Charles Milles Manson Early Life, Crimes, Children and Music

Charles Manson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio; he was born an illegitimate child to a 15-year-old alcoholic and prostitute girl, Ada Kathleen Maddox, and a con artist, Colonel Walker Henderson Scott Sr., Who appears to have been Manson's biological father, since Maddox initiated a paternity suit against him, which ended in an accepted judgment.

Manson never knew his biological father since he left Maddox after she told him she was pregnant. Colonel informed her he was called to a business away, which he never returned. Manson possibly never met his father, Colonel Walker Scott, as his mother married laborer William Eugene Manson in 1934 before Charles was born, and Charles adopted his name, Manson.

Charles was an unwanted child, according to a forensic psychologist who reviewed his case. There are claims that his mother tried to sell him away to a childless waitress.

Maddox often went drinking with her brother Luther Elbert Maddox and practiced armed robbery, which they later got arrested for, leaving baby Charles with a babysitter. In 1937, Maddox and Manson divorced due to Maddox's neglect of duty to the family, but Charles retained his last name, Manson.

In August 1939, Luther and Kathleen were arrested for armed robbery. Kathleen was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, while Luther served ten years. Charles then lived with his uncle and aunt in McMichen, West Virginia.

His mother got released, and they later moved to Charleston, West Virginia, and later to Indianapolis, where his mother got married again to an alcoholic Lewis Woodson Cavender Jr. Manson was constantly truant in school, and his mother spent her evenings drinking.

Charles was raised by different people, leading to a hard and tight lifestyle. He was left to fend for himself from an early age, which led him to the streets and into crimes. Manson was enrolled in different schools where he either ran away due to;

The strict rules of the institution, being beaten, sexually molested, and peer pressured Charles Manson to indulge in crimes like petty theft or setting the school on fire. Since he was running truants, it fueled bigger crimes like stealing cars and committing armed robbery.

These schools included, but were not limited to, Gibault Boys School; he also went to Boys Town, a juvenile facility, Indiana Boys School, a reform school where he was sexually brutalized; and the National Training School for boys in Washington, DC.

Formation of The Manson Family

After spending more than half his life in prison for various transgressions, Charles Manson started learning to play the guitar behind bars. Charles Manson was released from prison in 1967, and that same year, the Manson family was created. The ex-convict decided to put his life back on track and go to San Francisco, California, to pursue a music career.

Manson met Mary Brunner there, started a relationship, and moved in with her. He then convinced her to allow his female followers supporting the hippie culture to live with them. After some time, more than eighteen women following Manson stayed in their apartment. Charles Manson specifically targeted emotionally fragile and social misfits for manipulation.

Manson Family members now consisted of a group of about 100 devotees who embraced his unusual lifestyle and regular use of hallucinogenic substances like LSD, Methamphetamine, and magic mushrooms. As a result, Manson’s personality changed.

The Cult

Charles Manson started drawing followers in the 1960s, primarily young, gullible people who were captivated by his seductive and cunning demeanor. The group, often referred to as the Manson Family founded a community at the California Spahn Ranch, where Manson preached his warped worldview, which was shaped by an odd combination of pop culture, bigotry, and end-of-the-world fantasies.

Rooted in The Beatles' "Helter Skelter," Manson's philosophy revolved around his belief in an imminent race war. Manson persuaded his supporters that by carrying out horrific killings and falsely accusing other racial groups, they might start this apocalyptic war.

While studying Scientology, Charles Manson acquired knowledge that he used to teach cult members about his borrowed spiritual ideas, mostly from the Process Church of the Final Judgment. This church believed that in the end time, Jesus and Satan would reconcile and make an even and sound judgment. At the time, his followers believed he was the representative of Jesus and the Devil.

Manson’s followers included a small, hard-core unit of impressionable young girls. They believed, without question, Manson’s claims that he was Jesus and his prophecies of a race war.

The Manson Family cult eventually moved from San Francisco to a deserted ranch in the San Fernando Valley.

Crimes and Imprisonments

The crime background of Charles Mansion started as a result of a rough childhood in his early years, which he confessed to setting his school on fire at age nine. He stole cars and ran armed robbery. He was an aggressive and antisocial teenager.

In the 1950s, Manson was imprisoned for the first time. Although the previous imprisonments of Charles Manson were for comparatively minor charges, he was imprisoned three times as an adult for different crimes. He was charged with the following crimes;

Burglary, Forgery, and Homosexuality

Charles’ criminal records included burglary and theft. He was first imprisoned in 1951 for attempting to cash a forged United States Treasury check. Manson was sentenced to ten years in prison but was freed on parole after his aunt visited him and assured the administrators he would stay at her house and help him find work.

Thus, Charles Manson was released on parole, and his hearing was set for February 1952. However, before his hearing, he was caught raping a boy at knifepoint. Manson was moved to a high-security reformatory after that incident and detained at the Petersburg Federal Reformatory in Virginia, where he further committed "eight serious disciplinary offenses, three involving homosexual acts. Then, homosexuality was still deemed an illegal offense.

Manson was sentenced to ten years in prison but was freed on an early release in May 1954 for good behavior. He then lived with his aunt and uncle in McMichen and married in 1955.

Prostitution Offenses

In pursuit of freedom, Manson expanded his criminal repertoire, which included pimping young women. He was in charge of other pimps who intimidated, extorted, entrapped, and ran a life of prostitution by renting them out or selling women. 

Considering the kind of person that he was, Manson always had a following of young troubled girls such as Patricia Krenwinkel, 19, and Susan Atkins, 20 whom he encountered in the Haight-Ashbury community in the year 1967 while he was playing his guitar.

Charles Manson was arrested again by the Los Angeles Police Department for federal crimes, which included stealing and transporting cars using stolen credit cards and taking the vehicles across state lines. He was sentenced and incarcerated at Terminal Island in Los Angeles.  In 1958, he was serving time for various offenses.

Attempted Murders

The Crowe Shooting

One of The Manson Family members, Tex Watson, got involved in several drug deals, later, he robbed a fellow drug dealer named Benard "Lotsapoppa" Crowe.  In response, Crowe purportedly threatened to obliterate every member of the Manson Family at Spahn Ranch. In anger, Charles Manson shot Crowe at his Hollywood apartment in 1969, taking matters into his own hands as payback.

 Manson misinterpreted Crowe's affiliation with the Black Panthers and expected the Panthers to retaliate, even though Crowe was not one of them.

A news article about a Black Panther's body being found discarded in Los Angeles seemed to support Manson's suspicion that he had killed Crowe, which was not the case, Crow had survived the shooting. In retaliation, Manson established night patrols and turned Spahn Ranch into a defensive stronghold.

The Murder Victims

Charles Manson was not actively involved in the murders; rather, he coordinated them through members of his circle, the Manson Family. Most of Manson's victims were brutally killed and massacred by Manson's family members who were manipulated by Charles Manson.

Donald Shea Murder

Shea was pleased with the arrangement when Charles Manson and his family relocated to Spahn's Movie Ranch. He was usually an outgoing and friendly man who got along well with the other ranch hands and made new acquaintances readily. He then realized Manson was a racist, and that displeased him. Hearing Manson's prejudiced rampages against Blacks infuriated Shea, and he despised Manson.

On August 16, 1969, the Los Angeles Police Department raided Spahn's Movie Ranch after receiving information that stolen automobiles were being held there. Several family members were arrested. Manson's family was sure that Donald "Shorty" Shea had tipped off the police about the gang stealing automobiles and even helped the cops set up the raid so that several arrests could be made.

Charles Manson hated snitches, putting Donald on his enemies list and turning his followers against him. Members of the Manson family, Charles "Tex" Watson, Bruce Davis, Steve Grogan, Bill Vance, and Larry Bailey, took Donald Shea for a trip on August 28, 1969.

Grogan attacked Shea with a pipe wrench from the backseat while Tex Watson began stabbing. Shorty was taken out of the automobile, dragged down a hill behind Spahn's Movie Ranch, and stabbed to death. Donald Jerome Shea's corpse was discovered in December 1977.

Gary Hinman Murder

Gary Hinman was a musician and an acquaintance of Charles Manson and his followers, Gary Hinman was assassinated in a dispute over money and property that Manson claimed Hinman possessed and that Manson felt the Family owed for a failed Hinman-supplied Beausoleil narcotics trade.

Three of the members of the Manson Family, Charles Watson, Susan Atkins, and Mary Brunner, went to Hinman's residence in Los Angeles on orders given by Manson.

The killing was also the first of a series of murders perpetrated by "The Family" to kick off "Helter Skelter," a "war" that Manson had promised his Family would take place in the summer of 1969.

The Tate -LaBianca murders

The Tate-LaBianca murders were a series of murders perpetrated by members of the Manson Family on August 9–10, 1969, in United States Los Angeles, California, under the direction of Tex Watson and Charles Manson.

Tate's murders

The perpetrators, Linda Kasabian, Susan Atkins, Charles Watson, and Patricia Krenwinkel, drove to an address, belonging to Sharon Tate, 10050 Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon. That night, in the Tate residence, they killed five people.

Their victims included eight and a half months pregnant actress, Sharon Tate, the wife to film director Roman Polanski, and her companions. In a horrifying act of violence, the Manson Family members ruthlessly killed Sharon Tate, who begged for the life of her pregnant child.

The other victims included Jay Sebring, a celebrity hairdresser, Abigail Folger, a coffee heiress, Wojciech Frykowski, boyfriend to Abigail, and an aspiring screenwriter, along with Steven Parent.

The victims had been shot, assaulted, and stabbed, leaving the murder scene characterized by acts of savagery such as Sharon Tate's blood being found smeared on the door.

Labianca Murders

The following evening, the four cult members were joined by Steve "Clem" Grogan and Leslie Van Houten, in the murder of supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, at their home in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles.

The LaBianca murders were similarly brutal, with the victims being stabbed multiple times.

Using blood, the phrases "Death to Pigs" and "Helter Skelter" (spelled incorrectly as "Helter Skelter") were inscribed on the walls of the Labianca house.

Involvement with Scientology

While in Terminal Island, Charles Manson adopted a new way of thinking since he had some exposure to numerous religious systems, ideologies, and philosophies, including Scientology. Manson began studying more on Scientology in July 1961 with the help of Lanier Rayner. Upon his release in 1967, Charles Manson traveled to Los Angeles, to meet local Scientologists and attended several parties for movie stars. He registered his religion as Scientology.

Charles Manson Music

While in prison, he started playing guitar and writing songs, and he became a musician and a charismatic leader of a hippie group and cult known as the Manson Family, where he gathered lots of followers, mostly young women and men.

Between 1967 and 1969, Charles Manson was a struggling musician trying to make it big in Hollywood. He met several individuals who may have helped make it happen. Thanks to a fortuitous meeting with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys, who introduced Manson to record producer Terry Melcher, Manson became a singer-songwriter outside the Los Angeles music scene.

The Beach Boys covered Manson's song "Cease to Exist," renamed "Never Learn Not to Love," as a single B-side in 1968, but without giving Manson credit. Following that, Manson sought, but failed, to acquire a record contract through Melcher.

Manson frequently spoke of the Beatles, notably their self-titled 1968 album. According to Los Angeles County District Attorney Vincent Bugliosi, Manson was inspired by his interpretation of the Beatles' songs and coined "Helter Skelter" as a metaphor for a coming cataclysmic race conflict.

Manson started building a cult following. He became infamous for his role and is most remembered for his participation in the late 1960s killings, which were committed by his followers, who, after a series of murders in 1969, became a symbol of the decade's dark side.  He is considered a serial killer, although he wasn’t convicted of killing anyone himself. During his trial, Bugliosi said that Manson meant to ignite a racial war, which Manson and others denied.

Only after the Tate murder trial began were the songs made public. LIE, a Manson album, was released on March 6, 1970. This featured "Cease to Exist," a Manson song covered by the Beach Boys with updated lyrics and the title "Never Learn Not to Love.” Only 300 of the album's 2,000 copies were sold during the next few months.

Charles Manson's Marriage and Family

Charles married three women and had three children: two sons from his two legal wives and another son with a lover.

In January 1955, when Charles was 20 years old, he married Rosalie Jean Willis, a 16-year-old hospital waitress in Ohio. The couple then moved to California. They got a son, Charles Manson Jr, in 1956, while Manson was in prison for stealing a car from Ohio to Los Angeles.

Though the marriage did not last long, because of Manson's unpredictable criminal activities and subsequent jail sentences, Rosalie Willis took their child Charles Manson Jr., and she parted ways with Manson in 1956 to live with her new boyfriend.

Manson received visits from Rosalie and his mother a year later, in 1957 when his mother informed him that Rosalie was living with another man. Manson tried escaping from prison but was unsuccessful in 1958, Rosalie received a decree of divorce.

In 1959, Manson met Leona Rae, also known as Candy Steven. Candy was to be a street prostitute. She began working as her husband's prostitute soon after they met. Before the end of 1959, Candy Steven married Manson, probably so she wouldn't have to testify against him.

1960 Manson had his second son, Charles Luther Manson, with Candy Steven.  The couple divorced three years later. Charles Luther Manson later changed his name to Jay Charles Warner in 1976 since he didn't want to be associated with the crimes of his father

Following his release from jail in 1967, Charles Manson began dating Mary Brunner, commonly known as "Mother Mary.” Manson and Brunner gave birth to a newborn boy named Valentine Michael Manson on April 15, 1968. They never got married. Brunner's parents filed for full custody of the baby when he was 18 months young, which they were granted.

On 7th November 2014, the imprisoned Charles Manson was engaged to 26-year-old Afton Elaine Burton and acquired a marriage certificate. Burton was given the moniker "Star" by Manson. She had visited him in prison for at least nine years and ran various websites claiming his innocence. The wedding license expired on February 5, 2015, and no ceremony was held.

Charles Manson Documentary and Movies

Helter-skelter the True Crime Book

Charles Manson was influenced by drugs, contemporary art, and music, most notably The Beatles' song "Helter Skelter" from their 1968 White Album. The title of a best-selling book on Manson and his murders was eventually changed to Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders.

After leaving the DA's office, prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, together with Curt Gentry, co-wrote Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders in 1974. The book won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for the best true-crime book of the year.

The book was adapted for television twice, first in 1976 and then again in 2004. As of 2015, Helter Skelter was the bestselling true crime book in publishing history, with more than seven million copies sold.

Fiction Movies inspired by Manson

• 1976, Helter Skelter:  was a television drama.

• 1984, Manson Family Movies: was a film drama.

• 1990, The Manson Family: is a musical opera by John Moran.

• 1990, Assassins, a Broadway musical with references to Manson.

• 1992, The Ben Stiller Show: a sketch series with Manson as a recurring character portrayed by Bob Odenkirk.

• 1998, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Manson!": an episode of South Park centered around Manson

• 2003, The Dead Circus: is a novel that includes the activities of the Manson Family as a major plot point.

• 2003, The Manson Family: a crime drama/horror film centered around the Manson Family.

• 2004, Helter Skelter: is a crime film about the Manson Family and Linda Kasabian.

• 2006, Live Freaky! Die Freaky!: is a stop-motion animated film based on murders.

• 2014, House of Manson: is a biographical feature film focusing on the life of Charles Manson from his childhood to his arrest.

• 2015, Manson Family Vacation; an indie comedy inspired by Manson.

• 2015–16 Aquarius: a television crime drama that includes storylines inspired by actual events that involved Manson.

• 2016, The Girls: a novel by Emma Cline loosely inspired by the Manson Family.

• 2016, Wolves at the Door: a horror film directed by John R. Leonetti loosely based on the murder of Sharon Tate.

• 2017, Mind Hunter; the first episode of season 1 used Manson as a case study. Manson is then featured in the second season.

• 2017, American Horror Story Cult: the seventh season of the horror anthology series American Horror Story.

• 2018: Charlie Says: a film centered around Manson and three of his followers.

• 2019, The Haunting of Sharon Tate: directed by Daniel Farrands, the film revolves around Sharon Tate during the last evening of her life.

• 2019: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: directed by Quentin Tarantino, the film has a plot revolving around Manson and the Manson Family.

• 2019, Zeroville: a film that starts in the aftermath of the Sharon Tate murders in Los Angeles, with the main character suspected of being involved. Scott Haze portrays Manson.

• 2021, We Can Only Save Ourselves: a novel by Alison Wisdom loosely inspired by the Manson Family.

Arrest, Trial, and Conviction 19-04-1971

On 22nd April 1971, Manson was transferred from Los Angeles County to state prison for seven counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to murder in connection with the deaths of Abigail Ann Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Steven Earl Parent, Sharon Tate Polanski, Jay Sebring, and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.

In 1972, Manson was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release when the death penalty was declared unlawful. On February 2, 1977, His initial death sentence was modified to life imprisonment.

Manson’s Illness Death and Burial 2017

In January 2017, while Manson was being held at Corcoran prison, he got so ill that he was hurried to Mercy Hospital in downtown Bakersfield after experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding. His treatment was not disclosed.

After about a week, he was taken back to the prison with a review note since he was feeling much better and had to revisit the hospital, which was confirmed he went on the 15th of January.

On 19th November 2017, Charles Manson, the notorious California cult leader, died. Charles Manson died of a heart attack and complications from colon cancer at 83 years old.

His body was given to his grandchild, Jason Freeman after many people had claimed it. Janson Freeman buried Manson in a private property.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Charles Manson's Early Life Like?

Early in life, Charles Manson was prone to volatility and criminal activity. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 12, 1934, Manson had a difficult upbringing that included being abandoned and imprisoned.

Manson's early years were marked by criminal activity and a lack of consistent parental influence because he was raised in and out of jail facilities. Manson had a troubled relationship with his mother who also had a troubled lifestyle involving crime and instability.

What was Charles Manson's First Offense?

In 1956, Charles Manson committed his first major crime when he was found guilty on federal charges of cashing counterfeit U.S. Treasury bills. This was the start of a criminal track that would later lead to more serious crimes, culminating in the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders orchestrated by Manson and his followers in 1969.

Did Charles Manson have any children?

At least three children were fathered by Charles Manson. Rosalie Jean Willis, his first wife, gave birth to Charles Manson Jr., his first child. His second wife, Leona Stevens had a son who was named Charles Luther Manson. Mary Brunner, who was a Manson family member had a son with Charles Manson named Valentine Michael Manson.

Where did the Manson family members Live?

The Manson Family first made their home At the Spahn Ranch,  California where they established a community. They later lived in several places, including Death Valley in Barker Ranch. Their Communal living setup was defined by a cult-like setting and rigid commitment to Manson's deceptive philosophy.

What Happened to The Manson Family?

In 1969, after the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders, Manson and a number of his supporters were taken into custody and put on trial for their part in the crimes. Manson was given a life sentence, as were several family members. Over time, some members received parole while others stayed behind bars. These horrific crimes of the Manson Family have had a lasting impact on both popular culture and criminal history.

Did Charles Manson have a disability?

There is no proof that Charles Manson has a recognized impairment in the records. He did, however, display sociopathic and manipulative tendencies. Even though his capacity to command and control his followers demonstrated a warped psychological profile, this was not officially acknowledged as a disability.

What were Charles Manson's last words before he died?

On November 19, 2017, Charles Manson passed away. His last words were, "I'm the most famous human being not only that is alive but the most famous human being that has ever lived."

Manson went ahead to deny any complicity in the crimes committed. He declared that he "never ordered anybody to do anything. They were always free to leave."

How Many People Did the Manson Family Kill?

The Manson Family carried out a string of horrific killings under Charles Manson's orders. Actress Sharon Tate was among the victims, along with many others. The Manson Family is undoubtedly one of the most notorious cults in criminal history because they were personally involved in at least 35 murders in total.

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