Everything That We Know About The Charles Manson Crimes

The 1960s were a time that gave us so many prominent moments in history, but one tainted the decade forever: The Manson Family crimes. People lived in fear as they had no idea who was behind the slayings or if they were even safe in their own homes.

Although everyone has since been caught and apprehended, no one has ever learned the entire truth about what really happened. Even today, a new twist in the Charles Manson crimes has been released, proving the terror will likely never come to an end.

One of Charles Manson’s most prominent followers has been appealing for parole for years

For years, Charles Manson and several of his former Family members have been serving out their sentences in prison for the crimes that defined history. However, things have recently taken a turn. Leslie Van Houten has been trying to tell the world it’s time for her to be released for years, despite her involvement in the horrific crimes.

Since 2016, Leslie has been recommended for parole five times, but Governor Jerry Brown has always rejected the requests, deeming it safer for everyone that she remains behind bars. That was until the state appeals court made a new ruling in May. This time, they claimed Leslie’s “extraordinary rehabilitative efforts” and “remorse” might be enough to see her walk free.

Leslie Van Houten argues she’s no longer the same person she was in the ‘60s

Nancy Tetreault, Leslie Van Houten’s attorney, has been working with the former Manson Family to get her released, telling the world in a statement that Leslie is “thrilled” and “overwhelmed” at the thought of being free. Nancy even went as far as saying that the former Family member is “grateful” people are recognizing she’s finally changed.

However, it’s tough for many to forget everything Leslie did. Now in her 70s, she has been serving a life sentence since her conviction for crimes committed back in 1969. Here, Leslie was found guilty of helping to end the lives of Los Angeles grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, in one of the most gruesome crimes.

The Manson follower admitted to some horrific acts during the crimes

August 1969 was the moment that changed so many lives forever, including Leslie Van Houten’s. Here, she joined other members of the Manson Family as they stormed the LaBianca household and ended the couple’s lives. Although they initially went on the run and remained out of trouble, Leslie eventually admitted her part in it all.

Leslie has since confessed she was the one who held Rosemary LaBainca down, using a pillowcase to keep her head covered. Apparently, others began to stab the defenseless woman before Leslie eventually took over and stabbed Rosemary more than a dozen times. From there, the couple’s blood was used to smear over the walls and write messages.

The governor of California didn’t block Leslie Van Houten’s parole

Plenty of attempts have been made to keep Leslie Van Houten behind bars over the years, with former governors playing a large part in it all. However, Governor Gavin Newsom admitted in a statement on July 7, 2023, that he had no plans to ask the Supreme Court to block the appeal for parole once more.

Instead, this meant that Leslie would be eligible to have a hearing which could ultimately see her released from prison. Although she had been sentenced to a life sentence and only served 53 years, the former Family member was adamant that she had changed and become a new woman, with prison reports backing up her claims.

The decision to see the Manson follower walk free wasn’t an easy one to make

Many were confused at the admission, wondering why the governor would be happy to see the former Family member walk free. Apparently, they weren’t thrilled at the idea but actually felt as though they had little choice. The only way the office could block the appeal was to go through a lower court and rely on their ruling.

However, a statement from the governor’s office claimed they thought it was unlikely California’s high court would consider an appeal from a lower court. Instead, it’s said Governor Gavin Newson was disappointed, adding “the victims’ families still feel the impact” over 50 years after the crimes. Still, many argue enough wasn’t done to keep Leslie Van Houten behind bars.

The family of those involved are deeply upset about Leslie Van Houten walking free

Even though Leno and Rosemary LaBianca lost their lives in 1969, their family has never forgotten the couple. Leno’s daughter and Rosemary’s stepdaughter, Cory, spoke to The Associated Press about her feelings on it all, admitting that she and her family are “heartbroken” as they are “once again reminded of all the years” they haven’t had the couple around.

Cory is now 75 and has limited memories of her father, telling The Associated Press that “My children and my grandchildren never got an opportunity to get to know either of them.” According to Cory, this has left “a huge void” in her family over the years, especially with repeated attempts from Leslie Van Houten to get parole.

Leslie Van Houten was released on parole in July 2023

Being in prison for 53 years means Leslie Van Houten has missed several big moments, with her attorney admitting she will have to learn how to use debit cards and go to the grocery store. Nancy Tetreault even added Leslie “needs to learn how to use an ATM machine, let alone a cell phone, let alone a computer.”

All of that changed on July 11, 2023, as Leslie was officially released from prison. However, things won’t immediately return to normal for the former Family member. Her attorney admits the world is very different now compared to when Leslie was charged, and she will likely spend over a year in a halfway house and three years on parole.

Leslie Van Houten was once one of the most famous Manson Girls from the late ‘60s

Although Charles Manson was the one orchestrating everything, the Manson Girls - as they became known in the media - were almost as famous as the man himself. Most of them were just teenagers or in their early 20s when they joined the Manson Family in the late ‘60s, with white, middle-class women traveling to LA and San Francisco for new lives.

The hippie movement was in full swing, with Manson relying on his female followers to lure men into the cult, the Manson Family. Her part in it all and the trial meant Leslie Van Houten became one of the most famous of them all, especially as the Manson Girls were the ones to first meet Beach Boys star, Dennis Wilson.

Moving to the Spahn Ranch saw the Manson Family grow to unfathomable levels

Charles Manson and his new Family initially moved around Los Angeles, sleeping anywhere they could, but settling at the old western film and TV set known as Spahn Ranch saw them finally build a base. Here, Manson’s control over his followers only grew. Apparently, everyone was banned from carrying money or wearing glasses, among other strict rules.

Dianne Lake, who was just 14 years old when she met Manson, later explained their nights were often filled with long lectures. According to the former Family member, Manson would instruct everyone to take hallucinogens before he would preach about the past, present, and future of humanity for hours at a time most nights of the week.

It wasn’t long before Charles Manson met some of the biggest names in Hollywood

Living in Los Angeles wasn’t just about having somewhere to stay. For Charles Manson, it meant he could finally meet the rich and famous of the world. Meeting Dennis Wilson was just the beginning, as it wasn’t long before the Beach Boys star introduced Manson to record producer Terry Melcher, who just so happened to be Doris Day’s son.

Terry had other famous connections, as he was also dating actress and model Candice Bergen. Although she never officially joined the group, actress Angela Lansburt’s daughter was once a hanger-on to the Family. It’s said she would use Angela’s credit card to help buy clothing and food for the Family and would often follow them around.

Being rejected from the world of music might have turned the Manson Family to violence

Terry Melcher and his girlfriend once lived in 10050 Cielo Drive, the house actress Sharon Tate would eventually rent with her husband. No one knew at the time how important this fact would become. Apparently, Charles Manson made it his mission to succeed as a musician, often assuming Terry was his friend who would help Manson get started.

It’s even said Terry and Dennis Wilson attended a performance by Manson and the Family at Spahn Ranch, but they quickly realized the men never planned to help. Although the Beach Boys did rework one of Manson’s songs into ‘Never Learn Not to Love,’ it’s believed the rejection saw Manson turn to violence - and associate the house with the moment.

The prosecution team had another idea about what caused the Manson Family to commit crimes

One thing plenty of people have always wanted to know is what caused Charles Manson and the Family to commit the horrific crimes in the first place. Although there have been plenty of theories over the years, the one used in court came from prosecutor Vincent Buglioso. Eventually, he settled on the idea of Helter Skelter.

Here, they argued the Beatles song of the same name offered a huge inspiration for Manson, claiming he was obsessed with the idea of a race war that would see the Family take shelter in caves hidden underground. According to Buglioso, the Family would wait out the war taking place before emerging and ruling what was left of society.

They claim the Manson Family felt they had to start Helter Skelter themselves

According to the prosecution team, Charles Manson initially believed African-Americans would start the war against white people, but things took a turn in the summer of 1969. They claim that Manson was struggling with his dwindling musical ambitions and knew his famous connections were starting to dry up and lead nowhere, causing something to change.

They argued Manson believed the Family would have to start Helter Skelter by committing crimes in upscale neighborhoods to show African-Americans how violence should be done. By 1974, Vincent Bugliosi had released his book, ‘Helter Skelter,’ which takes a deep dive into it all and has become the best-selling true crime book of all time.

The first horrific crime was merely down to the group being in the wrong place at the wrong time

The world first got a glimpse into what the Family had planned on August 8, 1969. On that infamous night, Linda Kasabian, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Tex Watson - all members of the Family - drove to 10050 Cielo Drive. Terry Melcher had since moved out, with actress Sharon Tate and director Roman Polanski moving in.

Although Polanski was gone, pregnant Sharon and her friends Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, and Voytek Frykowski were all there for a dinner party. None of the group had any connections to Manson or the Family. Instead, it was a case of them all being in the wrong place at the wrong time in a house Manson had grown to hate.

Sharon Tate was almost ready to give birth when she lost her life to the Manson Family

Sharon Tate was a rising Hollywood star who was set for great things, but everything tragically ended for the 26-year-old that night. To make matters worse, Sharon was eight-and-a-half-months pregnant during the attack, with the actress allegedly pleading for the Family to spare her unborn son. No one listened. To make matters worse, Roman Polanski was meant to be home.

Sharon was discovered the next day with a rope connecting her and Jay Sebring by the necks. An autopsy later revealed the actress was stabbed 16 times, with five enough to end her life. Sadly, Sharon was also alive when she was hung, but the incident caused a “massive hemorrhage” that ultimately ended her life.

Jay Sebring begged the Manson Family to spare Sharon Tate’s unborn baby

For years, Jay Sebring was a hairdresser to the stars. In fact, his work in the field truly changed the male haircare market, with Jay working with huge names such as Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, and Warren Beatty. Although he briefly dated Sharon Tate, the pair remained close friends, which is how he ended up at her house.

The Manson Family ordered the group to lie facedown, but when Jay begged them to save Sharon’s unborn baby, he was shot in the face. From there, Jay received several kicks to the face, breaking his eye socket and nose, before he was stabbed seven times. The wounds ended his life, meaning he was hanged after passing away.

Abigail Folger and Wojciech Frykowski were merely at the house to have dinner

Abigail Folger was a coffee heiress and visiting her friend Sharon Tate with her boyfriend, screenwriter Wojciech Frykowski, when they were attacked at 10050 Cielo Drive. Initially, Abigail tried to bargain with the Family by offering them money. Sadly, during this time, Frykowski escaped his bounds and ran for freedom. He was caught and quickly lost his life.

In all, 32-year-old Frykowski was struck over the head 13 times with a weapon and stabbed 51 times. When 25-year-old Abigail tried to run for freedom, she was also caught near to her boyfriend before she was stabbed 28 times. Both lost their lives to their wounds after getting so close to freedom and getting help.

Steven Parent would have escaped if he’d left a few minutes earlier

The Manson Family was determined to make sure no one escaped, including 18-year-old Steven Parent. The teen was only there to visit the home’s caretaker, William Garretson, as the pair were friends. Apparently, Steven had recently graduated from high school and had plans to attend college when he found himself caught up in the Family’s attack.

Tragically, Steven would have gotten to safety if he left a few minutes earlier. The teen was in his car at the front gates and seemingly about to go when the Family arrived. They didn’t want any witnesses, resulting in Steven getting shot four times. Garretson was initially questioned and cleared, only talking about the incident during his testimony.

There have been several theories about how much Charles Manson played a part

Just because the team at the scene pieced together what happened the night Sharon Tate and the others lost their lives at 10050 Cielo Drive, they couldn’t give a definitive motive. Vincent Bugliosi did come up with a theory in ‘Helter Skelter,’ stating the plans could have started months before the crimes actually took place.

The prosecutor states Charles Manson actually went to the home in March 1969, five months before the crimes, looking for Terry Melcher but instead saw Sharon sitting on the porch. Bugliosi claims there was absolutely “no question that Charles Manson saw Sharon” and she saw him, with Bugliosi concluding Sharon had no idea how dangerous Manson was.

Charles Manson and Leslie Van Houten joined the Family the following night

The next night, the same members of the Family were back on the streets looking for new victims. This time, they were also joined by Leslie Van Houten and Charles Manson himself. It’s said Manson was disappointed by how messy the previous night had been and the fact the Family had fled the scene, leaving so much evidence behind.

After hours of driving, Manson supposedly chose a house at random, although some claim the Family had been to parties at the neighbor’s house before. Whatever the case, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca had no ties to Manson or the Family. According to some reports, Manson oversaw most of the event after checking both LaBiancas were asleep.

Susan Atkins was the reason the Manson Family’s crimes started to unravel

For months, the police had no leads on who was behind the two horrific crimes, with investigators not even initially linking the two crimes. That was until Susan Atkins was arrested for unrelated charges several months later. When behind bars, Susan, a member of the Family, couldn’t help but boast about her involvement in both crimes.

Her cellmate eventually revealed the truth, with Susan eventually testifying that she had taken a host of illegal substances during the ending of Sharon Tate and her friends. Apparently, she couldn’t remember how many times she stabbed the actress, with Susan ultimately denouncing Manson and becoming a born-again Christian. She passed away at 61 years old from cancer in 2009.

Tex Watson wanted to find a purpose in life, but since claims he has changed

Charles “Tex” Watson was once considered Manson’s right-hand man. Like many others, he ended up becoming a central part of the Family after arriving in California in 1967 in the hopes of finding a purpose in life through fun, illegal substances, and rock n roll. In fact, Tex met Manson at Dennis Wilson’s house after giving the musician a ride.

Eventually, Tex was the one to lead the crimes at the Tate and LaBianca homes, even admitting to ending Steven Parent’s life alone. After he was arrested, Tex’s sentence was reduced to life in prison after capital punishment was briefly removed. Now, Tex claims he is a religious man who still runs his prison ministry after forming it in 1980.

Patricia Krenwinkel allegedly tried to leave the Manson Family multiple times

She was just 19 years old when secretary Patricia Krenwinkel met Charles Manson at a party. Three days later, she left everything behind to follow him, believing she had a genuine romantic connection with Manson. However, things allegedly took a turn when Manson turned violent, with Patricia trying to leave the Family twice before being dragged back both times.

Patricia claims she was fed narcotics and took part in the crimes, stabbing Abigail Folger and Leno LaBianca before using the latter’s blood to write on the wall, including “Helter Skelter.” Now, she has applied for parole over a dozen times and has been rejected every time. Although she was recommended for parole in 2022, the decision was reversed.

Leslie Van Houten was the youngest to be convicted in the Manson Family crimes

Things were going well for Leslie Van Houten until she was 14 years old, with her parents’ divorce causing her life to spiral. Apparently, Leslie turned to illegal substances and fell pregnant, with her mom allegedly forcing the teen to terminate the pregnancy. By the time Leslie met Charles Manson, the Family was already in full swing.

Being just 19 years old when she was charged with the crimes meant Leslie was the youngest of the Manson Girls to be convicted, claiming Tex Watson told her to “do something,” causing her to stab Rosemary LaBianca. Although she was meant to serve life in prison, the recent news has seen Leslie set free after 53 years.

Charles Manson continually changed his story about how much he was involved

Plenty have debated how much Charles Manson was involved in the horrific crimes. He was the leader of the Family, but many argue that he never actually ended anyone’s life. Others claim he has done more than his fair share of taking people’s lives, but he was merely clever enough not to be involved with the two most famous crimes.

To make matters even more confusing, Manson continued to taunt prosecutors long after he was arrested and charged with the crimes. Sometimes, he claimed he did nothing, while other times, he boasted about his involvement. In fact, at a 2012 parole hearing, Manson stated, “I have put five people in the grave. I am a very dangerous man.”

Several of Manson’s followers remained loyal to him for the rest of their lives

Even though he was arrested and on trial for taking multiple people’s lives, some of the Family members were highly loyal to Charles Manson. In fact, when he believed he was being treated unfairly by the justice system, Manson carved an ‘X’ into his forehead, stating he was crossing himself out of society, with many Manson Girls following suit.

Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme was one of Manson’s earliest followers and might have even helped with a potential crime while he was behind bars. In 1975, Squeaky attempted to end the life of President Gerald Ford. However, the weapon jammed, and she was stopped by the Secret Service. After 34 years, Squeaky was released from prison in 2009.

The remaining Family even tried to end the key witness’ life before the trial

Some of the remaining Family members were so determined to help Charles Manson that they almost ended someone else’s life in a bid to see his trial fall through. Barbara Hoyt was a one-time member of the Family and was a key witness in both cases, offering to testify against her former friends to bring Manson to justice.

However, in 1970 and during the buildup to Manson’s trial, several Family members flew Barbara to Honolulu to discuss the case. After taking a bite of food, a member mentioned Barbara should “imagine” if narcotics were in her burger. Thankfully, a stranger rushed to Barbara’s aid before she passed out, with her testimony helping to cement the prosecution’s case.

The Family might have ended as many as 35 lives, but no one knows for sure

While no one has confirmed whether or not Charles Manson ended anyone else’s life, he was the one who ordered his followers to do his bidding for him. In the end, it was enough for Manson to be charged with all of the crimes, ultimately seeing him go down to the passing of seven people. What if there were more?

Gary Hinman was one, meaning the Family ended at least eight lives. However, experts argue the Family was responsible for many more passings, but the leads have never been fully pursued. If Manson’s confessions behind bars are anything to go by, then he and his Family could have ended as many as 35 lives during their reign.

Charles Manson allegedly never ended any lives himself but supposedly had a hit list

For years, people were only convicted of crimes if they were the ones behind them. What about when Charles Manson ordered other people to do it for him? That’s when things get tricky. They argued it was the same as hiring a hitman, and therefore, Manson was found guilty. Still, that might not have been the end.

As the police started to close in on the Family, they arrested 24 of its members, including Manson. Then, when Susan Atkins began to boast about her involvement, she admitted the Family kept a celebrity hit list. Apparently, some of the many names on there were Tom Jones, Richard Burton, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Steve McQueen.

Charles Manson’s mother never gave him a name and tried to sell her baby

While plenty are thrilled to welcome a little one into the world, the same couldn’t be said for 16-year-old Kathleen Maddox. In fact, she was so unimpressed with having a baby that she didn’t bother to give him a name, meaning Charles Manson’s birth certificate forever read “No Name Maddox.” However, that might not have been the worst moment.

It turns out Kathleen was so unimpressed that she tried to give Manson away. Apparently, someone mentioned they thought her baby was cute, only for Kathleen to say she would give him over for a drink. When the person bought one as a joke, Kathleen left Manson behind before a worried uncle tracked him down and brought him home.

His mom’s arrest saw Charles Manson’s life turn upside down once more

It wasn’t until Kathleen Maddox married William Manson that Charles Manson finally earned his now-infamous name. However, everything soon changed again. Kathleen’s “gross neglect of duty” and drinking were two reasons cited in their imminent divorce, with Manson continuing to grow up surrounded by drinking and stealing. Things finally took a nosedive when Manson was five.

This time, Kathleen and Manson’s uncle were arrested for a fake hold-up, as they pretended a bottle of ketchup was a weapon. Ultimately, they made off with $27 and a car before they were caught. The pair were sent to prison, with Manson left with little choice but to live with his aunt Glenna and her husband, Bill.

Relatives tried to toughen Charles Manson up while his mom was in prison

Moving in with his aunt and uncle could have been a chance for Charles Manson’s life to really turn around. Sadly, it appears the move might have had the opposite effect. Instead, Manson was sent to school, where it’s said a teacher bullied and humiliated him. Being just a child meant Manson took it hard and ran home crying.

Bill, who was known to be a tough railroad engineer, was outraged at Manson’s behavior - not the teacher treating him this way. It’s said Bill sent the youngster to school dressed as a little girl in a bid to teach him a lesson and force Manson to toughen up, with him agreeing as he was so terrified of Bill.

It wasn't long before Manson turned to a life of crime

By 12 years old, Charles Manson had turned to a life of crime. What started as stealing money soon turned to stealing cars and driving them across state lines, a federal offense that saw him behind bars at 16 years old. This followed offering his girlfriends out for money and forging checks, but things only got worse.

It turned out one of the women Manson dated was none other than Leona "Candy" Stevens, his eventual second wife. Apparently, when she couldn't make enough money as a lady of the night, Manson returned to forgery and stealing to get by. Candy ultimately helped get Manson a reduced sentence before later testifying against him in another trial.

Committing so many crimes saw Charles Manson find stability while behind bars

After a string of crimes, Charles Manson was forced to spend several years in and out of prison in California. Sadly, this was far from smooth. It’s said that Manson was assaulted while behind bars, yet somehow, he also found a sense of stability while he was locked away. It was something he had never had during his life outside.

As well as the clubs and activities on offer, Manson became obsessed with the Beatles and decided to learn the guitar. His new goal was to make it bigger than the Beatles with his own music, something that dominated the rest of Manson’s time behind bars. Eventually, he was released in 1967 and free to make his dreams come true.

Some believe Charles Manson could have been saved before the crimes took place

Believe it or not, but a lot of Charles Manson’s time behind bars was actually because of crimes he committed while he was arrested. Two of those came from the fact he escaped from the Indiana School for Boys at Plainfield, not once, but twice. The second time, Manson was caught driving another stolen vehicle.

This time, he was sent to a new training school in Washington, D.C., where 16-year-old Manson was handed a mixed psychological report. Although they claimed he had an IQ of 109, they stated Manson was “aggressively anti-social” and that “behind all this lies an extremely sensitive boy” who hadn’t given up “securing some kind of love and affection.”

The Manson Family was quickly formed by other runaways looking for purpose

Just one year after Charles Manson was released from prison, he started a new life for himself in California. However, it wasn’t long before he had company. It’s said he was an extremely charismatic person who knew how to capture the attention of the room. His charm and being able to relate to people meant many were drawn in.

Before too long, Manson was surrounded by runaways and young loners looking for guidance. In fact, Manson once told someone in prison, “I am a very positive force… I collect negatives.” His charm seemed to pay off, with plenty of young women joining forces with Manson, and it wasn’t long before the Manson Family was born.

Being so lost in the world saw the Family hang on Manson’s every word

It didn’t take long for every member of the Manson Family to hang onto every word that came out of their new leader’s mouth. In fact, many would do just about anything Charles Manson said - even when things started to go too far. Setting up their Family’s base meant people were soon ordered to do a host of chores.

However, things went further when the Family was taken dumpster diving with Manson to find food to eat, and several were convinced to perform intimate acts with one another. Mary Brunner was one of the first to devote her entire life to Manson when he left prison, with Mary ultimately welcoming Manson’s child, Charles Luther Manson.

Charles Manson continued to be the most popular inmate in prison several decades later

Despite being arrested and charged with all of the crimes that took place during his Family’s reign, Charles Manson became one of the most popular inmates in prison - and not just through his remaining Family members. While many remained loyal to him until the end, Manson was also flooded with letters from his new fans.

It’s said that many moved across the country just to be closer to Manson while he was locked in California’s Corcoran State Prison and that he would often receive more than 60,000 letters a year. That was more than any other inmate in the entire state of California, with plenty offering relationships and commitment to Manson.

He was once engaged to a fan, but the wedding never took place when he learned her true intentions

One of the stranger things to happen during Charles Manson’s life sentence - a sentence that was reduced during the brief removal of capital punishment - was when he got engaged to 26-year-old Afton Elaine Burton in 2014. Manson was 80 at the time, with Afton, nicknamed Star by Manson, declaring his innocence for the nine years they had been talking.

Although they were all set to get married the following year, it’s said Manson learned Afton was allegedly planning to marry him just to use his body as a tourist attraction once he passed away. However, others claimed Manson thought he would never lose his life, with Afton stating the marriage didn’t go through because Manson was sick.

Charles Manson lost his life in 2017, but the Family's crimes will never be forgotten

In January 2017, Charles Manson was rushed to hospital with gastrointestinal bleeding, with reports claiming he was "too weak" for surgery and incredibly sick. A few days later, he was returned to prison and seemingly had no further issues until November 2017. Only then did cardiac arrest, caused by cancer, end Manson's life at 83 years old.

The passing of Manson was a monumental moment for many, but the Family and their crimes will never be forgotten. With several former members still serving their sentences or being released, the Manson Family continues to dominate the headlines. After all, together, they reminded the world the '60s weren't all about peace and love after all.