Charles Manson - The Story That Stopped the World in it's Tracks

by Swan | March 20, 2009 at 09:29 am

5361 views | 60 Recommendations | 18 comments

Few crimes literally strike fear and horror into the collective hearts of this world. However the story of the Manson Family and specifically Charles Manson himself in 1969 managed to do exactly that, with the brutal murder of the beautiful 26 year old actress, Sharon Tate, who was stabbed 51 times, 40 years ago.

At that time, Sharon was 8 months pregnant and living with husband Roman Polanski at 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles. Polanski escaped being murdered himself, as he was working in London with the intention of returning for the birth of their baby.

When he was notified of his wife's death, Polanski immediately flew back to the U.S., under heavy sedation.

I'm bringing this story to you now, on what will be the 40th anniversary (in August) of those killings, because today the cult and gang mentality is becoming worse, not only in America, but in many countries.

Many youths today who have terrible home lives, brutalized, or living on the streets, are easily drawn into such groups, with catch phrases such as 'now you have a family to look out for you.'

Young people today, would probably only know about Manson if their parents had passed the story on to them and it's my personal opinion that they should know. It's in their interest to find out how toxic such relationships can become, before they are indoctrinated.

Certainly, I've never seen a crime live on long past itself, with a long reach into the new millenium.

Victor Bugliosi was the prosecuter in the Manson case and eventually wrote a book that I and many thousands of people read, called "Helter Skelter." I read it because the trial had become an enormous media circus and I wanted to find out exactly what did happen from the source - which was probably the same reason that many others read it.

Predictably, a movie was made from the book and I confess that I don't remember whether or not it was absolutely faithful to Bugliosi's book.

Sharon Tate was not the only victim to fall at the hands of 'The Family'. The death list included Jay Sebring (Doris Day's son); Wojciech (Voyteck) Frykowski; Steve Parent and Abilgail Folger (the coffee heiress.)

With the blood still fresh on their knives and perverted minds, they murdered Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, the following day. Manson had hoped that these two murders would incite a race war, believing that it was prophesied by the Beatle's song - "Helter Skelter."

While sourcing this article, I was surprised to find that there is still a fansite dedicated to Sharon Tate by her sister, Debra Tate. Somehow it seems fitting that if Manson and his cronies are still in the news, that this beautiful woman's life should be celebrated beyond their miserable existence.

F.A.C.T.net lists all the current cults of today and I must admit, I wasn't surprised to see Scientology listed, which I believe to be one of the most insidious cults of today.

Here is a synopsis of what happened on that fateful night when Sharon Tate and her friends were brutally murdered:

Manson sent the psycho posse out on their infamous errand. Tex Watson, Pat Krenwinkle, Susan Atkins and Linda Kasabian (coz she was the only one with a driver's license) got in a 1959 Ford, and drove to the house on Cielo Drive.

They arrived around midnite. Tex cut the phone lines, which landed on the gate. They scaled the hillside behind the gate, for fear of electric shock. Once on the other side, they encountered Steve Parent, 18, driving towards them in his white Rambler.

Parent was visiting William Garretson, the caretaker - and trying to sell him a radio. Garretson was staying in the guest cottage, at the far end of the property. Watson tells the girls to hide when the headlights head their way. Tex held up his hand and ordered Parent to "HALT".

"Please don't hurt me, I won't say anything." were Steve's last words. Bang bang bang bang. Point blank distance. Wrong place, wrong time. Big Time.

That was only the beginning of their killing spree - you can read more about that horrific night here if you're interested. Scroll down to the heading in capital letters - NEXT! on the left side.

Here are some of the latest known photographs of Sharon Tate.

Back in 1969, it seemed that Manson, or anything to do with him, was on the lips of the public - disbelief; shock; horror; anger and absolutely no acceptance. The 'Family' were entirely devoted to Manson and that might have something to do with the fact that drugs were freely distributed and taken on the ranch where they lived.

Manson at his best, had an electric and charismatic nature. Put that together with drugs and they loved him even more than they did when they arrived.

He still wears the swastika proudly carved into his forehead this day.

Today he has lost that charisma with age, looking old at 74 (pictured). He still petitions for parole each time it comes up, but he is serving several consecutive life sentences and will not be paroled in his lifetime.

However, his next parole hearing will be in 2012 where I and millions of other people hope, that he'll be denied any kind of freedom again. With any luck, the parole board will restate what they said at a parole hearing in 2007:

Despite his age, Manson "continues to pose an unreasonable danger to others and may still bring harm to anyone he would come in contact with," the board wrote in its denial.

Manson has had 12 disciplinary violations since his last parole hearing in 2002. He refused to take advantage of rehabilitation programs, and he would not participate in a psychiatric evaluation, Sequeira said.

"He refused to cooperate, so the conclusion they drew from the reports is he still remains a danger to the public," Sequeira said in a telephone interview. "He was convicted of nine horrible murders. He has expressed no remorse or empathy for any of the victims."

Manson was originally given the death penalty, but shortly after the trial, the state did away with the death penalty and he is now incarcerated for several consecutive lifetimes.

It is interesting to note here, the differences in the judicial system then - and now. Because Manson was never actually at the murder sites and didn't personally commit any of the murders - it was clear through testimony by the rest of 'the family' that he had been the malevolent mastermind and power that sent them all out to commit the atrocities.

I suppose today, he would have been exonerated, due to 'circumstantial evidence' and he would have been free to add to his 'family' to kill again, and again, and again.

It's amazing how this story will not die. It became news again because of his recent parole hearing and the new movie that is currently out on DVD named: "The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter."

N.B. I had carefully described each photograph, however those descriptions have now disappeared!

Further Reading:

Profile of Charles Manson
by Charles Montaldo

Parole Block Letters

The Social Effects of Charles Manson and his Trial

The American Meaning of Charley Manson

Charles Manson - The Crime Library

The Tate-LaBianca Murders and The Manson Family

The Manson Family

The Manson Family Today

The following are web sites 'devoted' to Charles Manson

ACCESS MANSON - The Web Site Dedicated To Charles Manson (website down, unsure how long)

In Defense Of Charles Manson: Ecce Homo

Sources

The Buffalo News
Prison Releases Photo of Elderly Charles Manson

Findadeath.com
The Tate Murders

The Official Sharon Tate Fansite

San Francisco Chronicle
Charles Manson Again Denied Parole
- AP

Image Sources

FindaDeath.com
The Tate Murders

Fortune City.com
The Charles Manson Debate

Sharon Tate Official Site

The Tate Family Legacy

The Buffalo News

About.com
The Manson Family

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Amy Judd

at 09:53 on March 20th, 2009

I think his story lives on because it still has that mystery around it and people really are drawn to things they don't understand - I mean, look at Jack the Ripper, the violence and the mystery are what have kept that story alive for over a hundred years and this one will be no different.

I can't believe that he would even bother to have parole hearings - this man just sickens me. In my opinion, it was unfortunate that the death penalty was done away with when it was...

Swan

at 10:31 on March 20th, 2009

Hello Amy,

I am pleased that you stopped by to read the article and comment, thank you.

I think there's a couple of differences between Jack the Ripper and Charles Manson:

Manson was just a little too close to home for Americans. Parents became scared and very protective of their children, frightened that they too, might be drawn into a similar cult. That fear still stands today - just look at Scientology. No one knows what goes on inside their walls, other than what we hear from past members - those that have managed to stay alive.
Jack the Ripper murdered prostitutes on his own, so when he died in 1888, that was it - it just became one of those 'horrible scary stories' from over 100 years ago.

I'm not saying that one is more heinous than the other - that's not true. But I do think that teenagers of today can relate to charismatic speeches of love and a family, if that's what they lack in their own lives.

I do agree with you, about the parole hearings, he constantly screws himself up during them and won't attend rehabilitation. It's as if he actually wants to stay in prison - and that's just fine by a lot of people.

Thank you Charles Manson!
~ Swan

Amy Judd

at 10:39 on March 20th, 2009

Oh I just meant the intrigue and the mystery of both cases, not the details of them; people do have a fascination with crimes and killers that they can't understand.

Swan

at 10:58 on March 20th, 2009

You're absolutely right Amy!
~ Swan

Amy Judd

at 10:51 on March 20th, 2009

Oh my gosh, I hope he never gets out. I haven't heard about that case before.

Swan

at 10:58 on March 20th, 2009

Good grief! I must confess to having never known anything about this person, but then not every godless crime here was reported in Australia either.

I took some time reading about him before replying to you. In a way Thériault seemed very much like Charles Manson, except that Manson didn't physically chop his followers to death.

You hope that beheading the leader (figuratively) will disperse the members, then suddenly another cult rises up to take it's place.

Very, very scary!

Thank you very much for your contribution Sara.
Swan

Amaad

at 11:10 on March 20th, 2009

I dont have the stomach to read though the whole thing and just stopped in the first paragraphs.

Swan

at 11:40 on March 20th, 2009

I guess I'm surprised then that you even clicked on the title, which brought you to an article you didn't want to read in the first place.

That's interesting in itself ......
~ Swan

Barbara McPherson

at 17:51 on March 20th, 2009

These murders changed forever our feelings of security in our own homes. Manson is just one of many. If you apply basically a 12 step program, you can suck vulnerable people into a cult. Remember Jim Jones?

Swan

at 09:47 on March 21st, 2009

Hello Barbara,

Thank you for your input.

Yes I do remember Jim Jones - certainly another horrific story about a cult. It just goes to show how attractive cults can make themselves in order to lure mostly less fortunate people into its vice-like grasp.

I'm pretty strong willed and stubborn - could this happen to me? I'd like to say no - no way - but surely not all cult members are .... weak willed?

It's like Scientology, members are told to break totally with their families and not see them again. Why do they do it? Just because they're told to? It honestly escapes me!
~ Swan

harringtola

at 06:19 on March 21st, 2009

Very interesting story. Thanks for recounting the details so that we never forget how these things happen.

Swan

at 09:50 on March 21st, 2009

Hello Harringtola,

You've clearly grasped my intent of why I wrote the article. I want to warn youths what can happen if they succumb to such cults. I hope every mother with teenagers and who has read this article, will make sure that their kids read it too.

Thank you for your comment,
~ Swan

anonymous posting (not verified)

at 08:52 on March 21st, 2009

Thank you for this story, including the F.A.C.T.net reference "of the current cults of today."

Readers might be interested in the good work done by those at the Southern Poverty Law Center: http:// www.splcenter.org

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, "Last year, 926 hate groups were active in the U.S., up more than 4% from 888 in 2007. That's more than a 50% increase since 2000, when there were 602 groups." (It's not for the feint hearted... "Ammad", You'll probably want to steer clear... Having said this, it's critically important in these troubling times, to stay abreast of these issues. We must be informed, aware and active. To do otherwise is foolish.) Thank you again, Swan.

Swan

at 10:10 on March 21st, 2009

Hello there,

Thank you for your comment and especially the link to the Southern Poverty Law Center. I've also subscribed to their feed.

926 hate groups in America? I believe it.

In fact, Oregon is supposed to be the State with the most KKK presence, though they are in most states now and growing.

They have given themselves an interesting name change. However, they still acknowledge that they are the KKK, even in their URL.

This is what appears on their front page, however the font size is triple the size on their web site - I guess to show how damn serious they are:

[q url="http://kkkk.net/home.htm"]Imperial Klans of America

Imperial Klans of America
PO Box 177
Dawson Springs, KY. 42408. USA

If you are not of the White race, this web site is not for the likes of YOU! We reserve the right of free speech to state our views whether our enemies like it or not. The IKA hates: Muds, spics, kikes and niggers. This is our God given right! In no way do we advocate violence. We believe in educating our people to the monopolistic Jewish control of the world's banks, governments, and media. White education is what ZOG hates and why it tries to imprison White Racialists. [/q]

This is probably the worst and most disgusting of the worst in hate crimes and it has been freely active for decades. They can say what they want because they're protected under law by free speech.

Sickening.
~ Swan