The Manson Family is what cult leader Charles Manson’s followers were referred to in the late 1960s. It all started in 1967, when Manson was released from prison, where he spent some time for petty crimes.
Charles Manson was deluded into believing that he was the messenger of doom. He believed the end of the world was coming, which he referred to as “Helter Skelter”, in reference to the famous Beatles song. He was influenced by drugs such as LSD, but had a strong belief and interest in the notion of Armageddon. He also had an interest in Scientology and more obscure cult churches such as Church of the Final Judgement.
He gathered a group of followers who shared his beliefs and lifestyle of habitual use of hallucinogenic drugs. The became known as “The Family”, and all moved to a deserted ranch in the San Fernando Valley. The following of about 100 members started believing Manson’s claims that he was Jesus. He made prophecies of a race war, and in 1969, Manson gathered a group of his most loyal followers to carry out a massacre among Hollywood’s elite.
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Four of the most loyal and obedient “Family” members attacked Roman Polanski’s Beverly Hills house. Charles “Tex” Watson, Susan Atkins and Patricia Krenwinkel carried out the brutal murders, while Linda Kasabian was their getaway driver and later a star witness during the trial. The group shot 18-year-old Steven Parent and Jay Sebring. Writer Wojciech Frykowski and his partner, Abigail Folger managed to escape the house but were chased. Frykowski was bludgeoned repeatedly and Folger was stabbed 28 times. The most inhumane killing was that of Sharon Tate, who pleaded for the life of her unborn child, but was mercilessly stabbed in the stomach by Susan Atkins.
Manson criticized the murderers for being sloppy, and took Watson, Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten to the address of a wealthy supermarket executive, Leno LaBianca, and his wife Rosemary the following night. The couple also fell victim of the horrifying killing spree.
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Although the Manson Family was initially arrested for vandalizing a property, a confession by Susan Atkins, who was in custody for an unrelated murder, led to the arrest of the four members involved in the Tate/LaBianca killings.
The trial began in 1970. Charles Manson showed up to his trial with a cross on his forehead. Some of his followers copied the act to show their support. The cross was modified until it was a swastika at a later stage. Throughout the trial, the killers made it clear they felt no remorse for what they had done, by often giggling during the trial and exchanging grimaces with Manson.
Charles Manson was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, but that was later changed to life in prison. Susan Atkins was sentenced to death, but that was later also changed to life in prison. She was incarcerated from 1969 until her death in 2009. Charles “Tex” Watson was sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison. He is currently still in prison and has been denied parole 14 times – the same goes for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has shown remorse and has a perfect prison record. Linda Kasabian was granted immunity for her part in acting as a star witness.