Caril Ann Fugate And Charles Starkweather, The Teenage Serial Killer Couple
Public DomainCharles Starkweather’s June 1958 mugshot.
Caril Ann Fugate was just 13 when she met 18-year-old Charles Starkweather, and from the beginning, the teenager was enamored by his charm. However, this infatuation would lead her down a dangerous path.
In 1957, Starkweather killed a gas station attendant. Then, in January 1958, he murdered Fugate’s mother, stepfather, and two-year-old half-sister. From there, the serial killer couple set off on a week-long crime spree that left seven other people dead.
It’s unknown exactly to what extent Fugate was involved in the murders and whether she was driven by her own homicidal rage or if she was forced by Starkweather to participate in the crimes. After they were arrested on Jan. 29, 1958, Fugate maintained her innocence. However, Starkweather told a very different story, claiming that Fugate was just as guilty as he was.
Carl Iwasaki/Getty ImagesCaril Ann Fugate in prison in 1958.
Ultimately, Starkweather was tried for just one murder, but he was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was executed in the electric chair on June 25, 1959, at age 20.
Meanwhile, Fugate was sentenced to life in prison, likely due to her younger age. She was considered a model prisoner and was released on parole in 1976 after serving 18 years.
