He was an inmate with Dick Hickock in the Kansas State Penitentiary which initially gave Dick the idea to rob the Clutter family because he used to work there. Therefore, Floyd explained to Dick the layout of the Clutter house and told him that the Clutters kept a safe containing ten thousand dollars. Because of this, Dick and Perry staged a robbery and promised not to spare any witnesses and Floyd is the reason they were arrested since Floyd reported them. However, Floyd also wanted to achieve the American dream which landed him in prison. He stole a lawn mower in an attempt to start a lawn care business in order to settle down and start his own business. Unfortunately, the law punished him for theft and took away his dream of starting a business.