Mr. and Mrs. Hickock, continuing to believe Dick is still their wonderful and talented little boy, become blind to the fact that their son has become a threat to society. As the Hickock’s continuously attempt to reassure themselves on how well they raised their son, they fall deeper into denial. When hearing of the situation that his son has gotten into, Mr. Hickock, though on his death bed, urgently goes to care for his son. While there he listens to Dick’s side of the story and feeds off of his every word, truly believing his son’s account. As he speaks to reporter, he gives thoughts about the circumstances, stating, “I seen Dick…We had a long talk. And I guarantee you it’s not like people say…Those boys didn’t go to that house planning to do violence. My boy didn’t…Smitty’s the one. Dick told me he didn’t even know it when Smitty attacked the man” (259). Mr. Hickock, being naïve to his son’s manipulation, believed his son’s account without question. Mr. Hickock even looks pass the fact that his son planned on robbing the hard working family; thus causing the murder in the Clutter home to even take place, but only takes in full account the fact that Dick did not commit the actual murders. Mr. Hickock continues to disbelieve that his son is any danger, although evidence given that proves it is true. Mr. Hickock, an observer at the trail held against his son, sits through testimonies, but still attempts to blame others for Dick’s fate. During Richard Rohleder, the photographer who took pictures of the Clutter’s dreadful state, testified, so to prove that Dick and his companion are monstrous. The picture contained a bloody foot print left by Dick and although this was shown Mr. Hickock was still in disbelief, not believing that his son to be a monster. Instead of allowing himself to believe the worst in his son, Mr. Hickock blames the judge for being prejudice against his son and continues to say, “No sense. Just no sense having a trail” (281). Mr. Hickock’s emotions and phrase showed a double meaning he was convinced that his son was not guilt, but believed that this son was ultimately doomed. Mrs. Hickock, who was not as blind as her husband, but truly smitten over her son, could not see pass reality, still picturing Dick as a boy. Like her husband, she too was spoken to by a reporter. While speaking to the reporter she had spoken continuously about her son as a child. As she spoke, Mrs. Hickock stated, “Dick was the best-natured little kid…There’s a lot more to Dick than what you hear back there in the court room” (287). By failing to see that her son is no longer that child that she still images him being, she also fails to see that he is no longer the same person, but a dangerous asset to society.