The 12th Victim is a documentary that digs deep into many complex elements of a case that has been part of American pop culture for decades. It is a mind-numbing story of a killer who was responsible for the cold-blooded murders of 11 people in a single day.
Starkweather and Fugate were like any other teenage couple. Starkweather went on a mindless killing spree. He entered Fugate’s house and murdered all her family members. Fugate was accused of being equally involved in the crime. She conspired with her boyfriend and eliminated all her family. Fugate, who was just 14 years old, was charged with a first-degree murder conviction.
Fugate was the youngest individual to be charged with such a heinous crime. The 12th Victim will air 4 episodes in total and present an unbiased outlook on the events that culminated decades ago.
The 12th Victim, Episode 1 Summary
The 12th Victim story traces back to 1958. Charles Starkweather was dejected when his girlfriend abruptly ended his relationship with him. The breakup triggered a heinous murder spree. This series on Hulu isn’t the first to explore this serial killing.
Before The 12th Victim, several movies and television series had been made showcasing this story. But according to the makers of this latest series, they will challenge the established narrative, which puts the whole blame on a 14-year-old girl. The documentary intends to show how Starkweather’s Victim, Fugate, was portrayed as the criminal in the entire situation.
Episode 1 sets the plotline for the events that unfold in the other episodes. Several interviews with people involved in the case are shown. Fugate’s perspective and claims are shown repeatedly. Fugate always maintained that it was her boyfriend who planned it all.
He kidnapped her and threatened her not to reveal the truth to anyone. She was oblivious to Starkweather’s crimes. Now, this is an important clue pertaining to Fugate’s claim of innocence. The people investigating the case said that Fugate was well aware of the killings that occurred at her home. The couple remained together for several days at home.
They would not allow anyone to enter. Fugate dropped a note mentioning that she was ill and not in a position to meet anyone. The 12th Victim mentions that this note had a cryptic message by Fugate so that she could make the authorities aware of her situation.
The note never reached the authorities. The couple left home, but Starweather’s killing spree didn’t end. He committed six more murders. Fugate managed to run away and reveal the whole story to a cop nearby.
The 12th Victim Episode 2 Preview
The story will further explore the court events that culminated once the truth was out. Fugate now lives in Michigan. She has dedicated years to striving to get her sentence overturned, initially through parole and subsequently with a full pardon. The public’s sentiment about her still remains bitter. Her parole demand was met with criticism, especially from the families of the victims, who wrote letters to authorities expressing their anger.
The goal of The 12th Victim, which was directed by Morgan Neville, who won an Academy Award for directing, is not so much to cleanse Fugate’s legal record as it is to redeem her identity from the perspective of the wider public. The documentary examines Hollywood’s ability to mythologize society’s worst parts and sell them as facts.
This is notably clear in situations such as the Starkweather and Fugate murders, in which the accepted exaggeration of circumstances has practically supplanted the horrifying recall of an event that occurred more than 60 years ago. The series will touch on several topics and let the audience decide the truth.
Where Can You Watch The 12th Victim Episode 2?
The next episode will be available to watch on Showtime. If you are a Hulu subscriber, then you can watch the episodes online. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait for the episode to be released by the end of this week.
The 12th Victim Episode 2 Release Date and Time
The 12th Victim releases at 8 p.m. ET on February 24. For fans from various countries, the docu-series will be available for streaming at 1 p.m. GMT (February 25), 9 p.m. SGT (February 25), 9 a.m. CT (February 25), and 6:30 a.m. IST (February 25).
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