Charles Manson, a notorious cult leader, passed away in 2017 while serving multiple life sentences, nearly five decades after orchestrating the brutal murders of Sharon Tate and eight others in Los Angeles in 1969. Leading the Manson family, his followers, Manson commanded a series of horrifying killings in a bid to incite a race war known as “Helter Skelter.”
His reign of terror commenced with the death of Gary Hinman in July 1969, escalating to the infamous murders at the Benedict Canyon home of actress Sharon Tate and others in August of the same year. Manson and his followers were eventually apprehended and charged for these heinous crimes in December 1969.
Despite being sentenced to death in 1971, Manson’s punishment was later commuted to life in prison following the abolishment of the death penalty in California in 1972. Manson passed away at the age of 83, spending the majority of his life incarcerated.
His infamy and the impact of his crimes on American culture endure to this day. The Netflix documentary “Chaos: The Manson Murders” delves into how Manson persuaded his followers to commit these acts. Manson’s demise in 2017 raised questions regarding his health, as he battled metastatic colon cancer leading to respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.
Charles Manson passed away on November 19, 2017, at 8:13 p.m. PT.
The notorious murderer did not die in prison; instead, he passed away in a Kern County hospital north of Los Angeles, as per the California Department of Corrections. The specific hospital where Manson died was not confirmed by prison officials, but reporters had seen a prison department van parked outside Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield the week before his death, according to the L.A. Times. Manson had been incarcerated at Corcoran State Prison, located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, since 1989. Serving nine life sentences, Manson was known as a troublesome inmate with numerous infractions on his record, including threats against prison staff, possession of weapons, and assault. Despite being denied parole 12 times, Manson seemed resigned to spending the rest of his life in prison, declaring, “Prison is my home… The only home I ever had.”
Charles Manson was 83 years old when he passed away on November 19, 2017, one week after his birthday. His family had reported that he was in good health up to that point, despite his advancing age. While Manson’s last spoken words are unknown, he maintained his innocence in the murders of nine individuals during interviews with James Buddy Day in the last year of his life.
The news of Manson’s death elicited strong reactions from the family members of his victims. Charlotte Hood, the cousin of Manson’s first official victim, expressed relief at his passing and stated her belief in the death penalty. She remarked that Manson had been kept alive for too long by the state and hoped he was facing the consequences of his actions in the afterlife.
A few individuals were prodding him with hot pitchforks,” said Anthony DiMaria, the nephew of Manson victim Jay Sebring. DiMaria expressed that Manson’s death did not bring comfort or closure to the families of the victims. “We do not find joy or solace in Mr. Manson’s passing,” he said. “Nor does it bring closure because nothing can bring back Jay, or any of the victims who were sent to their graves 48 years ago. Our hearts and thoughts remain with them.” Debra, Sharon Tate’s sister, also commented on Manson’s death, saying she “said a prayer for his soul.” Debra, who worked diligently to prevent Manson’s parole while he was alive, believed that God would take care of Manson’s spirit. “I hope he receives some kind of mercy,” she said. “He did not show that to any of our victims, but I try to rise above and hope for his mercy.”
After Manson’s passing, a legal battle ensued over the possession of his remains. Ultimately, Manson’s grandson, Jason Freeman, was granted the rights to his body following a court ruling in March 2018. Freeman was responsible for Manson’s funeral and burial, which took place in Porterville, Calif., with a private Christian service. His remains were later cremated and scattered on a California hillside.
Various shows and movies have been inspired by Charles Manson and his crimes. These include Netflix’s Mindhunter and FX’s American Horror Story: Cult in 2017, as well as Quentin Tarantino’s film Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood in 2019. Documentary director Errol Morris also delved into the Manson story with the Netflix documentary Chaos: The Manson Murders, released in March 2019. While Manson’s story has been widely portrayed in the media, the families of his victims continue to ensure that their loved ones are remembered. “The individuals we lost in this tragic event were real, they had lives and families,” one family member shared in 2014. “They are deeply missed.”
