That's a Wrap
Charles Manson
By: Dalia Gudino Landeros Feb. 13, 2018
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Charles Manson, otherwise known as the cult leader of the Manson Family, died on November 19, 2017. He was serving his sentence in prison when he died. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed because of security and privacy reasons. Charles Manson has lived a long life of 83 years. His announced death had made big news, and many revisited his years here as a criminal once again.
This isn’t just the second time since 1970 that Manson has been in the media. He was in the media constantly throughout his decades in prison due to bad behavior, interviews, and health issues. How is this death and career of the American criminal different from any other criminal? Well, Charles Manson is one of the most infamous criminals in American history. His record had begun at just 12 years old with smaller crimes, stealing, for example.
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However, his crime in the summer of 1969 was extremely different from any other crime on his record. In August, a group of six people were sent out by Manson to kill well-known individuals of California’s community. Some of the victims were very famous individuals of the entertainment industry. His followers were instructed to not only brutally attack the targeted victims, but also anybody in the homes at the time of the murders.
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The first known murder was on July 31st, and the victim was musician, Gary Hinman. Pregnant actress Sharon Tate, celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring and three others were murdered on August 9th. On August 10th, the LaBiancas were murdered as well. The last publicly known serial killing conducted by the cult was Donald “shorty” Shea, on August 25th. Prosecutors say the motives of the killings were vengeance, and hopes of starting a race war.
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The Manson Family consisted of Patricia Krinewinkel, Charles “Tex” Watson, Leslie Van Houten, Bruce Davis, Bobby Beausoleil, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, Steven “Clem” Grogan and Susan “Sadie” Denise Atkins. Although Manson constructed the group, targeted the victims, and was in
charge of all the operations,
Charles had not participated in
the actual attacks of the victims
shown by DNA collection, and the
confessions of his cult members.
All the Manson family members
were manipulated, persuaded, and
dominated to follow orders made
by Charles through his charming
attitude, appearance and father
like figure.
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Charles Manson and his followers were arrested by officials in late 1969 to early 1970. In 1971, many of the followers of the cult, were tried, and found guilty. The majority of the cult members were sentenced with seven counts of first degree murder. They were then sentenced to a death penalty. In 1972, the death penalty in California was abolished by the supreme court resulting in death sentences then being changed to life in prison. Bruce Davis however, was only charged with two counts of first degree murder and is to serve two life sentences. Lynette Fromme was convicted in 1975, sentenced to life in prison and released on parole in 2009 after serving 34 years. Steven Grogan was arrested, but later released on parole after revealing the location of Shea’s body. Many Manson family members are still serving their time in prisons and mental facilities across California. All members in prison have been recommended and denied for parole several times. Krinewinkel and Davis were the most recent members to be denied parole this past June. Manson isn’t the only one that has passed away from the Manson family cult. Susan Atkins died in 2009 due to brain cancer at the age of 61. Even 3 months later, Charles Manson is still continuously in the news with new information always being released connecting with either his past or his death.
