What does the crime reveal about the town of Holcomb? How does the gossip surrounding the murders reflect underlying truths about the town?

When the
Clutter family members are murdered, the town of Holcomb reacts in a way that might surprise
observers. Before the murders happened, the tiny town of Holcomb, Kansas was a remarkably
trusting place. Famously, no one locked their doors, believing that there was nothing to fear.
Because the residents of Holcomb were so comfortable with one another, some may think that their
trusting behaviors suggest a deep belief in the trustworthiness of the townspeople, but after
the Clutters were killed, suspicion ran rampant. Instead of coming together to find goodness and
comfort in each other, the residents of Holcomb began to mistrust each other, locking their
doors and looking over their shoulders wondering if the murderers walked amongst them. Danger
had entered their imaginations, so now everyone was a potential threat, instead of a potential
friend.