The Clutter Family
The Clutter family lived in Holcomb, Kansas, and were well known for their honesty and hard work. Herbert Clutter ran a successful wheat farm and helped start the local Farm Credit System. He used modern farming methods and led in both civic groups and the Methodist church. Bonnie Clutter was kind and deeply religious, though she struggled with poor health.
Their two youngest children, Nancy and Kenyon, still lived at home. Nancy was 16, outgoing, and active in school, 4-H, music, and baking. People saw her as a leader and admired her warmth. Kenyon, 15, was quiet and liked building and working with electronics. The family lived with love, structure, and strong values—respected by all who knew them.
Clutter House
Clutter Family Graves
Perry Smith (L) and Richard Hickock (R)
Perry Smith and Richard Hickock were executed by hanging on April 14, 1965, at the Kansas State Penitentiary in Lansing, nearly six years after the Clutter family murders. The executions took place just hours apart, with Hickock going first, followed by Smith. Both men reportedly maintained calm demeanors in their final moments. Their deaths marked the end of a long legal process that had drawn national attention, especially after the publication of In Cold Blood, which detailed not only their crimes but also their lives, personalities, and final days on death row.
Grave of Perry Smith
Grave of Richard Hickock
