Nobody can dispute The Manson Family’s involvement in far more than just an eccentric lifestyle using psychedelic drugs during the course of its brief existence. In actuality, this radical Californian cult from the late 1960s and early 1970s committed a number of assaults, murders, and at least a few minor offences like theft and damage. Let’s find out where they are right now after all of its members were thrust into the spotlight due to their crimes and support for neo-nazi, white supremacist ideologies a while back.
How Did Charles Manson Die?
Charles Manson has never required introduction as a career criminal beginning at the age of nine, a hippie singer-songwriter with genuinely extremist ideas, and the acknowledged head of the Family. After all, he was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder in the deaths of seven separate people, and he was also suspected of involvement in a great number of other deaths. He was thus given a death sentence on April 19, 1971, but it was shortly reduced to life in prison after the California Supreme Court decided to nullify all death sentences handed down before 1972.
It has also been claimed that Charles had no remorse, had no understanding of the gravity of his crimes, had a callous disregard for human suffering, and didn’t make a single release plan, making him a danger. Nevertheless, despite becoming eligible for parole in 1978, Charles was never allowed to regain his freedom, in part because of his continued “controlling behaviour” and “mental health issues.” at the end, the offender died on November 19, 2017, at the age of 83, at a hospital in Bakersfield from a cardiac arrest brought on by respiratory failure brought on by colon cancer.
Where is Tex Watson Now?
When he first learned about psychedelics and the Family in 1967, Charles Denton “Tex” Watson was merely a luggage handler at Braniff International Airport, but he soon rose to the position of the group’s leader. In fact, he actively took part in the murders of Steven Parent, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Sharon Tate, and Wojciech Frykowski on August 9, 1969, and Jay Leno and Rosemary LaBianca the next night. Due to this, he was also given a death sentence in 1971 but was fortunately spared from execution as a result of the law change. As a result, the 77-year-old is currently incarcerated at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility; after receiving a total of 16 rejections for parole as of this writing, his next suitable hearing is scheduled for October 2026.
Where is Bobby Beausoleil Now?
Robert “Bobby” Kenneth Beausoleil first met Charles Manson in 1968 and joined the communal Family as a result, not knowing that a year later he would be in prison. That’s because the aspiring musician-actor participated in the stabbing death of their friend Gary Hinman on July 27, 1969. This murder is thought to have been the start of a string of killings by the cult that triggered their end-of-the-world prophecy.
Bobby is presently being held at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville as a result of his arrest, conviction, and death sentence (which was eventually reduced to life in prison). However, it is important to note that despite being turned down for parole 18 times since being eligible in 1982, he has apparently shown sincere regret and went on to pursue his aspirations of making and publishing music.
Where is Squeaky Fromme Now?
Despite coming from a fairly stable middle-class household, Lynette Alice “Squeaky” Fromme’s life completely changed when she started consuming drugs at the age of 15 in 1963. She was homeless by 1967 when she met Charles Manson at a bus stop and joined the Family as its second member, but she wasn’t engaged in the Tate-LaBianca killings in 1969.
Instead, Squeaky attempted to kill President Gerald Ford on September 5, 1975, when she was finally apprehended. She was sentenced to life in prison but was released on parole on August 14, 2009, after serving 34 years. The most recent stories state that she has since moved to New York, where she is content to live with her partner, Robert Valdner, despite acknowledging that she still loves Charles. It’s also crucial to remember that in 2018, she released a book with the working title “Reflexion: Lynette Fromme’s Story of Her Life with Charles Manson 1967-1969.”
How Did Susan Atkins Die?
Susan first met Charles Manson in late 1967, only to quickly join his Family because she thought he was Jesus. He gave her the pseudonym Sadie Mae Glutz. She was therefore sentenced to death in 1971, which was automatically commuted to life in prison the following year due to the California Supreme Court’s aforementioned decision. It is therefore not surprising that she was heavily involved in their activities, including eight out of the nine murders they committed in the summer of 1969, including Gary Hinman’s as well as Sharon Tate plus friends. But sadly, the 61-year-old died on September 24, 2009, while still a prisoner at the Central California Women’s Prison in Chowchilla, after been rejected release 13 times.
Where is Patricia Krenwinke Now?
One of the most notorious Family members, Patricia (or Katie) met Charles Manson in 1967 and was seduced by him. She also went by the aliases Big Patty, Yellow, Marnie Reeves, and Mary Ann Scott. She so admittedly spent the first night in bed with him before abandoning everything to follow his lead, only to wind up in jail for her role in the Tate-LaBianca murders in August 1969.
Patricia was sentenced to death on April 28, 1971, for seven counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder, but the sentence was commuted the next year, allowing Patricia to exhale in relief. Since she has been rejected parole 12 times, she is currently serving a 75-year-old sentence in the minimum to medium security California Institution for Women in Chino, San Bernardino County. Her next hearing is scheduled for November 17, 2023.
Where is Leslie Van Houten Now?
Even legendary Leslie, who joined the Family in 1968 at the age of 19, was known by a variety of names, including Louella Alexandria, Leslie Marie Sankston, Linda Sue Owens, and Lulu. She is, however, very different from the former in that she has only ever been found accountable for playing a significant role in the double stabbing homicide of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca on August 9, 1969. The 73-year-old is currently residing in a transition home, but despite all the accusations made against these group members, her death sentence was converted to life in prison, which resulted in her being freed on parole on July 11, 2023.
Where is Clem Grogan Now?
There have been many rumours about whether Steven Dennis “Clem” Grogan, a high school dropout and aspiring musician, was actually mentally delayed or not, but there is little doubt that he was a member of the family. In truth, he was ultimately involved in the 1969 murder of Donald Shea, a housekeeper for Charles Manson, Charles Watson, and Bruce Davis. As a result, he received the death penalty, which was later commuted to life in prison.
Clem was nevertheless given parole in 1985 as a result of his subsequent choice to avoid the cult leader, his tireless efforts to advance into the position of director of a prison programme that deters young people from a life of crime, and his assistance in helping to find Donald’s body eight years later. According to what we can gather, the 71-year-old has now established a new life for himself in the California Bay Area as a real musician, specifically a guitarist.
Where is Catherine Share Now?
Bobby Beausoleil introduced Catherine, a native of France who had grown up in the counterculture, to Charles Manson in 1967 after the two had crossed paths on the set of a softcore pornographic film. She had no idea, however, that she would quickly become known as Gipsy in their family and would later find herself in jail on charges of armed robbery and witness intimidation in relation to the atrocities carried out by this cult.
Although Catherine only spent five years in prison for this offence, she was later found guilty on six additional counts of mail fraud, interstate transportation of stolen items, and fraudulent use of a credit card in 1979. We should point out, though, that according to the most recent sources, she has subsequently changed her life. She is now a born-again Christian, an opponent of cults, a public speaker, and a mother who is devoted to her son Phoenix.
How Did Linda Kasabian Die?
Linda Darlene Kasabian was undoubtedly one of the most well-known Family members because, despite having been present at the Tate and LaBianca murders in 1969, she was granted complete immunity in exchange for her damning testimony against Charles Manson and his followers. This was due to the fact that the 20-year-old had just recently joined the cult, hadn’t actually committed any crimes, had shown genuine sorrow at every turn, and already had two children from prior marriages.
After all was said and done, Linda moved to New Hampshire to raise her kids far from the spotlight; she even briefly resided in another hippie commune. Records show that she afterwards changed her last name, relocated to Tacoma, Washington, and stopped appearing frequently in the media, although occasionally getting into trouble for driving infractions or her daughter’s drug possession. The 73-year-old ultimately passed away on January 21, 2023; the reason for her passing has never been revealed.
Where is Bruce Davis Now?
Bruce Davis didn’t meet the hippy musician until the latter already had the unshakeable loyalty of a few women in late 1967, despite the fact that the latter was thought to be Charles Manson’s right-hand man. Additionally, he allegedly had a personal involvement in the Church of Scientology while residing in London from November 1968 to April 1969, yet he was there for at least a few of the 1969 Family offences.
According to sources, Bruce was present when Charles amputated Gary Hinman’s ear, took part in the murder of Spahn’s Ranch employee Donald “Shorty” Shea, and observed John Philip Haught allegedly take his own life while playing Russian roulette. Later, he went into hiding before coming forward on December 2, 1970. He was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murder for the first two occurrences, conspiracy to commit murder, and robbery in 1972. The 80-year-old has been imprisoned at the San Quentin State Prison’s maximum security facility; he has been rejected parole 32 times and will be next eligible in June 2025.
Where is Sandra Good Now?
Sandra joined the Family in April 1968 despite coming from a fairly respectable middle-class background, and she quickly grew close to Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme. Their leader even gave her the nickname “Blue” to stand for clean water and air, which makes sense given that she was finally detained in 1975 for “conspiracy to send threatening letters” to more than 170 business executives she claimed were ruining the planet.
In reality, Sandra was still loyal to Charles at this point, which may have contributed to her 1976 15-year sentence. But sadly, she was released from prison in early December 1985 after serving almost ten years. She then reaffirmed her commitment to Manson, relocated to Vermont, and lived a quiet life as Blue Collins. We can tell that the former Family member has since become very involved in environmental advocacy and continues to give credit to Charles for teaching her how to communicate with nature.
How Did Paul Watkins Die?
According to the most recent stories, Paul also had a very middle-class upbringing in a home of devoted Christians. However, after he discovered psychedelic substances during his final year of high school, things started to change. He apparently met Charles Manson and his followers by coincidence on March 16, 1968, and it was through them that he developed a bond that led to him joining the Family on July 4, 1968.
Paul, who fervently accepted Charles’ “Helter Skelter” apocalyptic prophecy and fled them in fear by 1969, in fact rose to become one of Charles’ top lieutenants in the following months. He was not a part of any of the murders as a result, and he ultimately decided to testify against the cult leader at his 1970 trial. After that, he went on to accomplish much, much better things in life. Up until his death from leukaemia on August 3, 1990, at the age of 40, the unofficial mayor of Tecopa formed the Death Valley Chamber of Commerce business network, gave lectures on psychology and the effects of substance misuse, and even made several more public appearances.
Where is Ruth Ann Moorehouse Now?
Although Ruth (or Ouisch or Rachel) eventually joined the Family, it was her father who initially encountered Charles Manson in 1967 while the latter was travelling through San Jose. The two immediately grew close because of their shared commitment to their respective religions, but it ended with the charmer showing interest in Ruth, who was 14 at the time, which led to him luring her to move in with him permanently the next summer. She then assumed responsibility for panhandling, skip diving, and caring for the children in the commune. To further demonstrate her allegiance, she even got a swastika tattoo on her forehead.
But regrettably, when it was time for this Family to answer for their heinous crimes, Ruth progressively withdrew herself despite the constant pressure coming from all directions. The truth is that she was also accused and found guilty in connection with the attempted/planned murder of a fellow former member in 1970, but due to her alienation, she was never jailed. The mother of four, who is now 70, is believed to have had the swastika removed since that time and moved to Minnesota, where she reportedly continues to live today while avoiding the spotlight.
How Did Barbara Hoyt Die?
Ruth and a few others planned to kill Barbara in 1970 because Ruth had decided to turn on the people who had been arrested after the 1969 murder spree in order to start again. She happily lived because of her foresight, and after deciding to pursue a nursing career, she testified for the prosecution because she really believed it was the proper thing to do. But regrettably, on December 3, 2017, the 65-year-old passed away from natural causes after living a relatively long, happy, quiet life filled with wonderful friendships and relationships.
Where is Nancy Pitman Now?
Although Nancy was raised in an affluent Malibu family with every financial comfort imaginable, she apparently never felt content until she met Charles Mason when she was 16 years old. The result was that she made the decision to move in with him and his commune at Spahn Ranch, where she quickly earned the names Brenda McCann, Nancy Monfort, Laura Nancy, Karen McCartney, Penelope Miller, Brenda Brindle, Brenda Moss, Cydette Perell, Tracy Rose, Penelope Tracy, Brenda Marie McKay, Ice, or Gold.
She was actually present for the murders of Gary and Tate-LaBianca in 1969, and it is said that she and Charles even went to the scene of the latter murder to examine the carnage. It comes as no surprise that she not only stuck with the leader after his incarceration but also dipped into the Aryan Brotherhood before being found guilty of aiding and abetting an Aryan-related homicide. According to the most recent sources, she then served about 18 months in prison after which she moved to the Pacific Northwest with her kids and continues to reside there while using a different name.
Where is Mary Brunner Now?
Mary was the first person Charles brought into the Family as a girlfriend because she had met him for the first time just a few weeks after one of his prison terms in 1967. The couple had a kid together in April 1968, but just a few days later they were detained on charges of grand theft auto, public obscenity, and endangering the welfare of a child. These charges were eventually dropped. She was specifically sentenced to two years on probation and a 15-day suspended jail term for aiding a minor’s delinquency, only to be detained once more in June for providing drugs to kids.
She consequently happened to be present when Gary Hinman was stabbed on July 27, 1969, which is not surprising. She was arrested alongside Sandra Good on August 8 for using a stolen credit card. As a result, when it came time for the Family murder trials, it was clear she would know a lot, and happily, despite her own legal issues, she decided to testify for the prosecution. She allegedly continued to support her commune up until her arrest in 1971 for a shootout in Hawthorne, California, for which she was given 20 years to life but was later released on parole in 1977. Since then, she has reportedly kept a low profile under a different name.
Where is Kathryn Lutesinger Now?
Bobby Beausoleil, Kathryn “Kitty” Lutesinger’s lover who later became her baby father, is said to have introduced her to the Family, although the 17-year-old never really got along with homicidal mastermind Charles Manson. She so frequently fled their ranch in the hopes of improving her situation, only to find herself unexpectedly in police jail due to the cult’s horrific crime spree — she didn’t think twice to be completely honest here. She thus played a crucial part in the legal case brought by the authorities, and then she moved on to a very different life. She reportedly started out as a science teacher before rising to the position of Principal in the LA County school system, and she is now a retiree leading a comfortable, private life.
How Did Ella Jo Bailey and Catherine Gillies Die?
Despite the fact that not much is known about Ella or Catherine, we do know that they both joined the Family at various points in 1968 before leaving after the crime wave in 1969. She was supposedly the main reason Charles and his followers killed Gary Hinman because she falsely told them he had inherited money. The former eventually did become a prosecutor’s witness, whilst the latter generally kept her distance from the legalities. But regrettably, in the end, Ella died on September 14, 2015, and Catherine died on June 29, 2018, both in Cave Junction, Oregon, apparently from cancer at the age of 68.
Where Are Sherry Cooper and Danny DeCarlo Now?
Sherry and Danny both joined the Family fairly early on, but they were very different from one another because Sherry was a local girl who appeared to be involved in no illicit activities, while Danny was also a member of the Straight Satans biker gang and had a criminal record. Nevertheless, after learning about their crime spree in August 1969, Sherry and Danny fled the cult, Sherry with Barbara Hoyt after the Tate-LaBianca killings and Danny after the death of ranch hand Donald Shea.
The two really gave false testimony during their various trials against their former leader and other group members before making their way to Canada together in the 1970s, where they later got married. According to the most recent accounts, they even welcomed a lovely son into their family after a few years, but they quickly realised that their marriage was failing, resulting in a supposedly peaceful divorce. Although little is known about either person after then, it is assumed that they are both still alive and well as of 2023, with Sherry having moved back to live in California.
Where is Brooks Poston Now?
Like Susan Atkins, who dropped out of high school, Brooks began to believe that Charles Manson was Jesus Christ as soon as he first learned about him in 1967 through Ruth Ann Moorehouse’s father. The guitarist apparently didn’t think twice before giving the family’s leader his mother’s credit card before joining his hippie-style family because he thought their combined efforts could accomplish great things.
However, after the events of the summer of 1969, Brooks eventually fled the commune alone out of fear for his life, only to join Paul Crockett and Paul Watkins when they went to the police to express their worries. It comes as no surprise, then, that he even testified in court against the cult before going on to pursue his musical aspirations by joining up with Paul Watkins to establish the band Desert Sun. However, the Californian has continued to live a fairly straightforward, quiet existence ever since, making the most of his time working in the entertainment sector.
How Did Dennis Rice Die?
Dennis was born in a standard middle-class family in Phoenix, Arizona, in the 1940s, but by the time he was a teen, he had started to believe in anarchy and was only rebelling. He discovered the world of cults, heroin, and the counterculture in this way, leading him to believe that Sharon Tate and her family’s murder in August 1969 marked the start of a new revolution.
Thus, his relationship with Charles Manson and the Family was established, leading him to try a jailbreak from their leader after receiving his sentence with over 160 firearms in tow. He was undoubtedly detained, found guilty, and given a term for this flagrant breach of the law. After serving his sentence, he was released on probation for two years, which he ended up breaking not once, but twice before things worked out.
After discovering Christianity, Dennis sought out a radical church after being released for the third time in order to prevent relapsing. He eventually developed into a pastor with a devoted second wife and six children from his two marriages. However, as with everything else, the Focus on the Family contributor also went away at the age of 74 from what appeared to be natural causes.
