CNN
—
Here’s a look at Charles Manson and the 1969 “Manson Family” murders.
Date of birth: November 12, 1934
Date of death: November 19, 2017
Place of birth: Cincinnati, Ohio
Birth name: Charles Mills Maddox
Father: The father’s name is not publicly available
Mother: Kathleen Maddox
Marriages: Rosalie Jean (Willis) Manson (1955-date of divorce unknown); he was also married to a woman named Leona in the early 1960s, whose last name is not publicly known.
Children: At least two: with Rosalie Jean (Willis) Manson: Charles M. Manson Jr. (1956-1993); with a woman whose name is not publicly available: Charles Luther Manson
Apparently, during his childhood, Manson’s mother sold him for a pitcher of beer to a woman who wanted to have children. His uncle had to find the woman in order to retrieve his nephew.
He later took the last name of his stepfather William Manson.
According to the California Parole Board, Manson had a history of manipulation, behavior control and mental illness, which included schizophrenia and paranoid delusional behavior.
1947 – At the age of 12, Manson is sent to the Gibault School for Boys in Terre Haute, Indiana, for theft. Over the next twenty years, he was in and out of reform schools and prison for various crimes.
March 21, 1967 – Manson is released from prison. He tells prison officials that he doesn’t want to be released: “Oh, no, I can’t go out there… I knew I couldn’t fit in that world, not after being locked up all my life. and where my mind was free.” After his release, he moved to San Francisco.
1967-1968 – Manson meets Gary Hinman, a music teacher who introduces Dennis Wilson from Beach boys.
– Manson attracts a group of followers. The group moves to the Spahn Ranch outside of Chatsworth, California.
– Wilson introduces Manson to record producer Terry Melcher, the actress’ son Doris Day. After initially showing interest in Manson’s music, Melcher refuses to work with him anymore.
– Melcher later moves out of his house on Cielo Drive, and the house is then rented to director Roman Polanski and his wife, actress Sharon Tate.
July 1969 – Hinman is killed by Manson follower Bobby Beausoleil, accompanied by Manson family members Mary Brunner and Susan Atkins. The crime is committed on Manson’s orders.
August 8-9, 1969 – At Manson’s behest, a small group of his followers brutally murder five people at Polanski’s home in Benedict Canyon, near Hollywood. The victims are Polanski’s pregnant wife, actress Tate, writer Wojciech Frykowski, coffee heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring. Also killed was Steven Parent, who was a friend of the family gardener. The murders are committed by the Atkins offspring, Tex Watson and Patricia Krenwinkel. Linda Kasabian accompanies them as a guard.
August 9-10, 1969 – Manson, unhappy with the neglect of the previous night’s murders, accompanies a group of followers in search of victims. In the car are: Watson, Atkins, Krenwinkel, Kasabian, Leslie Van Houten and Steve “Clem” Grogan. After several hours, the group arrives at the home of supermarket manager Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. The couple is brutally murdered by Watson, Atkins, Krenwinkel and Van Houten.
October 1969 – Manson and his followers are arrested at another remote location called Barker Ranch on suspicion of car theft.
November 6, 1969 – Manson family member Atkins, already charged with Hinman’s murder, tells inmate Virginia Castro that he killed Tate: “Because we wanted to commit a crime that would shock the world, that the world would have to stand up and take notice “.
November 12, 1969 – LA Sheriff’s detectives interview Al Springer, a member of a biker gang who had some connection to Manson. Springer tells them that Manson told him about killing people a few days after the Tate murders.
November 18, 1969 – The file is assigned to Deputy Prosecutor Vincent T. Bugliosi.
November 30, 1969 – Watson is caught in Texas.
December 8, 1969 – Manson, Watson, Atkins, Krenwinkel and Kasabian are charged with the murders of Tate and her friends. The grand jury also indicts the five, plus Van Houten, for the LaBianca murders.
June 16, 1970 – The trial begins for Manson, Atkins, Krenwinkel and Van Houten.
– Manson appears in court with an “X” carved into his forehead.
– He is defending himself in court with the help of lawyer Irving Kanarek.
August 1970 – Kasabian is granted immunity in exchange for her testimony against Manson and the others.
January 15, 1971 – Jury deliberations begin. On January 25, the jury finds all defendants guilty.
March 29, 1971 – Manson, Krenwinkel, Atkins and Van Houten receive death penalty.
1971 – Watson is found guilty of murdering seven people and sentenced to death.
1972 – The death penalty is abolished in California. The sentences for all members of the Manson family are commuted to life in prison.
April 11, 2012 – Manson is denied parole for the 12th time. According to the California Parole Board, he has accumulated 108 serious disciplinary infractions in prison since 1971 and has shown no remorse for the crimes. Manson’s next hearing is scheduled for 2027, when he will be 92 years old.
June 6, 2015 – Bugliosi, Manson’s prosecutor and author of the best-selling book, “Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders,” has died in California.
November 19, 2017 – Two days after being taken to the hospital, Manson, aged 83, dies of natural causes.
March 13, 2018 – After a four-month battle for Manson’s remains, a Kern County judge rules in favor of Jason Freeman who claims to be Manson’s nephew.
Susan “Sadie” Denise Atkins:
September 24, 2009 – He dies in prison.
Bobby Beausoleil:
1969 – Convicted of killing Gary Hinman. He is serving a life sentence.
January 3, 2019 – Beausoleil is recommended for parole at the 19th general hearing, says a spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
April 26, 2019 – California Governor Gavin Newsom denies parole for Beausoleil.
Bruce Davis:
April 21, 1972 – Convicted of killing Hinman and stuntman Donald “Shorty” Shea. He is serving a life sentence.
June 22, 2019 – He is granted parole by the board, which will be followed by the governor’s final decision on his release.
November 15, 2019 – Davis’ parole is blocked by Newsom. It’s the sixth time a California governor has blocked his parole.
Lynette “Screaky” Fromme:
1975 – Attempts to shoot President Gerald Ford.
August 14, 2009 – He is on parole after serving 34 years.
Steven “Clem” Grogan:
1985 – Grogan is out on parole after revealing the location of the body of Donald “Shorty” Shea, who was killed in 1969.
Patricia “Katie” Krenwinkel:
May 26, 2022 – Krenwinkel is recommended for release by the California Parole Hearing Board after 14 previous parole denials.
October 14, 2022 – of Krenwinkel the release is blocked by Newsom.
Leslie Van Houten:
November 9, 2021 – Van Houten is recommended for release by the California Parole Hearing Board for the fifth time in as many years.
March 29, 2022 – of Van Houten the release is blocked by Newsom.
30 May 2023 – A decision by the California Court of Appeals overturns a 2020 decision by Newsom denying Van Houten’s release.
Charles D. “Tex” Watson:
October 15, 2021 – For the 18th time, Watson has been denied parole. He will be eligible for reconsideration in five years.