In Cold Blood Characters list

Bobby Rupp

Bobby Rupp is a minor character in the book In Cold Blood, who was the boyfriend of one of the murder victims, Nancy Clutter. He is portrayed as a sensitive and caring young man who is deeply affected by the tragedy. He is interviewed by detectives and ultimately cleared of any involvement in the murders.

Richard “Dick” Hickock

Richard Dick Hickock was a convicted criminal and one of the two murderers in the non-fiction book In Cold Blood. He was portrayed as a manipulative, cold-hearted and remorseless killer who plotted the brutal murder of a Kansas family for their perceived wealth.

Alvin Dewey

Alvin Dewey is a hardworking and determined investigator who leads the case against the murderers in Truman Capote’s book In Cold Blood.

Floyd Wells

Floyd Wells is a former cellmate of one of the murderers in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. He is the one who tells authorities about the family’s wealth, which leads the murderers to their home.

Perry Smith

Perry Smith is a complex character in Truman Capote’s book In Cold Blood. He is one of the two killers who brutally murders the Clutter family. Perry is a troubled man who has a troubled past and a history of violence, abuse, and instability. Despite his criminal actions, readers can’t help but feel some sympathy towards Perry due to his troubled childhood and the traumatic experiences that shaped his life.

Mr. Helm

Mr. Helm is a farmer in the small Kansas town where the Clutter family lived. He is a respected member of the community who was acquainted with the Clutters and serves as a witness during the investigation of their murder.

Mrs. Myrtle Clare

Mrs. Myrtle Clare is a elderly woman who lived alone in Holcomb, Kansas. She was brutally murdered along with her husband during the infamous Clutter family killings, a crime that shook the small town and made national headlines.

Mr. Ewalt

Mr. Ewalt is one of the few sympathetic characters in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, described as a river-rat who befriends the two murderers, Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, during their escape. He shows kindness towards the men, providing them with shelter and food despite being aware of their crimes.

Kenyon Clutter

Kenyon Clutter is one of the four members of the wealthy and respected Clutter family who were brutally murdered in their home in Holcomb, Kansas. He is the youngest of the four children, a high school student who enjoys listening to music and tinkering with machinery in his spare time. Despite his youth, Kenyon’s death is just as tragic and senseless as the rest of his family’s, leaving a chilling mark on the small town community.

John McKinney

John McKinney is a minor character in Truman Capote’s book In Cold Blood, serving as the prosecutor of the case against the two murderers. He is described as a methodical and competent lawyer, but does not have a significant presence in the story.

Lowell Lee Andrews

Lowell Lee Andrews was a socially awkward and intelligent young man from a wealthy family in Kansas who was convicted of murdering his family members in 1958. He was a key character in Truman Capote’s true crime book, In Cold Blood.

Willie-Jay

Willie-Jay is a minor character in the book In Cold Blood, who is briefly mentioned in a few chapters. He is described as a former cellmate of one of the murderers, Perry Smith, and as someone who may have provided some information about Smith’s past to the authorities. However, his significance to the story is limited and he does not play a major role in the plot.

Mrs. Clara Allen

Mrs. Clara Allen is a resident of Holcomb, Kansas and a friend of the Clutter family. She is a kind and loyal neighbor who is devastated by the murder of her friends and the chaos it brings to her community.

Mrs. Sarah Faith Ewalt

Mrs. Sarah Faith Ewalt is a minor character in the book In Cold Blood. She is portrayed as a friendly and caring neighbor of the Clutter family, who had a brief conversation with Nancy Clutter on the day before the murders.

Susan Kidwell

Susan Kidwell is a minor character in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. She is the young wife of Bobby Rupp, a childhood friend of one of the murder victims, Nancy Clutter. Despite her brief appearance in the book, her relationship with Bobby adds a layer of personal connection and emotional weight to the tragedy that befalls the Clutter family.

Nancy Clutter

Nancy Clutter is a young and popular girl from the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. She is described as kind, intelligent, and well-liked by her peers in the community. Unfortunately, she becomes a victim of the senseless and brutal murders committed by Richard Dick Hickock and Perry Smith.

Herbert Clutter

Herbert Clutter is a wealthy and respected farmer in Holcomb, Kansas, who is brutally murdered along with his wife and two children in the non-fiction book In Cold Blood. He is described as a kind and hardworking man with a strong sense of integrity and community values.

Roy Church

Roy Church is a minor character in the book In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. He is a pastor who counsels the Clutter family after they are killed by Richard Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. He is portrayed as a kind and empathetic individual who tries to provide comfort to the grieving family.

Harold Nye

Harold Nye is a detective for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation who works on the case of the Clutter family murders. He is dedicated to finding the killers and is an important figure in the investigation.

Bonnie Clutter

Bonnie Clutter was the wife of Herbert Clutter and the mother of Nancy, Kenyon, and Beverly Clutter. She had a history of mental illness and was known to withdraw from social situations. Her tragic end was a significant part of the Clutter family’s gruesome murder in the true crime book In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.

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