| Director | Barry Shear |
|---|---|
| Genre | LGBT-related film, crime film, drama film, horror film |
| Runtime | 93 min |
| Country | United States |
The film is based on the real-life murders committed by Charles E. "Smitty" Schmid, Jr. in Tucson. Schmid, a would-be musician, murdered one teenage girl in May 1964 and two others in August 1965. Two of Schmid's friends helped him bury his first victim. Billy Roy, a friend of Schmid, helped lead police to Schmid as the killer.
In August 1966, Schmid was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. His May 1967 trial for an additional murder was terminated when he pled guilty to second-degree murder, even though the girl's body had not been recovered. Schmid led police to her body in June 1967, but always maintained that he was innocent of the murders. His case became famous nationwide and was highly publicized due to his popularity with and influence over a large number of local teenagers. Schmid died in March 1975 after being attacked by two other inmates in the Arizona State Penitentiary.