The Manson Family Murders 40 Years Later
Fromme's Upcoming Parole Spotlights Still Incarcerated Associates
Aug 6, 2009
Fromme is the first of the so called "family" to be granted parole. Fromme, a long-time believer and advocate of Charles Manson and his infamous philosophy, has been serving a life sentence for attempting to assassinate then-president Gerald Ford in 1975.
While Fromme did not take part in the infamous Tate/La Bianca murders of 1969, she is the first of the so called "Manson Family" to be released into the general population. Many now wonder if paroles may be upcoming for those convicted of the slayings that rocked Los Angeles 40 years ago.
The Tate/La Bianca Murders
On August 9, 1969 a group led by Charles Manson, a life-long criminal turned hippie guru, arrived at the Los Angeles estate owned by film director Roman Polanski. Donning masks and armed with weapons, the group broke into the house, and murdered five people. Polanski's eight-month pregnant wife Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Steven Parent, Wojciech Frykowski and Abigail Folger. All were either shot or stabbed in horrific fashion with many bizarre signs left by the killers, including the word "PIG" written on blood inside the home.
As police were dealingwith this horrific crime scene, the very next night another group of Manson followers were directed to the home of grocery store owner Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary. The couple were slaughtered in their home and yet again messages were left in the home in the victims' blood including "DEATH TO PIGS" and "HEALTER SKELTER" (sic).
Police meanwhile were coincidentally investigating the Manson family for a string of thefts in the area and rounded up Manson and a group of his outlaws at Spawn Ranch on theft charges. It was not until prime player Susan Atkins confessed to a fellow prisoner that the group was responsible for the Tate/La Bianca murders, that police became aware of any connection.
Sensational Trial And Death Penalties Handed Down
Based on the testimony of Susan Atkins, those who were present at the murders included herself, Charles "Tex" Watson, Linda Kasabian, Patricia Krenwinkle, Leslie Van Houten and Steve "Clem" Grogran. Atkins also added that Manson, while not participating directly in the murders had been with the group on at least one occasion and had chosen the victims.
Both Atkins and Kasabian made plea agreements with prosecutors prior to trial in exchange for their testimony. Atkins was attempting to avoid the death penalty and Kasabian was offered immunity from prosecution for her testimony because she had not directly been involved in the murders. Atkins offer was later rescinded after she denied the initial statements she made to the Grand Jury in the case.
Manson, Krenwinkel, Van Houten and Atkins were tried in a circus-like courtroom atmosphere and were all four sentenced to death on March 29, 1971. Watson was later tried separately in Texas and was also sentenced to death.
All of the death penalty verdicts for the prisoners were later changed to sentences of life in prison after California abolished the death penalty in all federal cases tried before 1972.
All Five Tate/La Bianca Murders Still Reside In Federal Prison
Charles Manson, 74, the supposed leader of the group is lodged in isolation in the Corcoran State Prison in California. Manson has been denied parole 11 times and will become eligible aging in 2012. For years Manson granted media interviews but is now denied any contact with media outlets according to institutional rules.
Charles "Tex" Watson, 63, is incarcerated in the Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California. Watson has fathered four children in prison and become a born-again Christian minister. He has been denied parole 13 times. He is eligible to reapply for parole in 2011.
Leslie Van Houten, 59, is incarcerated in the California Institute for Woman in Chino California. Van Houten has been denied parole 17 times. She is eligible to apply again for parole in 2009.
Patricia Krenwinkel, 61, is incarcerated in the California Institute For Women in Chino, California. Krenwinkel has been denied parole 11 times.
Susan Atkins, 61, who later claimed she became a born-again Christian in prison, was denied prison 17 times through standard methods of parole.
In April 2008 it was released to the media that Atkins was suffering from terminal brain cancer and a request for compassionate release was made to the California State of Appeals. The eleven member board panel denied Atkins request and shortly thereafter the ailing Atkins was transferred to Central California Women's Facility where she is reportedly 85 percent paralyzed.
Sources: Helter Skelter, author Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry, 2001 reprint, Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
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