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8 Key Members of Charles Manson's Infamous "Family"
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Mary Brunner

  • How she joined the cult: Mary met Manson in 1967, 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. She has since changed her name and has remained out of the public eye.
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