Charles Manson, leader of murderous '60s crew, dies at 83
Charles Manson, the leader of the notorious 'Manson family' responsible for a series of brutal murders in the 1960s, has died in prison aged 83. Manson and his followers killed seven people in 1969, including the pregnant Hollywood actress Sharon Tate, the wife of director Roman Polanski. The murders shocked the world and made Manson the symbol of the 1960s counterculture's dark side.
Manson was the charismatic leader of a cult
Manson lived through a miserable childhood and by age 17, had a string of convictions. In the late 1960s, fuelled by huge quantities of drugs, including LSD, Manson adopted a charismatic guru-like persona and gathered a number of followers. He tried convincing his followers that a race war was coming in America, which he planned to hasten by leading a new social order.
7 people were brutally murdered in 1969
On August 9, 1969, actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, and four others were brutally murdered at her home in Hollywood. Susan Atkins, one of Manson's followers, scribbled the word "PIG" on the home's front door with Tate's blood. Overall, seven people were killed over two nights. A shocking 169 stab wounds were inflicted on the victims.
Manson hoped murders would spark race war in America
Manson claimed he had visions of an apocalyptic race war, which he called Helter Skelter after the famous Beatles song. The phrase Helter Skelter (Helter misspelled as Healter) was also scrawled in blood at the murder scene. Manson had hoped the Black Panthers organization would be blamed. Manson wasn't at the scene of any of the murders but was found guilty of directing them.
Manson's actions captivated people, made him cult icon
Following his arrest and dramatically high-profile trial that captured headlines worldwide, Manson was sentenced to death over the serial killings. However, California abolished capital punishment before his death sentence could be carried out so his sentence was commuted to life in prison. Manson later emerged as a cult figure. He is the subject of numerous books, movies, a play, and even an opera.
