Charles Manson biography

Synopsis

Early Life

He was born Charles Milles Maddox to Kathleen Maddox, a 16 year old girl, who was both an alcoholic and prostitute. Kathleen later married William Manson, but the marriage ended quickly and Charles was placed in a boys school. Despite running back to his mother, she didn't want anything to do with him. Soon Charles was living on the streets and getting by through petty crime.

By 1952, Manson was soon spending more time in prison. In total he spent more than half his life (17 years) incarcerated. He was noted for being a 'model prisoner'.

A new chapter in his life began in 1955 when he married a 17 year old girl and moved with her to California. She became pregnant, but Manson resumed a life of crime again, this time stealing cars. It wasn't long before he was back behind bars and by 1956 his estranged wife had left with their child and her new lover. Manson later had another child with a different girl while out on probation.

Petty Crimes

He was described by probation reports as suffering from a 'marked degree of rejection, instability and psychic trauma' and 'constantly striving for status and securing some kind of love'. Other descriptions included 'dangerous' 'unpredictable' and 'safe only under supervision'.

From 1958, Manson was in and out of jail for a variety of offenses including 'pimping' and passing stolen checks. He was sent to McNeil Island prison in Washington State for ten years. During this time he had also raped a fellow male prisoner while brandishing a razor. Paradoxically, it was whilst he was incarcerated that he tapped into his creative talents and learnt how to read music and play the guitar. He was finally released on March 21, 1967.

Helter Skelter

The following year he was to spearhead a murderous campaign that would make him one of the most infamous figures in criminal history.

In many ways Manson reflects personality traits and obsessions that are associated with gurus of cult-quasi-religious groups that began to emerge in the 60's and are still with us today. He was pathologically deluded into believing that he was harbinger of doom regarding the planet's future, in much the same way that cult and evangelist figures today claim prophetic knowledge of the world's end.

Manson was also influenced, not only by drugs such as LSD, but by art works and music of the time such as The Beatles song 'Helter Skelter' from their White Album. He had a strong belief and interest in the notion of Armageddon from the Book of Revelations. Scientology and more obscure cult churches such as Church of the Final Judgement were also fleeting interests.

After 1967 Manson gathered a group of followers who shared his passion for an unconventional lifestyle and habitual use of hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD and magic mushrooms. 'The Family' as they became known moved to San Francisco and later to a deserted ranch in the San Fernando Valley. His followers, numbering around a hundred also included a small hard-core unit of impressionable young girls. They began to believe, without question, Manson's claims that he was Jesus and his prophecies of a race war.

In August 1969 a series of Hollywood murders were to shock the world and tarnish the 60's free love and peace legacy. Manson gathered a group of his most loyal Family followers to carry out a massacre among Tinseltown's elite and 'beautiful people'.

Murders

The first victims on the August 9, 1969 were guests at Roman Polanski's Beverley Hills home at 10050 Cielo Drive, that included Sharon Tate the film director's seven months pregnant wife. The following day Manson instigated another killing spree, this time at the home of wealthy couple Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary.

Manson chose four of his most obedient comrades, Charles 'Tex' Watson, Susan Watkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Linda Kasabian, to carry out these heinous crimes. Kasabian acted as the getaway driver and was to become the star witness during the trial.

The victims; actress Sharon Tate, writer Wojciech Frykowski and his partner the coffee bean heiress Abigail Folger, together with celerity hairstylist Jay Sebring, had all returned to the Polanski residence after dining out. Polanksi himself was away in London shooting a film.

Manson himself took no part in the actual killings, but directed his murderous disciples to the address and instructed them to kill everyone. The first victim was 18-year-old Steven Parent who was a friend of Tate's gardener. He was shot as he just happened to walk down the drive and noticed the intruders.

Linda Kasabian was horrified by the shooting of the boy. She remained outside to keep watch.