- The Manson family were a cult led by ex-convict Charles Manson
- The cult was convinced to murder people by the leader
- They are the subject of the new Netflix documentary Chaos: The Manson Murders
Netflix has brought the Manson family back into the spotlight alongside their leader Charles Manson. The new Netflix documentary, Chaos: The Manson Murders was released on 7 March. The documentary doesn’t focus on the crimes and history of the family like many documentaries do, but rather on their motivations for the crimes.
The documentary by Errol Morris seeks to “explore the darkest corners of recent history to unpack the potential conspiracy surrounding the killings,” as per Tudum. The inspiration for the documentary comes from a 2019 non-fiction written by Tom O’Neill and Dan Piepenbring. Morris acknowledges in an interview with Tudum that the documentary was inspired by some of the theories and interviews in the book.
Now that the documentary is out, it is time to learn about the history of the Manson family, who they were, and what they did.
Who were Charles Manson and The Manson family?
The Manson family was a cult that was active from the late 1960s and into the 1970s. The family was led by ex-convict Charles Manson, who radicalized members of the group and convinced them to lie, steal, and eventually murder. But let’s get into their formation and their history.
Early history of the Manson family
In March 1967, Manson moved to San Francisco following a stint in prison. During this time he met library assistant Mary Brunner, a lady he was close to. He soon moved in with Brunner and eventually convinced her to let other women live with them. During this time, Manson was spreading his teachings and had labeled himself a guru, and gained some followers, primarily women.
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To his followers, his teachings reportedly said that he and his group were the reincarnations of Christians. He and Brunner were intimate and had a son together in 1968. At this time many group members had aliases and nicknames they went by, Manson went by Charles Willis Manson.
What about Charles Manson himself?
Manson himself was observed by many people some of that were famous. Actor Al Lewis even had Manson babysit his kids once and described the man as a “nice guy”! Can you imagine?
Dennis Wilson, one of the stars of the band The Beach Boys was infiltrated by Manson one day at his home. Over time, Wilson became influenced by Manson and ended up living like him with women in his house. The musician even introduced Manson to his business associates in music and entertainment, one of which was actress Sharon Tate and her director husband Roman Polanski. He also introduced him to record producer Terry Welcher.
Spahn Ranch, the Manson Family residence
After their association with Wilson ceased, the Manson family moved to the Spahn Ranch. The women in Manson’s cult essentially acted like servants to him. They lived at the ranch for free because its owner, George Spahn received favors from the women.
Crimes of the Manson family
The Manson family is infamous because of the crimes they committed, including the famous murder of actress Sharon Tate. One of the earlier crimes in the group was a shooting by Manson. Tex Watson, one of the Manson family was involved in dealing illicit substances. A dealer named Bernard Crowe had come threatening the family, Manson shot him in July 1969, and he died. Manson turned the ranch into a covenant of sorts afterward, getting members of a local motorcycle gang to act as security.
The Manson family murders
The most famous crimes of the Manson family were the nine known murders that they carried out.
Gary Hinman
Gary Hinman was a music teacher and PHD student who befriended the family. Manson thought Hinman was rich, and members of the family held him hostage trying to convince him to hand over his assets to Manson. Hinman denied having any assets.
Bobby Beausoleil stabbed Hinman, and Beausoleil was arrested in August 1969 after driving Hinman’s car. They wrote “political piggy” on the wall, attempting to try and make the murder seem politically motivated.
Tate-LaBianca murders
On 8 August 1969, the multiple murders were committed by The Manson family. Manson directed Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Linda Kasabian, and Patricia Krenwinkel to kill everyone at 10050 Cielo Drive. The home was owned by Melcher previously, the record producer that Wilson had introduced Manson. Living there at this time were Tate and her husband Roman Polanksi. Polanski was away at the time.
Staying on the property were Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, and Steven Parent. Members of the family sadly killed them, “pig” was written on the door by Atkins in Tate’s blood. These murders were considered “brutal” in the media.
The murders attracted media attention, particularly because Tate was a famous actress at the time and Polanski was known for his film work.
Leno and Rosemary Bianca
The night after, Manson selected another target which was the home of Leno and Rosemary Bianca. Seven Manson family members including Manson and those from the night before alongside Leslie Van Houten, and Steve Grogan went to the property. The couple were bound with pillowcases and were attacked. Watson, Krenwinkel, and Van Houten killed the couple, writing “Death to Pigs” and “Healter Skelter” in blood.
Donald Shea
One of the only murders that had a clear motive was the murder of Donald Shea. Shea was a stuntman and horse wrangler who had allegedly helped sheriffs raid the Manson Ranch. The raid subsequently helped convict Manson in 1971. He believed Shea had helped them, but there were also other motivations for Shea’s murder (Shea had married a black woman). For someone like Manson, whose beliefs centered on a race war, that was not acceptable. This was the last murder and the ninth that the family were convicted of.
Other murders?
The family has been accused of other killings and alleged Manson has admitted to others. Nancy Warren, Marina Habe, and Darwin Scott were killed under circumstances linked to the Manson Family. However, no official charges were ever filed. Some victims, like Mark Walts and John Philip Haught, were associates of the group who died under suspicious conditions, fueling speculation about further undiscovered crimes. While some bodies were recovered, numerous potential victims remain unidentified. The true extent of the Family’s crimes may never be fully known.
Why the murders?
Chaos: The Manson Murders delves into some of the reasons as to why they chose to kill, but here are the most popular theories:
- Helter Skelter – Manson believed The Beatles’ white album and the song Helter Skelter hinted at an incoming race war.
- Copycat Killings – Manson ordered the Tate-LaBianca murders to divert police attention from Bobby Beausoleil. He had been arrested for the murder of Gary Hinman. They wanted to make it seem like Hinman’s killer was never caught to get Beausoleil out of jail.
- Drug Disputes – Some theories suggest the murders were linked to a failed drug deal involving Jay Sebring, Voytek Frykowski, and Manson’s associates. Some witnesses alleged Manson was attacked at Tate’s house over a drug deal gone wrong. This would explain the motive for the killings at the property.
- Revenge on Terry Melcher – Manson wanted to start a music career, he had hoped Melcher would sign him but declined. Eventually, they severed ties. This produced the theory Manson targeted the Cielo Drive home in revenge.
Aftermath of Charles Manson and the Manson family
The Manson family was convicted of multiple murders in 1971 and sentenced to death, although they ended up being sentenced to life in prison. In California, the death penalty was abolished in 1972. Many of the members also spent decades behind bars. Some renounced their association with Manson and some are still alive.
The Manson family has been depicted in popular culture. 2019’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino dramatized the crimes in a “what if” sort of way. The film shows a world where Tate and her friends did not die. Documentaries like Chaos: The Manson Family have delved into the possible why of the crimes in a case that continues to fascinate people decades later.
