Perry Smith and Richard Hickock thought that Mr. Kit should have a box with a lot of cash at home, so that Mr. Kit had more cash on hand. They believed their planned robbery, which resulted in them killing Mr and Mrs Kitt and their two teenage children, was reasonable and effortless. Police began an investigation the following day when the body was found at Mr Kitt's home.
The two wanted men continued to flee as the investigation progressed, but were eventually apprehended by police. Police questioned the two men and pointed out that the blood trail matched the boots one of them was wearing, Smith declined to answer. When the police claimed there was a witness, Hecke admitted that they killed the Kit family and hoped they would not be executed.
