Fairuza Balk made an effort to get in touch with the real Caril Ann Fugate in order to make her role more authentic. Fugate, who was living in quiet anonymity in Lansing, Michigan at the time, rejected Balk's invitation and stated that she wanted nothing to do with production.
This was based on a true story that took place in Lincoln, Nebraska in the 1950s.
Fairuza Balk cut her hair in the second episode. When she had to re-shoot scenes from the first episode, she wore a wig.