Neb. denies pardon request of ex-girlfriend of serial killer Charles Starkweather
The state of Nebraska has no plans to pardon a convicted murderer for her role in a series of killings in which she has claimed to have no part in. The Board of Pardons rejected Caril Ann Fugate's application Tuesday regarding 11 spree killings between 1957 and 1958.
Neb. Gov. Pete Ricketts, center, resides over the Board of Pardons in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, with Neb. Sect. of State Robert Evnen, right, and Neb. Attorney General Doug Peterson, left, to consider a request for clemency from Caril Ann Clair, the 76-year-old former girlfriend of Charles Starkweather. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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UPDATED 7:42 AM PT — Wednesday, February 19, 2020
The state of Nebraska has no plans to pardon a convicted murderer for her role in a series of killings in which she has claimed to have no part in. The Board of Pardons rejected Caril Ann Fugate’s application Tuesday, regarding 11 spree killings between 1957 and 1958.
At the time of the slayings, Fugate was dating infamous 19-year-old killer Charles Starkweather who was put to death in 1959. She was only 14-years-old. Her mother, father and baby sister were among Starkweather’s victims.
Board members have said their job is to restore a felon’s rights and Fugate’s request was more broad than they could offer.
Liza Ward, of Duxbury, Massachusetts, granddaughter of S. Lauer and Clara Ward, who were killed by Charles Starweather, sits in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, at a hearing of he Nebraska Board of Pardons to consider a request for clemency from Caril Ann Clair, the 76-year-old former girlfriend of Charles Starkweather. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
“If people don’t think that Caril Fugate had remorse for things that she witnessed and didn’t try to stop because she was a young child with a gun pointed at her who was a hostage of this man, you can bet she’s got a ton of remorse and she’s got a ton of demons,” said Liza Ward, granddaughter of the victims. “And I just would have liked her to have those words, ‘you are pardoned.'”
Fugate was released from prison in 1976 after serving 17 years and now lives in Michigan.