In the landscape of true crime documentaries, a new entrant, "The 12th Victim," is stirring a debate that has spanned decades. The documentary delves into the controversial story of Caril Ann Fugate, a name that has been etched in American criminal history alongside her infamous partner, Charles Starkweather. Their crime spree in the 1950s left a trail of destruction and death, leading to a narrative that has often portrayed Fugate as a "Natural Born Killer." However, "The 12th Victim" aims to re-examine this perspective, questioning whether Fugate was indeed a willing accomplice or merely a pawn in Starkweather’s deadly game.

The Starkweather-Fugate Killing Spree

Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate's story is one of the most sensationalized in American crime history. In the late 1950s, Starkweather, a 19-year-old with a James Dean-esque aura, embarked on a brutal killing spree across Nebraska and Wyoming. Accompanying him was 14-year-old Fugate. The couple left 11 people dead, including Fugate's family. Starkweather was executed in 1959, while Fugate served 17 years in prison, maintaining her innocence and claiming to be Starkweather’s hostage.

The documentary reopens the debate about Fugate’s role. Was she a "Natural Born Killer," as some have labeled her, deeply complicit in the murders? Or was she an impressionable teenager, manipulated and terrorized by Starkweather? "The 12th Victim" delves into this complex narrative, examining Fugate's life before and after the crimes, her relationship with Starkweather, and the cultural and psychological factors that might have influenced her actions.