Benedict, Sid, and Robert are accused of killing three young boys. The townspeople understand this crime to be part of a satanic ritual and a scandalized sex crime. The relatives and close relationships of the accused must come to terms with the certainty that not only will the three be jailed forever, but possibly even put on death row. Mothers cry uncontrollable, enraged and sorrowful, or are unmoved and repress their emotions. One man will never forgive himself for allowing to escape who he believes to be the real killer: a drifter who leaves bloodied handprints on the wall of a diner. A journalist falls in love with the teenage girlfriend of the ringleader of the killers, as she holds her baby and speaks of her unending love for Benedict. A farmer whose property was involved in the supposed satanic ritualistic murder burns the site, and is not satisfied with his conclusions.