Charles Starkweather - 1957: First Murder

1957: First Murder

Late on November 30, 1957, Starkweather became angry at Lincoln service station attendant Robert Colvert for refusing to sell him a stuffed animal on credit. Starkweather returned several times during the night to purchase small items, then finally – brandishing a shotgun – forced Colvert to hand over $100, then drove Colvert to a remote area. After Colvert was injured during a struggle over the gun, Starkweather killed him with a shot to the head.

Starkweather later claimed that after killing Colvert he believed he had transcended his former self, reaching a new plane of existence in which he was above and outside the law. He immediately confessed to Fugate that he had robbed Colvert, though claiming someone else had killed him, which Fugate did not believe.