ISSN: 2710-4028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54208/0008 97
1974:136–137 Marynick 2010:363–365).
Manson’s adolescence was characterized by a cycle
of detention in state and federal facilities frequent
escapes crime sprees involving auto theft, armed
robberies, and burglaries and re-incarceration. His
time in custody included violent homosexual assaults
and other serious disciplinary offenses, but, as he
neared the age of majority, his infractions transitioned
to minor offenses, and he was paroled at nineteen
(Bugliosi and Gentry 1974:136–140 Marynick
2010:365–366).
Shortly after he was paroled, he married and resumed
his criminal activities. Within the year, he had stolen
several cars and traveled to California with his
pregnant wife. He was arrested in Los Angeles and
given probation, but it was promptly revoked when
he missed a hearing on an outstanding charge. He was
incarcerated and remained in custody for two years.
During this time, his wife divorced him and, with their
child, disappeared from his life (Bugliosi and Gentry
1974:140–141 Marynick 2010:366 Sanders, 1971:21–
22).
When released on a five-year parole, Manson resumed
his criminal lifestyle with pimping, check forgery, and
mail theft (for which Manson was caught and given a
ten-year suspended sentence and probation). He then
married for a second time and continued prostituting
women until he was arrested in 1960 for violating his
probation. He was sent to Washington state to serve his
suspended sentence, where he practiced Scientology
teachings and pursued his passion for music. While
incarcerated, Manson’s second wife filed for divorce
(Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:142–143 Marynick
2010:366–367 Sanders 1971:23–32).
By the time Manson was released in 1967 after serving
his full sentence, he had spent more than half his life
in jail. He traveled throughout the western United
States, stopping most often in Los Angeles and San
Francisco. It was in San Francisco that the Family was
formed. The Haight-Ashbury district, a destination for
wayward youth during the Summer of Love, offered up
the many young women, and some young men, who
would become Manson devotees. The Family acquired
a school bus and lived as a roaming commune,
traveling up and down the Pacific Coast, often staying
with friends of Family members (Marynick 2010:367–
369 Sanders 1971:33–70).
By August 1968, Manson and the Family settled in
southern California, staying mostly at the Spahn Movie
Ranch, a dilapidated movie set outside of Los Angeles.
For the next year, they migrated between the Spahn
Ranch, rented homes in Los Angeles, and the Barker
and Meyers Ranches in Death Valley, California.
Continuing their lifestyle of free love and drug use, they
converted stolen cars into dune buggies and acquired
food on nightly runs to grocery store dumpsters.
They also committed thefts and burglaries to fund the
Family’s lifestyle (Bugliosi and Gentry 1974:250–251
Marynick 2010:369-370 Sanders 1971:97–272).
In late 1968, the Beatles released the White Album, the
inspiration for Manson’s Helter Skelter prophecy.11
He spoke increasingly to the Family of the impending
race war and eagerly anticipated its onset. When it did
not transpire, he ordered the Tate-LaBianca murders,
believing they would launch racial tensions that would
lead to the war. Over two nights in August 1969, he
sent out Family members with specific instructions
to go to both homes, kill everyone present, and leave
behind gruesome crime scenes. The Family members,
deeply indoctrinated by Manson, complied (Bugliosi
with Gentry 1974:238–245 Marynick 2010:370–371
Sanders 1971:147–320).
After the murders, Manson and the Family stayed at
the Spahn Ranch, which was raided by police, before
returning to the Barker Ranch. In October, local National
Park Rangers raided the ranch on the suspicion of stolen
vehicles and arson and arrested members of the Family,
including Manson. While in custody, Family members
and others aware of the murders started confessing,
leading to the arrests of the murderers and Manson in
December 1969 (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:125–128,
147–160 Marynick 2010:372 Sanders 1971:338–412).
Manson and three of the Tate-LaBianca killers went
on trial in June 1970. The trial received international
media attention and was marked by the defendants’
attempts to disrupt the process. By April 1971, the trial,
then the longest in California history, ended with guilty
verdicts and death sentences for Manson and the other
Family members (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:303–459
Marynick 2010:372–373).
11 For a summary of Manson’s prophecy, see Bugliosi with Gentry
1974:238–248.
1974:136–137 Marynick 2010:363–365).
Manson’s adolescence was characterized by a cycle
of detention in state and federal facilities frequent
escapes crime sprees involving auto theft, armed
robberies, and burglaries and re-incarceration. His
time in custody included violent homosexual assaults
and other serious disciplinary offenses, but, as he
neared the age of majority, his infractions transitioned
to minor offenses, and he was paroled at nineteen
(Bugliosi and Gentry 1974:136–140 Marynick
2010:365–366).
Shortly after he was paroled, he married and resumed
his criminal activities. Within the year, he had stolen
several cars and traveled to California with his
pregnant wife. He was arrested in Los Angeles and
given probation, but it was promptly revoked when
he missed a hearing on an outstanding charge. He was
incarcerated and remained in custody for two years.
During this time, his wife divorced him and, with their
child, disappeared from his life (Bugliosi and Gentry
1974:140–141 Marynick 2010:366 Sanders, 1971:21–
22).
When released on a five-year parole, Manson resumed
his criminal lifestyle with pimping, check forgery, and
mail theft (for which Manson was caught and given a
ten-year suspended sentence and probation). He then
married for a second time and continued prostituting
women until he was arrested in 1960 for violating his
probation. He was sent to Washington state to serve his
suspended sentence, where he practiced Scientology
teachings and pursued his passion for music. While
incarcerated, Manson’s second wife filed for divorce
(Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:142–143 Marynick
2010:366–367 Sanders 1971:23–32).
By the time Manson was released in 1967 after serving
his full sentence, he had spent more than half his life
in jail. He traveled throughout the western United
States, stopping most often in Los Angeles and San
Francisco. It was in San Francisco that the Family was
formed. The Haight-Ashbury district, a destination for
wayward youth during the Summer of Love, offered up
the many young women, and some young men, who
would become Manson devotees. The Family acquired
a school bus and lived as a roaming commune,
traveling up and down the Pacific Coast, often staying
with friends of Family members (Marynick 2010:367–
369 Sanders 1971:33–70).
By August 1968, Manson and the Family settled in
southern California, staying mostly at the Spahn Movie
Ranch, a dilapidated movie set outside of Los Angeles.
For the next year, they migrated between the Spahn
Ranch, rented homes in Los Angeles, and the Barker
and Meyers Ranches in Death Valley, California.
Continuing their lifestyle of free love and drug use, they
converted stolen cars into dune buggies and acquired
food on nightly runs to grocery store dumpsters.
They also committed thefts and burglaries to fund the
Family’s lifestyle (Bugliosi and Gentry 1974:250–251
Marynick 2010:369-370 Sanders 1971:97–272).
In late 1968, the Beatles released the White Album, the
inspiration for Manson’s Helter Skelter prophecy.11
He spoke increasingly to the Family of the impending
race war and eagerly anticipated its onset. When it did
not transpire, he ordered the Tate-LaBianca murders,
believing they would launch racial tensions that would
lead to the war. Over two nights in August 1969, he
sent out Family members with specific instructions
to go to both homes, kill everyone present, and leave
behind gruesome crime scenes. The Family members,
deeply indoctrinated by Manson, complied (Bugliosi
with Gentry 1974:238–245 Marynick 2010:370–371
Sanders 1971:147–320).
After the murders, Manson and the Family stayed at
the Spahn Ranch, which was raided by police, before
returning to the Barker Ranch. In October, local National
Park Rangers raided the ranch on the suspicion of stolen
vehicles and arson and arrested members of the Family,
including Manson. While in custody, Family members
and others aware of the murders started confessing,
leading to the arrests of the murderers and Manson in
December 1969 (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:125–128,
147–160 Marynick 2010:372 Sanders 1971:338–412).
Manson and three of the Tate-LaBianca killers went
on trial in June 1970. The trial received international
media attention and was marked by the defendants’
attempts to disrupt the process. By April 1971, the trial,
then the longest in California history, ended with guilty
verdicts and death sentences for Manson and the other
Family members (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:303–459
Marynick 2010:372–373).
11 For a summary of Manson’s prophecy, see Bugliosi with Gentry
1974:238–248.
