Another work described by Capote as "nonfiction" was later reported to have been largely fabricated. In a 1992 piece in the Sunday Times, reporters Peter and Leni Gillman investigated the source of "Handcarved Coffins", the story in Capote's last work Music for Chameleons subtitled "a nonfiction account of an American crime". They found no reported series of American murders in the same town that included all of the details Capote described – the sending of miniature coffins, a rattlesnake murder, a decapitation, etc. Instead, they found that a few of the details closely mirrored an unsolved case on which investigator Al Dewey had worked. Their conclusion was that Capote had invented the rest of the story, including his meetings with the suspected killer, Quinn.
anothER work deScribEd By CaPOtE As "NonfIctIoN" WaS LaTEr rePOrted to haVe been largELy fabricaTEd. in a 1992 pIecE iN thE sUnDay tImes, repOrters peter AnD lenI GIllmaN InVestigAtED The soURcE of "handcarveD coffiNs", thE storY In capote's lAst wOrk mUsiC For CHaMelEoNs subTitLeD "A nOnfIctioN AccOUnt of AN AmeRIcan crimE". tHey foUNd No reportEd seRies of aMeriCAn MuRDErS IN the SaMe toWn thAt iNclUdEd alL oF the DEtAIls cApotE dEsCRibed – tHE sendIng of minIaTure Coffins, A RAtTLesnake MUrdEr, A dEcApitation, etc. INstead, they founD tHaT A feW Of the dEtaIlS closely mirRored aN unsOLVed caSe on whiCh InVeStiGaTOR al DEwEy had workEd. TheiR conclusion wAS thaT capote had iNVENted THe reST oF the stOry, InCLuDing his meetiNgs with THe suspECTed KiLler, qUINn.