Charles Manson (And The Family) By: William Brock

Charles Manson Born on November 12, 1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His mother Kathleen Maddox had him when she was sixteen years old. His real name is Charles Milles Maddox. While he was still an infant, his name was changed to Charles Manson, after his biological father William Manson. Manson at age 14:

Early Crimes Charles Manson committed his first crime at the age of 13, when he robbed a grocery store. He was sent to live at The Indiana School For Boys, but escaped just four days after his arrival. Manson was caught driving a stolen car through California only days later. He was placed in The National Training School For Boys. While awaiting his parole hearing, Manson captured a small boy, held a razor blade to his throat, and sodomized him. Manson was immediately transferred to the Federal Reformatory.

More Crimes Charles Manson served five years of parole for his criminal activities committed in reform schools. When he got out of reform school, he immediately began pimping a sixteen-year- old girl named Leona. He was eventually caught, and imprisoned at Terminal Island. Manson was to be released on March 21, 1967.

Manson’s Release From Terminal Island Manson begged authorities not to let him out of prison, stating, “"Don't let me out, I can't cope with the outside world.” His plea was refused, and he released, and relocated to San Francisco, California. He soon met Mary Brunner, and began living with her. After a few months, Manson convinced her to allow him to bring other women into their relationship. Just weeks later, there were eighteen other women living with Manson.

The Family The Family was the group females, along with two males, who followed the teachings of Charles Manson. Charles Manson soon became interested in the music industry, and met Terry Melcher, who promised Manson a record deal. Manson coined the term “Helter Skelter”, and claimed it to be the apocalypse of the world.

The Murders The family cleaned their home at The Spahn Movie Ranch, and waited for Terry Melcher to show up to discuss their record deal. When Melcher never showed up, Manson claimed that it was time for Helter Skelter. On August 8, 1969, Manson ordered four of the members of the family to go to the Melcher home, and “totally destroy everyone in it, as gruesome as you can.” As the family members entered the home, they found Wojciech Frykowski, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, and Sharon Tate, who at the time was eight months pregnant.

The Murders (Continued) The four members of the family arranged the four people found in the Melcher home in the living room. After Jay Sebring’s resistance to comply with the orders of the family, he was shot, and then stabbed seven times. Frykowski then tried to escape, and was stabbed repeatedly in the face, neck, chest, and legs: a total of fifty-one times. Folger also tried to escape, and was stabbed twenty-eight times. Finally, the pregnant Sharon Tate begged the family to just let her have her baby, but was stabbed sixteen times as she screamed “Mother, mother, mother, mother…”

The Murders (Continued) The next night, six family members traveled to the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. As the family entered the home, they found the couple sleeping. After waking them, they placed pillowcases over their heads, and secured them with lamp cords. Rosemary received forty-one stab wounds by means of a steak knife, a fork, and a bayonet. Leno received twelve stab wounds by a bayonet, and had “WAR” carved into his chest.

Prosecution Four of the members of the Manson Family were sentenced to death, but none were ever executed. Charles Manson received seven counts of manslaughter, and was sentenced to life in prison. On September 25, 1984, a fellow inmate poured paint thinner on Charles Manson, and set him on fire. Manson is eligible for parole in 2012.

“Look down at me and you see a fool; look up at me and you see a god; look straight at me and you see yourself” Charles Manson