Charles Manson was one of the most infamous cult leaders [1] in history, largely due to his loyal followers. While Manson was associated with some of the most gruesome murders in Hollywood [2] in the 1960s, it was actually his cult members who carried out most of the heinous acts. Often referred to as the Manson Family, the cult consisted of a group of hippies (mostly women) who believed in his plans to start a race war.
After helping Manson carry out multiple murders, including that of actress Sharon Tate [3] — who was eight months pregnant at the time — Manson and a handful of his followers were eventually apprehended in October 1969. The group was initially given the death penalty, but when it was abolished in California in 1972, their sentences were altered to life in prison. Though the famous cult leader died on Nov. 19, 2017 [4], many of the remaining members are still serving their life sentences.
The film Charlie Says [5], which hit theaters on May 10, sheds even more light on the infamous cult. Starring Matt Smith as Charles Manson [6], the movie recounts the family's life before the murders through the perspective of the Manson girls, Leslie Van Houten (Hannah Murray), Patricia Krenwinkel (Sosie Bacon), and Susan Atkins (Marianne Rendón). Learn more about the most notable members of the family ahead.
Leslie Van Houten
- How she joined the cult: During the Summer of 1968, Leslie met and moved in with Catherine Share, Bobby Beausoleil, and one other woman. The group eventually parted ways shortly after, and Leslie followed Catherine to join Manson's commune [7], the Spahn Ranch in LA County. She was 19 at the time.
- Which crimes she committed: On Aug. 9, 1969, Leslie was among the group of Manson family members instructed to murder Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. Though she didn't technically kill Leno and Rosemary, she did stab Rosemary over a dozen times [8] post-mortem since Manson had instructed Tex Watson to make sure everyone in the group actively participated in the murder.
- What her sentence was: After a raid on the Spahn Ranch, Leslie was briefly booked by police on Aug. 16, 1969 for auto thefts before she was ultimately arrested that December for the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. On March 29, 1971, Leslie was convicted of murder in the first degree and conspiracy to commit first degree murder. She was sentenced to death [9], but was eventually given life in prison following the California Supreme Court's People v. Anderson, which briefly outlawed the use of capital punishment. She remains in prison to this day.
Patricia Krenwinkel
- How she joined the cult: Patricia first met Manson in Manhattan Beach, CA, in 1967, and was quickly "mesmerized by his charm [10]." She moved to San Francisco with him and other Manson family members shortly after.
- Which crimes she committed: On Aug. 9, 1969, Patricia took part in the murders of Sharon Tate and her friends. She stabbed coffee heiress Abigail Folger multiple times before chasing her outside the home, where she ultimately killed her [11]. The next night on Aug. 10, Patricia participated in the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. While cult member Tex Watson murdered Leno in the living room, Patricia and Leslie Van Houten stabbed his wife Rosemary in the next room. Patricia also stabbed Leno with a fork, which she left in his abdomen.
- What her sentence was: On Aug. 16, 1969, Patricia and other Manson family members were arrested on suspicion of auto theft, but later released. That October, Patricia was arrested again, but her father bailed her out. Two months later, she was arrested yet again for the Tate-LaBianca murders. On March 29, 1971, she was convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder [12]. She was sentenced to death, which was eventually altered to life in prison following the California Supreme Court's People v. Anderson. She is still serving her life sentence in prison.
Susan Atkins
- How she joined the cult: Susan first met Manson in 1967 [13] when he was playing guitar at a house she was staying at with her friends. The house was eventually raided a few weeks later, and with no where else to go, she accepted Manson's offer to join his family. On Oct. 7, 1968, Susan gave birth to a son with a college student named Bruce White, who she met in New Mexico while traveling with the rest of the Manson family. Her son was eventually adopted and renamed following her incarceration in 1969.
- Which crimes she committed: During the Summer of 1969, Manson sent Susan, Bobby Beausoleil, and Mary Brunner to the home of Gary Hinman in hopes of persuading him to join the cult and obtain his newly inherited money. However, when he denied that he had any money, Manson came in and sliced his face with a sword and instructed Susan and Mary to tend to the wounds. Two days later, Bobby forced Gary to sign over the registrations to his cars before fatally stabbing him [14]. That same year, Susan was one of the many family members who partook in the murders of Sharon Tate and her friends on Aug. 8. Though it's unclear if she was responsible for killing any of the victims, she did stab Voytek Frykowski and Sharon, and wrote "PIG" on the front door [15] of the home in actress's blood. On Aug. 9, Susan was part of the group who went to Leno and Rosemary LaBianca's house, but she didn't go inside or participate in the murders.
- What her sentence was: On Aug. 16, 1969, Susan was charged during the police raid at Spahn's Ranch. Though she was eventually let go, she was arrested again that October for another auto theft related charge. Shortly after, one of the Manson family members implicated that she was involved in the murder of Gary Hinman, and she was charged with the crime. While in jail, Susan let it slip to two of her jail mates that she participated in the Tate-LaBianca murders. Her jail mates reported this to the authorities, which eventually led to the arrest of Susan and other members of the Manson family. On March 29, 1971, she was convicted of murder and sentenced to death [16], which was eventually commuted to life in prison following the California Supreme Court's People v. Anderson decision. She married twice in prison [17], first to a man named Donald Lee Laisure in September 1981, and a second time in 1987 to a Harvard Law School graduate named James W. Whitehouse, who represented her at her 2000 and 2005 parole hearings. After suffering from brain cancer, Susan died on Sept. 24, 2009 [18] from natural causes.
Mary Brunner
- How she joined the cult: Mary met Manson in 1967 [19], shortly after he was released from Terminal Island prison. The two eventually became lovers, and Mary is often regarded as the first person Manson recruited into his family. On April 15, 1968, Mary gave birth to Manson's son, who she named Valentine.
- Which crimes she committed: On July 25, 1969, Mary accompanied Susan Atkins and Bobby Beausoleil to visit Gary Hinman's home in an effort to get him to join the cult and contribute his new inheritance. On July 31, Gary was found murdered in his home.
- What her sentence was: On Aug. 8, 1969, a day before the murders of Sharon Tate and her friends, Mary was arrested for burglary and grand theft for using a stolen credit card. Mary was eventually charged for the murder of Gary Hinman, along with Susan and Bobby, but she later received immunity for testifying against them. In 1971, Mary and a few other family members devised a plan to hijack a plane and free Manson from prison. Armed with guns, the group went to a sporting goods store and stole more than 100 rifles. As they packed them into their van, though, one of the clerks tripped a silent alarm, and police arrived on the scene before they were able to escape. Mary received a sentence of 20 years to life. In 1977, she was released from prison on parole [20]. She has since changed her name and has remained out of the public eye.
Tex Watson
- How he joined the cult: In the late '60s, Tex met some of the women of the Manson family before meeting with Manson himself. He decided to join the cult shortly after and was often regarded as Manson's right-hand man.
- Which crimes he committed: On Aug. 9, 1969, Tex accompanied a few other family members to Sharon Tate's home. When an 18‑year‑old named Steven Parent arrived from the guest house, Tex shot him four times in the chest and abdomen. Inside, Tex tied up Sharon Tate and hairdresser Jay Sebring at the neck with a rope. When Jay resisted, Tex shot him. The next night, on August 10, Tex showed up at Leno and Rosemary LaBianca's home with Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel. While Leslie and Patricia murdered Rosemary in the bedroom, Tex murdered Leno in the den.
- What his sentence was: On Oct. 2, 1969, Tex left the Spahn Ranch and headed back to his native Texas [21], where he was ultimately arrested almost a month later on Nov. 30. On Oct. 12, 1971, Tex was convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. On October 21, he was sentenced to death, but that sentence was later altered to life in prison following California Supreme Court's People v. Anderson. While in jail, Tex married a woman named Kristin Joan Svege. They eventually had four kids together through their conjugal visits. After 24 years of marriage, they divorced in 2003. Tex remains in prison to this day.
Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme
- How she joined the cult: Lynette first met Manson in 1967 [22] in Venice Beach, CA. Drawn to Manson's philosophies, she decided to travel with him and other family members, Mary Brunner and Susan Atkins. She lived with the family at the Spahn Ranch, and was given the nickname "Squeaky" from the ranch's owner, George Spahn, for making a squeaking noise when he touched her.
- Which crimes she committed: Though Lynette wasn't involved in any of the Manson family murders, she was convicted of attempting to prevent her family members from testifying and contempt of court for refusing to testify.
- What her sentence was: In 1975, Lynette attempted to assassinate President Ford and was sentenced to life in prison. In 1987, she managed to escape a federal prison in West Virginia, but was arrested two days later. In August 2009, she was released on parole at age 60 [23].
Linda Kasabian
- How she joined the cult: When Linda first met Manson in 1969 [24], she was a mother of an infant daughter and pregnant with her second child. She eventually decided to stay with the group at Spahn Ranch after being moved by Manson's philosophies.
- Which crimes she committed: On Aug. 8, 1969, Linda accompanied several other family members to the home of Sharon Tate. Linda witnessed Tex Watson shoot and kill 18-year-old Steven Parent and was directed to stay outside by the car as the remaining family members murdered Sharon Tate and her friends. The following night on Aug. 9, Linda accompanied a group of family members to the residence of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. As Tex Watson, Leslie Van Houten, and Patricia Krenwinkel went inside the house to murder the couple, Linda and the remaining family members drove off. Later that night, Manson instructed Linda to help murder one of his acquaintances, Saladin Nader. Not willing to go through with it, Linda purposely knocked on the wrong door. Two days after the LaBianca murders, Linda fled from the family and went to live with her mother in New Hampshire.
- What her sentence was: After a warrant for her arrest was issued, Linda turned herself in December 1969 [25]. She was offered immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying as a witness in the murders. She was also a key witness against Tex Watson and Leslie Van Houten in their trials. Since separating herself from the Manson family, Linda has maintained a relatively private life.
Paul Watkins
- How he joined the cult: In March 1968, Paul met Manson at Topanga Canyon in LA [26], where many of the family members were staying. After spending the night with the group, Paul left. About three months later, Paul ran into two of the Manson girls in the San Fernando Valley in California, and went with them to Spahn Ranch. This time, Paul decided to stay, and he eventually became Manson's chief lieutenant.
- Which crimes he committed: After being disturbed by Manson's remarks about Helter Skelter, Paul eventually decided to leave Spahn Ranch in 1969, before any of the murders took place.
- What his sentence was: When the family was arrested in October 1969 for theft related charges, Paul went to the police. He ended up testifying against Manson in October 1970. He managed to live a pretty private life before dying of leukemia in 1990 [27].