-
Creation
When Charles Manson was released from prison in 1967, he began recruiting members is Ashbury, San Francisco. He recruited 90 disciples, most of them were teenage girls and his cult officially became known as, “The Manson Family.” -
Connections
In 1967, Manson and his “family” painted a bus in hippie colors and traveled to Mexico and South America. When they came back to Los Angeles in 1968, they were living in the bus until the Beach Boys’ singer Denis Wilson took them in. Wilson and Manson became friends, and Wilson was able to give him connections to the music business like Terry Melcher. Wilson helped Manson record some songs. A few months later, Wilson and Manson had a falling out, leaving him and his family homeless. -
Manson Family Headquaters
After becoming homeless, Manson and his family were able to find refuge in an abandoned ranch set for movies. The set belonged to George Spahn and in exchange for the girls services, Spahn allowed the Manson family to stay in his ranch. -
Teachings
As his followers grew Manson began to explain who he was to his followers. He convinced his family that he was Jesus Christ himself and that they were the the reincarnation of the first Christians. He also told them that the Beatles song, "Helter Skelter", was a coded message from above warning about doomsday. He said that doomsday would be a racial war, where the Black people in America would kill all the White people, except for the Manson Family leaving the Manson family to be their leader. -
1st Murder
On July 25th, 1969, the Manson family committed their first murder when Charles Manson sent three members to the house of, Gary Hinman, who, Manson had believed, that he was hiding a stash of money. After being held hostage for two days, Hinman was stabbed to death by Bobby Beausoleil, a member of the Manson family. -
Sharon Tate Murder
On August 8th, 1969, Manson sent members of the Family to the house of record producer Terry Melcher, with instructions to kill everyone they found. Manson was angry because Melcher had previously turned down his request for a recording contract. Melcher had recently moved out of his home but Manson didn't known that so when the family went in they found four occupants, one being Sharon Tate who was eight-months pregnant. Everyone found in the home was shot and stabbed repeatedly. -
LaBianca Murders
The next day after the Tate Murders, the Manson Family went to the house of a supermarket executive, Leno LaBianca, and his wife Rosemary. The couple were stabbed to death. Using blood from the victims, the Manson family wrote “Rise” and “Death to Pigs” on the walls, and a misspelled “Healter Skelter”. Before fleeing the scene the Manson Family members showered and petted the LaBianca’s dogs. -
Arrest
Charles Manson is arrested on October 12th, 1969 for grand theft auto. It isn't until a Manson family member who is also under custody begins bragging to other inmates of the murders they had committed and bragging about how they had "knocked off five pigs" months prior. In 1971, Manson is convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder for the deaths of seven people. -
Present Followers
After his arrest, Charles Manson as well as other Manson Family Members are all found guilty of Murder and sentenced to life in prison. On November 19, 2017 Manson dies from a Heart Attack in prison. Even after his death, the Manson Family still has a following to this day, usually appealing to radical anarchists, white supremacists, and Neo-Nazis. One of Manson’s most active follower to this day is the American Neo-Nazi James Mason.