ISSN: 2710-4028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54208/0008 105
prison in 1960 (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:142–143).
After being released from prison in 1967, Manson
determined that he wanted to become a musician.
Family associate Greg Jakobson stated that Manson
“wanted to become a successful recording artist ...[n]
ot so much as a means to making money as to get his
word out to the public” (Bugliosi and Gentry 1974:225).
While he generated some interest from the recording
industry through his connection to Dennis Wilson,
“those who had shown interest in Manson’s talents
no longer found the time to review them. Charlie’s
‘hobnobbing’ and enthusiasm for getting ‘something
goin’ in the music business, had, finally amounted
to nothing” (Gilmore and Kenner 1971:80). When
Manson’s goal of becoming a professional musician
was not realized, he focused on his philosophy of
Helter Skelter. He believed that if he ignited the race
war with the Tate-LaBianca murders, the Family would
hide in the desert until “the blacks” achieved victory.
At that time, the white race would be destroyed, and
the Family would emerge to assume leadership. “[A]
ccording to the gospel of Charlie—as he related it to his
disciple Paul Watkins—he, Charles Milles Manson, the
fifth angel, JC, would then rule that world” (Bugliosi
with Gentry 1974:246).
Promiscuous sexual behavior is another hallmark
of psychopathy (Hart and Hare 1997:23). As an
adolescent, Manson’s sexual behavior was limited to
other teenage boys with whom he was incarcerated.
Manson reported similar sexual behavior while
imprisoned as an adult. He claimed that “[a] lot of stories
go around about forced sodomy and oral copulation
in prisons and reform schools. There is some of it
happening I mean, out-and-out rape. I experienced it
and I’m still ashamed to cop to it. Most of the sex is by
mutual agreement” (Manson and Emmons 1986:148).
By his own admission, Manson experienced both
forced and consensual sex while incarcerated. As a
free adult, Manson’s sexual behavior was frequent and
indiscriminate, even by the standards of the late 1960s
Free Love era. Manson’s sexual appetite was legendary,
according to Family members. They claimed he had
sex, on average, seven times a day (Sanders 1971:62).
He also preferred novelty in his sex life: “[u]sually he’d
have sex with a new girl a few times, then move on to a
new ‘young love’“ (Bugliosi &Gentry, 1974:274).
Manson also engaged in deviant sexual practices. The
Family engaged in orgies, wherein Manson would
direct the sexual activities of the group.
Within the context of the Family orgies, Manson’s
sexual behavior included acts of debauchery and
depravity.
Frequent, short-term marital relationships are an
indicator of psychopathy (Hart and Hare 1997:23).
Manson was incarcerated for most of his adult life,
experiencing approximately five years of freedom
between imprisonments before the Tate-LaBianca
convictions. During that time, he married and divorced
twice. His first marriage to Rosalie Jean Willis occurred
in 1955, within a year of his release from the Federal
Reformatory at Chillicothe, Ohio. When his probation
was revoked in 1956, he returned to prison, and she
filed for divorce, which was finalized in 1958. Manson
was released from Terminal Island prison in 1958,
and he married Leona Rae Stevens the following year.
He remained free until 1960 when his probation was
revoked, and he returned to prison. Stevens divorced
Manson in 1963. During the few years that Manson
was free, he was able to marry and divorce twice, a
pattern consistent with psychopathy.
Criminal versatility is an indicator of psychopathy.
According to Hare, “Many psychopaths wind up in
prisons or other correctional facilities time and again”
(1993:113). Their criminal behavior is frequent and
diversified, and interaction with the criminal justice
system is inevitable due to their antisocial behaviors
(Hare 1993:86). Throughout his life, Manson
committed a varied array of crimes prior to the Tate-
LaBianca murders, he had been incarcerated for most
of his adolescence and adult life. At the age of thirteen,
Manson also used these occasions to ‘eradicate
hangups.’ If a person indicated reluctance to
engage in a certain act, Manson would force
that person to commit it. Male-female, female-
female, male-male, intercourse, cunnilingus,
fellatio, sodomy—there could be no inhibitions
of any kind. One thirteen-year-old girl’s
initiation into the Family consisted of her
being sodomized by Manson while the others
watched. Manson also ‘went down on’ a young
boy to show the others he had rid himself of all
inhibitions. (Bugliosi and Gentry 1974:237)
prison in 1960 (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:142–143).
After being released from prison in 1967, Manson
determined that he wanted to become a musician.
Family associate Greg Jakobson stated that Manson
“wanted to become a successful recording artist ...[n]
ot so much as a means to making money as to get his
word out to the public” (Bugliosi and Gentry 1974:225).
While he generated some interest from the recording
industry through his connection to Dennis Wilson,
“those who had shown interest in Manson’s talents
no longer found the time to review them. Charlie’s
‘hobnobbing’ and enthusiasm for getting ‘something
goin’ in the music business, had, finally amounted
to nothing” (Gilmore and Kenner 1971:80). When
Manson’s goal of becoming a professional musician
was not realized, he focused on his philosophy of
Helter Skelter. He believed that if he ignited the race
war with the Tate-LaBianca murders, the Family would
hide in the desert until “the blacks” achieved victory.
At that time, the white race would be destroyed, and
the Family would emerge to assume leadership. “[A]
ccording to the gospel of Charlie—as he related it to his
disciple Paul Watkins—he, Charles Milles Manson, the
fifth angel, JC, would then rule that world” (Bugliosi
with Gentry 1974:246).
Promiscuous sexual behavior is another hallmark
of psychopathy (Hart and Hare 1997:23). As an
adolescent, Manson’s sexual behavior was limited to
other teenage boys with whom he was incarcerated.
Manson reported similar sexual behavior while
imprisoned as an adult. He claimed that “[a] lot of stories
go around about forced sodomy and oral copulation
in prisons and reform schools. There is some of it
happening I mean, out-and-out rape. I experienced it
and I’m still ashamed to cop to it. Most of the sex is by
mutual agreement” (Manson and Emmons 1986:148).
By his own admission, Manson experienced both
forced and consensual sex while incarcerated. As a
free adult, Manson’s sexual behavior was frequent and
indiscriminate, even by the standards of the late 1960s
Free Love era. Manson’s sexual appetite was legendary,
according to Family members. They claimed he had
sex, on average, seven times a day (Sanders 1971:62).
He also preferred novelty in his sex life: “[u]sually he’d
have sex with a new girl a few times, then move on to a
new ‘young love’“ (Bugliosi &Gentry, 1974:274).
Manson also engaged in deviant sexual practices. The
Family engaged in orgies, wherein Manson would
direct the sexual activities of the group.
Within the context of the Family orgies, Manson’s
sexual behavior included acts of debauchery and
depravity.
Frequent, short-term marital relationships are an
indicator of psychopathy (Hart and Hare 1997:23).
Manson was incarcerated for most of his adult life,
experiencing approximately five years of freedom
between imprisonments before the Tate-LaBianca
convictions. During that time, he married and divorced
twice. His first marriage to Rosalie Jean Willis occurred
in 1955, within a year of his release from the Federal
Reformatory at Chillicothe, Ohio. When his probation
was revoked in 1956, he returned to prison, and she
filed for divorce, which was finalized in 1958. Manson
was released from Terminal Island prison in 1958,
and he married Leona Rae Stevens the following year.
He remained free until 1960 when his probation was
revoked, and he returned to prison. Stevens divorced
Manson in 1963. During the few years that Manson
was free, he was able to marry and divorce twice, a
pattern consistent with psychopathy.
Criminal versatility is an indicator of psychopathy.
According to Hare, “Many psychopaths wind up in
prisons or other correctional facilities time and again”
(1993:113). Their criminal behavior is frequent and
diversified, and interaction with the criminal justice
system is inevitable due to their antisocial behaviors
(Hare 1993:86). Throughout his life, Manson
committed a varied array of crimes prior to the Tate-
LaBianca murders, he had been incarcerated for most
of his adolescence and adult life. At the age of thirteen,
Manson also used these occasions to ‘eradicate
hangups.’ If a person indicated reluctance to
engage in a certain act, Manson would force
that person to commit it. Male-female, female-
female, male-male, intercourse, cunnilingus,
fellatio, sodomy—there could be no inhibitions
of any kind. One thirteen-year-old girl’s
initiation into the Family consisted of her
being sodomized by Manson while the others
watched. Manson also ‘went down on’ a young
boy to show the others he had rid himself of all
inhibitions. (Bugliosi and Gentry 1974:237)
