
Who tormented Perry about the parrot?
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What are the characteristics of the parrot?
What are the characteristics of the parrot?
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What was the ascension to paradise like?
What was the ascension to paradise like?
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How does Susan Kidwell describe her friendship with Nancy Clutter?
How does Susan Kidwell describe her friendship with Nancy Clutter?
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What did Susan do with Bobby after the deaths?
What did Susan do with Bobby after the deaths?
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What is Cree-Mee?
What is Cree-Mee?
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Who has the Clutter pets?
Who has the Clutter pets?
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What did Nancy and Bobby do the night before the funeral?
What did Nancy and Bobby do the night before the funeral?
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What were each of the Clutter family members wearing in their caskets?
What were each of the Clutter family members wearing in their caskets?
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Study Notes
Setting and Background
- The day after the murder was Monday, November 16, 1959, characterized by a bright sky, reminiscent of mica.
- The murder victims, the Clutter family, were admired and secure, representing values that resonated with the community.
Key Characters
- Andy Erhart: A close friend of Herb Clutter, a gentle and dignified pheasant hunter, and the superintendent of Kansas State University's Agricultural Experiment Station.
- Herb Clutter: A respected farmer who evolved from a poorly paid county agricultural agent to a prominent rancher, deeply involved in his community.
Cleaning Up After the Murder
- Andy Erhart and three friends volunteered to clean the Clutter house, bringing mops and cleaning supplies.
- The cleaning order of the rooms began with the furnace room where Mr. Clutter was found, followed by Kenyon's playroom, and finally Nancy and Bonnie's rooms.
Investigation Insights
- The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is a statewide organization with 19 detectives, led by Alvin Adam Dewey, who had a personal connection to the Clutter family.
- The only serious clues in the investigation were footprints with a distinctive pattern and impressions left at the crime scene.
Motivations and Suspects
- Doubts about potential robberies arose as cash was not found, but there was speculation regarding Mr. Clutter's recent life insurance policy.
- Bobby Rupp, Nancy's boyfriend, underwent interrogation regarding his relationship with Nancy, with underlying tension from Mr. Clutter about the pair dating.
Emotional Responses and Community Impact
- The murders instilled fear in the community, with people feeling insecure and distrustful of their neighbors.
- The Clutter funeral had a massive turnout, with around 1,000 attendees, highlighting the family's prominent position in the community.
Perpetrators and Theories
- Discussed theories regarding a single or double killer present in the Clutter household, with implications about their familiarity with the family.
- Floyd Wells, a former cellmate of Dick, was brought up as a potential connection to the crime and introduced a narrative of the suspects’ pasts.
Miscellaneous
- Dewey's family dynamic includes two young boys, and his work-life balance becomes a theme juxtaposed with the pressing investigation needs.
- The emotional struggles faced by those close to Nancy Clutter were evident, with friends recalling their sister-like bond and the impact of her tragic loss.### Missing Elements
- Helm was missing after taking a KBI agent and exploring all rooms.
Mattress and Murders
- Dewey was disturbed by the strange arrangement of a mattress box and bedcovers.
- The murders of Bonnie and Nancy raised questions about the murderers’ actions, specifically moving the box and neatly tucking in the bedcovers.
Departure Details
- Perry and Dick left Kansas City in an old Chevrolet on 21 November.
Packing Methods
- Their luggage was secured to the car's fenders and roof, causing an overstuffed trunk unable to close.
- The back seat was cluttered with two television sets, showcasing the disorder of Perry’s belongings.
Border Crossing
- Perry and Dick crossed into Oklahoma around midnight, marking a significant transition in their journey.
Wedding Timing
- Beverly got married on Saturday in the First Methodist Church, just three days after a funeral, to Mr. Vere Edward English.
Key Figures
- Mrs. Leonard Cowan served as a soloist at the event.
- Mrs. Howard Blanchard was the organist.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on Part 2 of Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood' with these flashcards. Explore key characters, settings, and events that follow the infamous murder. Ideal for students seeking to deepen their understanding of this classic true crime narrative.