The True Story of the Manson Murders

The Victims

The Manson murders targeted innocent people from all walks of life. The victims included:

• Sharon Tate, a pregnant actress who was married to Roman Polanski
• Jay Sebring, a celebrity hairstylist
• Abigail Folger, a coffee heiress
• Wojciech Frykowski, a Polish writer
• Steven Parent, a musician
• Leno LaBianca, a grocery store owner
• Rosemary LaBianca, Leno LaBianca's wife

The Killer

Charles Manson was the mastermind behind the Manson murders. Manson was a charismatic and manipulative cult leader who convinced his followers to commit horrific crimes in his name.

Manson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1934. He had a troubled childhood, and he spent much of his life in and out of juvenile detention centers. In 1967, Manson moved to San Francisco, where he began to gather a group of followers. Manson's followers were mostly young people who were disillusioned with society. Manson preached a philosophy of violence and hatred, and he convinced his followers to commit a series of murders to start a race war.

The Murders

The Manson murders took place over a period of two nights in August 1969. On August 9, Manson's followers, Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Linda Kasabian, and Patricia Krenwinkel, went to the home of Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski. They brutally murdered Tate and four of her friends. The next night, Manson's followers went to the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. They murdered the couple and wrote the word "PIG" on the walls of their home in blood.

The Investigation and Trial

The Manson murders sent shockwaves through the world. The police quickly arrested Manson and his followers, and they were charged with murder. The trial lasted for nine months, and it was one of the most sensational trials in American history. Manson and his followers were all convicted of murder, and they were sentenced to death.

The Legacy of the Manson Murders

The Manson murders had a profound impact on American society. The murders exposed the dark side of the counterculture movement, and they led to a widespread distrust of hippies and other outsiders. The Manson murders also showed the dangers of charismatic cult leaders, and they have been the subject of numerous books, films, and television shows.