Charles Manson American killer of film actress Sharon Tate Date of Birth: 12.11.1934 Country: USA

Biography of Charles Manson

Charles Mills Manson was born on November 12, 1934 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His mother, Kathleen Maddox, was only 16 years old when she married William Manson, who became Charles' stepfather. It is likely that Charles never met his biological father.

At the age of three, Charles was sent to live with his aunt when his mother and her brother were sentenced to prison for robbery. However, after three years, his mother was released and took him back, but their time together was short-lived. Kathleen attempted to place Charles in foster care, but they were unable to find a suitable family, so the court sent him to a boys' school. According to Manson, the few minutes his mother spent hugging him upon her release from prison were the happiest memories of his childhood.

After escaping from the boys' school, Manson embarked on a series of criminal activities, including robbery, theft, and assault. He spent a significant portion of his life in correctional institutions. While in prison, Manson learned to play the guitar and started writing songs. Shortly before the infamous murders, Manson decided to move closer to Los Angeles, hoping to release his own album. This aspiration was partly fueled by his acquaintance with Dennis Wilson, the drummer of The Beach Boys, who interacted closely with Manson for a period of time.

In the late 1960s, Manson formed a pseudo-commune known as the "Manson Family" in the California desert. Despite proclaiming their love for each other as a family, the group engaged in group orgies, satanic rituals, and brutal murders. In 1971, Manson was found guilty of conspiracy to commit seven murders, including the actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant at the time, as well as four others who were present in Tate's home. The next day, with Manson's direct involvement, members of the "Family" brutally murdered Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in their own home. These were not the only crimes committed by the Manson Family.

Manson believed in a concept he called "Helter Skelter," borrowed from the eponymous Beatles song. In Manson's understanding, "Helter Skelter" referred to an inevitable apocalyptic race war, which he described by creating new lyrics to The Beatles' music. He believed that the murders committed by his group would ignite this war. Manson became a symbol of madness, violence, and bloody slaughter in popular culture.

Vincent Bugliosi, the prosecutor who wrote a book about the murders, later used the term "Helter Skelter" as the name of his work. Manson's death sentence was automatically commuted to life imprisonment when the Supreme Court of California temporarily suspended the death penalty. He is currently serving his sentence in the state prison in Corcoran, California. Manson has repeatedly applied for parole, but his requests have been consistently denied, most recently in 2012.

Even after his imprisonment, Manson's influence continues to resonate in popular culture. Some of his songs have been covered and recorded by famous musicians such as Guns N' Roses, White Zombie, and Marilyn Manson. Manson remains a notorious figure, forever associated with the violent crimes committed by his "Family."