The Infamous Manson Family Members Looked Like Your Wholesome Neighbors

The Manson Family murders will go down in history as some of the most bizarre cases of all time. Charles Manson’s ability to convince seemingly normal people to kill for him shook everyone who heard about the gruesome homicides.

Set against the glamorous backdrop of Hollywood, California, with young suspects who looked like your average boys and girls next door and a bizarre connection to The Beatles, this set of murders was unlike anything people had ever seen before.

The men and women Manson attracted all came from disenfranchised positions, but it’s still hard to believe they could be convinced to murder for him. These are the stories of the most famous and loyal Manson followers.

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Mary Brunner was the first to join Manson and she even had his child. She was a key prosecution witness and served 20 years in prison for her role in facilitating the murders before disappearing from public view.

Bobby Beausoleil is in prison for life for killing Gary Hinman. Using his attractive charm, he recruited young women to join the Manson Family. Beausoleil had a career in music or acting ahead of him before he became associated with the murderous clan.

Susan Atkins participated in eight of the nine murders, including the killing of actress Sharon Tate, who was nine months pregnant at the time. She died in prison in 2009 after serving 40 years.

Patricia Krenwinkel killed the LaBianca couple the night after the Tate murders. She stabbed them even after their deaths and wrote “DEATH TO PIGS” and “HELTER SKELTER” on the walls and refrigerator in their blood. She remains in prison.

Leslie Van Houten, pictured here at a parole hearing in 2002, was the youngest participant in the Manson Family crime spree. She was also involved in the murder of the LaBiancas. Her trial was riddled with errors and had to be retried twice. She has been denied parole 12 times.

At any given time, Charles Manson had more than 15 deranged members of his “family,” and there are many more who were convicted in crimes related to the killings. If you want to learn more, this documentary delves deeper into the women of the Manson Family.

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Youtube / Serial Killers Documentaries

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And if you’re interested in true crime stories like I am, there are plenty more Manson Family documentaries on YouTube and podcasts like My Favorite Murder that cover a wide variety of serial killers’ stories to keep you huddled under your blankets at night.