Meet the Cast
Perry Smith
When we meet Perry Smith, he's a thief on parole from the Kansas State Penitentiary, an idealist who dreams of being magically delivered from his troubled life, a man who lies about killing a man j...
Dick Hickock
If we readers are left with some mixed feelings about Perry Smith, we sure aren't conflicted about Richard Eugene Hickock. His opening lines?"A cinch," said Dick. "I promise you, honey, we're gonna...
Herb Clutter
The killing of the well-liked and respected Clutter family was a complete mystery. According to KBI Agent Nye, the general consensus in town was that, "Of all the people in the world, the Clutters...
Bonnie Clutter
Bonnie is Herb's wife of 5 years. She's a reclusive, anxious person who's suffered from depression since the birth of her first child. Subsequent children brought more episodes of postpartum depres...
Nancy Clutter
Nancy is the youngest of Herb and Bonnie Clutter. Nancy's known as the Town Sweetheart, and in the fifties this was an okay thing to call a girl. She runs her busy schedule with the efficiency of a...
Kenyon Clutter
The youngest and only son of Herb and Bonnie Clutter, Kenyon's the least developed character in the Clutter family, but we know he's a happy, industrious kid. He's a bit of a lanky klutz, and:This...
The Investigators of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI)
Alvin Dewey Special Investigator Dewey is a family man. He has a wife, Maria, and two young sons, Alvin Jr. and Paul. Dewey and Maria appear to have a close, loving relationship. He's described as...
Walter and Mrs. Hickock
Dick's parents are poor farmers living in a shabby but well-kept house. Mrs. Hickock describes them as "plain people, just country people" (4.11) who had a happy family life. Mr. Hickock believes h...
Tex John Smith
Most of what we know about Perry's father comes from a letter he wrote to the Kansas parole board, and Perry's recollections of his childhood. He was a rodeo performer and an outdoorsman who taught...
Floyd Wells
Floyd provides the tip that cracks the Clutter case when he tells prison authorities about his conversation with Dick about Floyd's former employer, Herb Clutter. We know little about him except th...
Minor Characters
Lowell Lee AndrewsA fellow death row inmate, a "nice boy" who calmly murdered his parents and called the police. He's highly educated and intelligent, and constantly corrects Perry's grammar. He dr...