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On 15 November 1959, the peaceful town of Holcomb, Kansas, was shattered by news of the brutal and senseless murder of the Clutter family.

This heinous crime and the subsequent investigation, capture, trial, and execution of the two killers became the inspiration for Truman Capote’s groundbreaking true crime masterpiece, In Cold Blood.

Captivating readers upon its 1966 publication, the book became an instant sensation, and remains regarded as one of the greatest works of true crime literature.

What was the real story behind Capote’s famous book, and what was it about this particular case that captivated Capote so much?

The Clutter family

Herbert “Herb” Clutter owned a farm in Holcomb, Kansas, and the Clutter family were known for their prosperity, integrity, and generosity within their local community numbering less than 300 people.

Herb’s two elder daughters, Eveanna and Beverly, had moved out of the family home and started their adult lives.