[2]: 9  In 2008, The Library of America selected Moser's article for inclusion in its two-century retrospective of American true crime literature.

[5] An accomplished athlete, he excelled at gymnastics and even led his high school to a state championship, but quit the team in his senior year.

He spent much of his time on Tucson's Speedway Boulevard, picking up girls and drinking with friends, although he tended to be a loner.

"[11] The trio drove to the home of Alleen Rowe, a high school student living with her divorced mother, whom Schmid knew worked nights.

The teenager agreed, although shortly after arriving at the desert, Schmid bound the teen's arms behind her back as Rowe pleaded, "Why are you doing this to me?"

Fritz was the daughter of a wealthy, prominent Tucson heart surgeon and community leader, and via local gossip, Schmid had learned the girl had recently been expelled from her private school due to her involvement in an attempted armed robbery.

Unknown to Schmid, tutors at Fritz's private school had classified her as a pathological liar whom they had recommended undergo psychiatric treatment.

She then smiled and calmly offered to buy his wares, but when Schmid explained the cutlery in his possession were "just samples", Fritz shrieked "I want them!

Shortly thereafter, the two began dating, but Fritz was markedly possessive and frequently became hysterical if she observed Schmid in the company of other females or learned of parties he hosted to which she was not invited.

[7] Schmid confided to his friend Richard Bruns that he murdered the sisters and showed him the bodies, buried haphazardly in the desert.

[8][13] F. Lee Bailey, a celebrity attorney who was involved with the Boston Strangler and Sam Sheppard cases of the 1950s and 1960s, was brought in for consultation.

[7] After Schmid's trial and conviction, his adoptive mother and her second husband had owed her son's legal team more money than they possessed.

[14] They held four hostages on a ranch near Tempe for a time, ate at a Sonic, then separated, and were recaptured and returned to prison.

Ferra was originally sent to prison for an unrelated murder while Eversole was serving time for multiple armed robberies.

Actress Rose McGowan's 2014 directorial debut Dawn was inspired by the events surrounding the murder of Alleen Rowe.

It stars Tara Lynne Barr in the role of Dawn Rowe, Hannah Marks as Mary French and Reiley McClendon as Schmid.

The young adult thriller Half in Love with Death (Merit Press 2015) by Emily Ross was inspired by the Schmid case.