CRIME SCENE PHOTOS ARE GRAPHIC Two families, mysteriously murdered under similar circumstances, just a month apart. One was memorialized in Truman Capote’s classic novel, In Cold Blood. The other was all but forgotten.
Dick Hickock and Perry Smith confessed to the the November 15, 1959 murder of a family of four in Holcomb, Kansas. Despite remarkable coincidences between the two crimes, they denied committing the the December 19 murder of a family of four in Osprey, Florida.
Over half a century later, a determined Florida detective undertakes exceptional efforts to try to bring closure to the long-cold case.
J.T. Hunter is an attorney with over fourteen years of experience practicing law, including criminal law and appeals, and he has significant training in criminal investigation techniques. He is also a college professor in Florida where his teaching interests focus on the intersection of criminal psychology, law, and literature.
JT's bestselling true crime books include:
Devil in The Darkness: True Story of Serial Killer ISRAEL KEYES The Country Boy Killer: The True Story of Serial Killer Cody Legebokoff In Colder Blood: True Story of the Walker Family Murder as depicted in Truman Capote’s, In Cold Blood Deadly Deception: True Story of Tampa Serial Killer, Bobby Joe Long Death Row Romeo: The True Story of Serial Killer Oscar Ray Bolin The Vampire Next Door: True Story of the Vampire Rapist and Serial Killer
I thought this book was too short for what it (I think) was trying to accomplish. That being said, I didn't realize that it was a follow up to In Cold Blood.
There were a lot of details given about two murder sprees: the Walker family and the Clutters. While I did enjoy what I read, it was so upsetting to read about the possible errors on law enforcement's part that might have give definitive answers as to who killed these people.
It's such a short book (116 pages) that it's difficult to say too much about it but it is a pretty good read. I'd read In Cold Blood before reading this one, though.
The circumstantial evidence is chilling when considering the crimes. Makes one wonder if there are any other unsolved crimes or falsely accused suspects along Hickok's and Smith's path during their time on the run. I liked the writing style that was clean, direct, and to the point. The sequence of events and comparison of the time lines between the activities of the Walker family and the sightings of Hickok and Smith ties together bet well. It was frustrating about the DNA sample contamination. Hopefully in the near future the results will be better since there are improvements to the technology and the technician will do a better job handling samples. The most compelling clue were the boot prints at the Clutter crime scene being so similar to ones found at the Walker crime scene. It is unfortunate that the KBI would not allow the boots to be used for a better analysis. I remember one thing that a psychiatrist noted about Hickok and Smith, that alone their crimes tended to be non-violent. It was the dynamics once they paired up that unleashed their violence. Together they were vicious. Had they not been apprehended, they would have continued killing. I know that Capote played on Hickok's poverty and Smith's terrible childhood, but other people have endured worse and did not become killers. It does not justify what they did to the Clutters and most likely to the Walkers. It is very likely that this young family were also victims of this deadly pair. If you read In Cold Blood, you need to read this book. When new information becomes available I hope Mr Hunter does an update on the book.
Terrible just terrible. I picked it up through kindle unlimited and the first chapter was really great. Cop stops guy in a car for speeding in the dark but then to find blood in the car and then it goes from there. So I was really engaged and then all of a sudden "yes he also killed so and so and so and so, and then the trial. O wait there were very few words for the victims but that was not why it was so bad. I did not like it because again the author assumed you know all there is to know.
Crazy guy and even though he had a babyface I thought he was ugly! Eyes too close to each other.
This could have been great. The beginning was so for that I will add one star and give it 2.
“The Country Boy Killer” is not for the faint of heart. Cody Alan Legebokoff was a vicious murderer. His victims, four attractive young women, were slain with excessive savagery.
Legebokoff was arrested at the age of 20 during a traffic stop for speeding. As the officers were questioning him, they began to suspect that there was more. The series of tall tales he was telling to explain discrepancies was nothing short of fantastic. They first assumed he was guilty of poaching and followed his tire tracks looking for the deer they thought he had killed. At the end of their search, they found the worst-case scenario.
The investigation that revealed earlier crimes was thorough and professionally conducted as was the trial. The attorneys and the judge did an excellent job, and the jurors considered the evidence carefully before submitting their verdict. The tall tales Legebokoff told from the witness stand were so unbelievable that he would have been better off not testifying.
This is a tragic case, not only for the victims and their families, but for the young man and his family as well.
An interesting look into the more forgotten family murder probably committed by the same killers who were featured in Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, Smith and Hickok. Very unsettling and scary, but important, since this nice family and what happened to it are all but forgotten in our time. Not very-well written, but well-researched and informative.
This was a very, very short little book. Only 97 pages and ended at 93% as well !! I've read In Cold Blood and was not a fan in the least. I had never heard of this set of murders in 1959, the same year as the Clutter murders, as they nary warrant a mention, which is pretty sad. It does seem like a hell of a coincidence if it wasn't the same pair of killers but unfortunately we still don't really reach a definitive resolution which irritated me a little. However, this version was released in 2016, I think, so there may be more up-to-date news, which I will google after completing this review. I did only see one error, writing McLeod's not McLeods', when he knew the difference as he usually got it right. I was intrigued to read about the eye donation as it reminded me of Gary Gilmore, who did the same. All in all, a very brief book and the crime scene photos were bloody tragic, too.
I will never understand how anyone can harm a child. They are so innocent. I think Mr. Hunter competently presented his case that Perry & Hickock were most likely the killers of the Walker family. Based on his information logically we could conclude they were indeed guilty. They paid the ultimate price for the Clutter murders, but somehow, someway I hope they are suffering if they indeed destroyed this family. I still cannot conceive of a childhood so "bad" that you can gleefully murder innocent people. Very nicely written, but it could haven been a little bit longer...
I read through this book in an hour -- it's quite short -- and came away disturbed. Did they or didn't they kill this family? It sure seems possible. At the same time, I was unsatisfied by the investigators' speculations on why the suspects might have done this, and unsatisfied that the more logical, likely suspects were properly cleared -- especially in light of a tearful confession someone overheard years later. There are still too many questions in spite of all the heavily slanted interpretations of evidence I found in here. But it was definitely enough to make me wonder.
I have read about this case before, but nothing this in depth! It is usually just the facts and sort of generic. This was very well written, and it let you get to know the victims and the killer. It makes you wonder what made Cody Legebokoff into the killer he became... He seemed to have a very normal upbringing... Maybe some people are just born that way... and will kill no matter how they were raised.. Can't wait for the next book in this series!
This is a great read. Four victims taken from their families in brutal & horrendous acts by Cody Legebokoff. No real reason for their murders except maybe sexual intent. What causes someone to kill others in such brutal ways? No real answer exists. He tries to make it look like others did the crime while he just happens to be there. The sad part is he may be eligible for parole after a short time. I can't imagine how the families of the victim's feel
Just. Not. Good. Very flat. It started out like a lot of True Crime stories do...at the point of capture. I was waiting for the author to go back and develop the character of the murderer, what was his childhood like, where did he come from, who was he, but there was only about a paragraph about that: "He had a happy childhood". No conjecture as to why he did it. No psychological theories of how someone with his background could become the monster he did. Then I was expecting some development of the victims but only got very little information (again a couple paragraphs) about just one of the victims, the final one. From there it quickly went right into the trial and the aftermath and never really discussed the other victims other than their names and how they were murdered. A lot of it was just reprinted transcripts from the trial and news paper reports, so the writer didn't really do much of the work. Pretty much a disappointment and honestly a disservice to the families of the victims. This author had the opportunity to tell their stories and didn't. This might have just been a long news paper story for what it contained. Just the facts ma'am, just the facts.
A thought-provoking analysis of a quadruple homicide
The author has presented a well-written and well-researched study of the horrific murders of the Walker family, Cliff, Christine, little Jimmy, and baby Debbie in Florida on December 19, 1959, just a month after the Clutters "In Cold Blood" murders in Kansas.
The conclusions drawn from the existing evidence are astonishing but probable, although there will be no additional information forthcoming to definitively prove the connection. Mistakes made during the investigation cannot be undone, and evidence lost or not collected is gone forever.
I was glued to this book until the last page. If you read "In Cold Blood," you'll find this book even more enlightening.
The routine traffic stop. It's amazing how many serial killers have been caught by diligent patrol officers; Ted Bundy (twice), Joel Rifkin and Randy Kraft to name a few. And, of course, Cody Legebokoff.
The book is a quick read but loaded with information which I believe is the goal of this series of books. No wasted words here and unlike so many ebooks, the editing was good.
Cody Legebokoff fascinates me. He was so young. I wish I could read about his psychological assessments - I am sure he has had many. Now someone needs to write that book. :-)
This is a very well written book about the Walker family murders that occurred in Florida in December of 1959. These murders occurred a month after the Clutter family murders in Holcomb, Kansas. Richard Hickock and Perry Smith were convicted of the Clutter murders and executed by hanging. It has long been felt that Hickock and Smith were also guilty of the Walker family murders although they were never charged. I had never heard of the Walker murders before and this is an excellent account of it. I highly recommend this book.
This book is about the Walker family murders in Osprey, FL in 1959, right after the Clutter family murders. I found this book very interesting, giving many details about the family, the murders, and the theories of who could have killed this family (it is currently still unsolved). I liked that it talked about the DNA testing, which so far has not had any positive results for any suspects. It is a fast and easy read and I do recommend it, especially since it is the only book on these murders (to my knowledge). Maybe someday there will be justice.
I loved this book. I am from the USA, and I had never heard of Cody Legebokoff. This book was straight and to the point. There was none of the filler that I come across with some True Crime books. This book was my first of the Crimes Canada series, and when I finished, I purchased every one in the series. I cannot wait to read them all!!!
The book In Cold Blood was based on the murders of the Clutter family in Kanasas by Richard Eugene Hickock and Perry Edward Smith. Around the time of the Clutter murder there was another family in Florida that remains unsolved. The author forms a hypothesis that the murders were done by the same people. This is a short e-book on Kindle.
Short retelling of the Walker family murder..well written.. Be aware that this book contains very graphic murder scene photos including the parents and children.
basically talks about the walker murders and how perry smith along with dick hickock got away with murdering the walkers and didn’t get arrested for that cuz they were never suspected until about 50 yrs later when suspicions arose due to intense similarities with the Clutter murders
whats about the clutter murders ?
well the clutters were a family of 4 who got murdered by smith and hickock.
ok so whats the kick between the clutters and the walkers ?
both were a family of 4.
father son mother daughter
both were murdered through getting shot
Murderers left without stealing any valuables
in both cases…
Thats pretty much all the book
The walker murders is still labeled COLD to this day since they (law enforcement authorities) couldn’t find a solid evidence/reason to believe Smith and Hickock were responsible
In my opinion, walker murders will forever be cold and it’s definitely a tragedy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
There are many coincidences between the Clutter family murders and the Walkers; NOT ENOUGH in my opinion. The Clutters were all bound and separated, the Walkers weren't bound and three of them killed near each other. The Walker children murders were EXCEPTIONALLY cruel (yes, all murders are; the Walker children were babies, couldn't identify anyone and were over killed), Mrs. Walker was beaten...I just don't get the similarities other than family of four and senseless killings.
I liked this book; it was a quick read and got right into it. I read this book immediately after reading In Cold Blood. It absolutely makes you wonder and leaves you wondering; such a tragedy and to add the heart breaking crime photos added the intrigue to this story that while short, I wish was longer.
The author presents a convincing case that the murder of a Florida family in December of 1959 was committed by the same individuals who were convicted and executed for the murders made famous by Truman Capote's book "In Cold Blood." Although the case against Richard Hickock and Perry Smith has never been proven conclusively, there is a great deal of circumstantial evidence that points in that direction.
One thing I found interesting was the fact that Capote may have withheld evidence that could have helped prove Hickock's and Smith's involvement in order to complete his book.
Once again, this book demonstrates the commitment and persistence of certain law enforcement officials in trying to solve difficult or cold cases and obtaining justice for the victims.
Most everyone has heard of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, in which he details the murders of the Cutter family in rural Kansas in 1959. In Colder Blood details the murders of the Walker family in Florida in December of that year, claiming that the murders were the work of the same killers. Although they were never charged with the crime and DNA evidence turned out inconclusive, the author makes a good case that the terrible murders could have indeed been committed by the same vicious men. Literally only took me a couple of hours to read, but I enjoyed it.
A chilling account of two murders with multiple victims. The Walker family and the utter family. Two suspects. Admit killing one family but not the other. Evidence is the exact same in both cases. The order of killings of the family members down to the way they were killed. Chilling crime scene photos within the book.
Although written quite well I found it to be matter of fact and not in depth enough. Very short read within 40 minutes. If longer maybe it would have been more in depth.
The book was well written but in a facts only kind of way with little emotion or suspense. It felt more like an essay than a novel due to its length. This is the first time I've read Hunter's work so maybe that's just his style.
I have more questions than answers. There is always a why but that wasn't really explored. What was Legebokoff like as a child? Friends or family accounts would add more to the story.
I had read about the Florida murder and how coincidental it was since Hickock and Smith were in the state at the time. But I also read they had been cleared. Coincidence and killers get a person to wondering. Obviously law enforcement wasn't seeing this as coincidence.
It was so interesting to read that the killers of the Clutters might also have killed another family of four just weeks later. Good book, fast read.
In Colder Bloodby J.T.Hunter is a great follow up to Capote's In Cold Blood. Actually it would be great if you read them together, Capote first, then Hunter. The bottom line is that I'm really not a big fan of true crime novels because I find most of them dry reading, but Capote and now Hunter are exceptions to that rule. Hunter, like Capote, hooks you with his opening sentences and keeps you turning the pages until the very last word.
The Walker murders could be another description of the Clutter crime as the similarities are very nearly impossible to replicate unless committed by the same monsters. The author, while retelling the events of this ghastly crime, is so skilled with this process I felt almost like an invisible spectator -it was quite chilling. I read this in its entirety, couldn't put it down.
JT Hunter presents a compelling thesis in this fine book, and those who follow the story of the 1959 Clutter family murders (in Kansas) and the Walker family murders (in Florida) will find an eye-opening second look at the two crimes, which may be linked by the Clutter killers, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith. Hunter has a keen ear for detail and nuance, and readers are advised to add this book to their true crime library for a better understanding of both murder investigations.
Quick read that basically just explains the link between the infamous "In Cold Blood" killers and a family annihilation murder in Florida weeks later. Well-constructed, but ultimately inconclusive, giving the impression that the author should have waited until there was an end to this story to write it.