Manson was born on November 12, 1934, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Kathleen Maddox, a 16-year-old girl, she was a alcoholic and prostitute. Kathleen later married William Manson, but they divorced right away and Charles was put in a boys school. He ran back to his mother, but she didn't want anything to do with him. Charles was soon living on the streets and getting by through
In 1955 he married a 17 year old girl and moved with her to California. She got pregnant, but He continued his life of crime again, but this time he started stealing cars. Charles had spent 17 years in prison.by 1956 his wife had left with their child and her new boyfriend. Charles had another kid with a different girl.His first victims were on August 9, 1969. They were staying at a hotel that included Sharon Tate the film director's seven months pregnant wife. The next day Manson started another killing spree, this time at the home of wealthy couple Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary.
Manson chose four people of his family, Charles 'Tex' Watson, Susan Watkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Linda Kasabian, to do these crimes. Kasabian acted as the getaway driver and was to become the star witness during the trial.Manson didn't do anything in the murdering. The first victim was 18-year-old Steven Parent who was a friend of Tate's gardener. He was shot as he just happened to walk down the drive and noticed the people.Linda Kasabian was scared by the shooting of the boy. She stayed outside to keep watch. When the other three broke into the house they put the people into the living room and tied them up.
Jay Sebring was shot and kicked while he tried to defend Ms Tate. During this, both Frykowski and Folgern escaped from the house but were chased and stabbed to death. At the trial Kasabian described how she saw Frykowski staggering out of the house covered in blood and was scared. She told him she was 'sorry', but begs the attacker to stop, the victim was bludgeoned repeatedly. Folger escaped from the house with bad injuries and was caught on the front lawn and stabbed 28 times.The most horrible killing had to be Sharon Tate, who was pleading for the life of her unborn baby was stabbed in the stomach by Susan Atkins.
Charles Manson and his Family were arrested on the belief that they had vandalized a portion of the Death Valley National Park while they were hiding out in the Mojave Desert. In 1969, the local county sheriff had them in custody not realizing that he had murder suspects on their hands. But it was the confessions of Susan Atkins, while held in detention on the suspicion of murdering Gary Hinman, that led detectives to realize that Manson and his followers were involved in the Tate/La Bianca killings.
Charles Mansonis now 80 years old and is serving his time in Corcoran State Prison in California.