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In August 1969, actress Sharon Tate and six others were murdered in Los Angeles. The killers were members of the Manson Family, led by Charles Manson. Tex Watson directed the attacks, following Manson’s orders.
The murders marked the end of the 1960s counterculture and influenced public perception of violence in America. Decades later, there are conflicting narratives about Manson’s motive.
Prosecutors argued he wanted to incite a race war, inspired by his interpretation of the Beatles’ “Helter Skelter.” Others suggest the murders were linked to a botched drug deal. This article examines both perspectives.
What happened in the Sharon Tate murders?
On August 8, 1969, members of the Manson Family went to 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles. Charles “Tex” Watson led the group, which included Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian. Their instructions were to kill everyone at the house.
The house belonged to actress Sharon Tate and her husband, Roman Polanski. Polanski was away in Europe, leaving Tate, who was eight-and-a-half months pregnant, at home with friends. Also present were Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, and Steven Parent, who was visiting the property’s caretaker.
Tex Watson cut the phone lines before entering the property. The group first encountered Steven Parent, who was leaving in his car. Watson shot Parent four times, killing him instantly. The group then entered the house through a window.
Inside, they found Wojciech Frykowski sleeping on the living room couch. Watson kicked him awake and told him, “I’m the devil, and I’m here to do the devil’s business.” Frykowski was disoriented and unable to defend himself. Watson then gathered the other victims into the living room.
Jay Sebring was tied to Sharon Tate with a rope slung over a ceiling beam. When Sebring protested the rough treatment of Tate, Watson shot him. He then stabbed Sebring multiple times, killing him. The attackers showed no mercy to the other victims.
Abigail Folger attempted to escape but was chased down by Patricia Krenwinkel on the front lawn. Krenwinkel stabbed her 28 times. Tex Watson joined in, ensuring her death. Folger’s body was found outside, showing signs of a brutal struggle.
Wojciech Frykowski also tried to escape. He fought with Susan Atkins but was eventually overpowered. He was shot twice and stabbed 51 times. Watson struck him with a gun so forcefully that the gun barrel bent, showing the extent of the violence.
Sharon Tate was the last to die. She pleaded for her life and the life of her unborn child. Her pleas were ignored. Both Atkins and Watson stabbed her a total of 16 times. Before leaving, Atkins wrote “PIG” on the front door using Tate’s blood.
After the murders, the attackers returned to Spahn Ranch, where Charles Manson and his followers lived. They showed no remorse for their actions. The crime scene was discovered the next day, stunning the public with its brutality and apparent lack of motive.
The following night, the Manson Family committed another set of murders at the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. These killings were also directed by Charles Manson. He was not present during the Tate murders but played a more direct role in the LaBianca killings.
The Sharon Tate murders were initially unsolved, with no clear suspects. The police were unable to link the crime to the Manson Family until Susan Atkins confessed while in jail for an unrelated crime. Her confession led to the arrests of Manson and his followers.
Why did Charles Manson order the murders?
There are several theories about why Charles Manson ordered the Sharon Tate murders. The most widely known explanation is the “Helter Skelter” theory. Prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi argued that Manson wanted to incite a race war inspired by his interpretation of The Beatles’ “White Album.” He believed that violent acts would spark societal chaos.
According to this theory, Manson thought the murders would be blamed on Black militants, leading to racial tensions and eventually a race war. He called this vision “Helter Skelter,” named after a song on The Beatles’ album. Manson convinced his followers that they would survive the chaos and emerge as leaders.
Manson chose the house on Cielo Drive because it was previously rented by Terry Melcher, a music producer who had rejected Manson’s music. Although Melcher no longer lived there, Manson knew the location and wanted revenge on Hollywood for his failed career. He did not care who the new occupants were.
The messages written in blood at the crime scene, including “PIG” on the front door, were meant to look like political statements. Manson instructed his followers to make the murders appear as revolutionary acts. This was intended to mislead investigators and incite racial tensions.
However, not everyone agrees with the Helter Skelter theory. An alternative explanation involves a botched drug deal. According to James Buddy Day, who interviewed Manson before his death, the murders were connected to Charles “Tex” Watson’s involvement in drug dealing. Day presents this version in his book, Hippie Cult Leader: The Last Words of Charles Manson.
According to Day’s research, Tex Watson had stolen money from a drug dealer named Bernard Crowe. Crowe threatened retaliation, leading Manson to confront him. Manson shot Crowe, believing he had killed him. Fearing revenge from the Black Panthers, whom Manson thought Crowe was connected to, he became paranoid about outside threats.
To protect his followers, Manson brought the Straight Satans motorcycle gang to Spahn Ranch, offering them female companionship in exchange for protection. When Bobby Beausoleil, another member of the Family, sold the gang bad drugs, it led to the murder of Gary Hinman. This incident influenced the decision to stage the copycat murders.
Manson believed that by replicating the crime scene from the Hinman murder, the police would be misled, and Bobby Beausoleil would be cleared of suspicion. The Tate murders were meant to create confusion, making it appear as if a revolutionary group was responsible, furthering Manson’s narrative of impending chaos.
Manson denied orchestrating the murders. He claimed his followers acted on their own, misinterpreting his teachings. He insisted that he never ordered anyone to kill. However, his influence over the group was profound, and his apocalyptic visions shaped their actions.
Who was involved in the Sharon Tate murders?
Several key members of the Manson Family were involved in the Sharon Tate murders. Charles “Tex” Watson led the attack on Cielo Drive. He was Charles Manson’s loyal follower and carried out the killings with brutal efficiency. Watson acted as the group’s enforcer, following Manson’s orders without hesitation.
Susan Atkins participated in the murders, showing no mercy to the victims. She admitted to writing “PIG” on the front door using Sharon Tate’s blood. Atkins later confessed to the crimes while in jail, leading to the arrests of Manson and other Family members. Her confession provided critical details about the murders.
Patricia Krenwinkel also played a significant role. She chased Abigail Folger out to the front lawn and stabbed her 28 times. Krenwinkel participated in the violence without showing remorse. Her involvement continued the following night during the LaBianca murders, where she wrote messages in blood at the crime scene.
Linda Kasabian acted as the lookout but did not participate in the killings. She witnessed the events and later testified against the other Family members in exchange for immunity. Her testimony was crucial in securing convictions, as she provided a detailed account of the murders and Manson’s influence over the group.
Charles Manson did not physically participate in the murders but was the mastermind behind the attacks. He instructed Tex Watson to destroy everyone at Cielo Drive. Manson controlled his followers through psychological manipulation, influencing them to carry out his violent vision.
The following night, Manson played a more direct role in the LaBianca murders. He entered the house first and tied up the victims before leaving his followers to complete the killings.
Was there a drug deal connection to the murders?
An alternative theory suggests that the Sharon Tate murders were connected to a botched drug deal involving Charles “Tex” Watson. According to James Buddy Day, who interviewed Charles Manson before his death, the killings were not solely about “Helter Skelter” but were influenced by Watson’s involvement in the Los Angeles drug scene.
Tex Watson was known to deal drugs while living at Spahn Ranch with the Manson Family. He allegedly stole money from a drug dealer named Bernard Crowe. When Crowe discovered the theft, he called Spahn Ranch and threatened violence. Charles Manson answered the call and feared retaliation.
Believing Crowe was connected to the Black Panthers, Manson became paranoid about the safety of his followers. To protect the group, Manson went to Crowe’s apartment and shot him in the stomach, thinking he had killed him. This incident heightened Manson’s fear of retaliation, leading him to take extreme measures.
Manson worried that Crowe’s associates would come after him and his followers. To ensure protection, he invited the Straight Satans motorcycle gang to stay at Spahn Ranch. In exchange for security, Manson offered the gang access to female members of the Family. This arrangement increased tensions within the group.
The situation became more complicated when Bobby Beausoleil, another member of the Family, sold bad drugs to the Straight Satans. Beausoleil had purchased mescaline from his friend Gary Hinman, but the gang was dissatisfied with the quality. Trying to resolve the issue, Beausoleil demanded a refund from Hinman, leading to a violent confrontation.
Manson became involved when he visited Hinman and slashed his face with a sword. Fearing that Hinman would go to the police, Beausoleil killed him on July 27, 1969. To mislead investigators, Beausoleil wrote “Political Piggy” on the wall in Hinman’s blood, attempting to frame the Black Panthers.
Days later, Beausoleil was arrested. Manson feared he would expose the connection between the Hinman murder and the drug dispute. To divert police attention, Manson ordered the Tate murders to replicate the crime scene, creating the impression that the killer was still at large.
This theory suggests the murders were not about race war or apocalyptic visions but were an attempt to cover up criminal activities linked to drug deals. It presents a more practical motive for the killings, showing how paranoia and fear of retaliation influenced Manson’s decisions.
How did the copycat crime theory influence the murders?
The copycat crime theory suggests that the Sharon Tate murders were staged to divert suspicion from Bobby Beausoleil, a member of the Manson Family who was arrested for the murder of Gary Hinman. Charles Manson believed that replicating the crime scene would mislead investigators and support Beausoleil’s alibi.
Gary Hinman was killed on July 27, 1969, after a dispute over bad drugs sold to the Straight Satans motorcycle gang. To cover up the murder, Beausoleil wrote “Political Piggy” on the wall in Hinman’s blood, attempting to frame the Black Panthers. Days later, Beausoleil was arrested, linking the Manson Family to the crime.
Manson feared Beausoleil would expose the Family’s involvement in the Hinman murder and the drug dispute. To protect himself and his followers, Manson ordered the Tate murders as a copycat crime. The goal was to replicate the messages written in blood, making it seem like the same killer was responsible.
Tex Watson led the attack at Cielo Drive, accompanied by Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian. During the murders, Atkins wrote “PIG” on the front door using Sharon Tate’s blood, imitating the blood-written message at the Hinman crime scene. The staged crime scene was intended to mislead the police.
Two days later, the Family committed the LaBianca murders, again writing messages in blood, including “Rise” and “Healter Skelter.” These messages were meant to create confusion and reinforce the idea of a revolutionary group committing the crimes, further deflecting suspicion from Beausoleil.
What happened to the Manson family members?
After the Sharon Tate and LaBianca murders, Charles Manson and his followers were arrested and faced trial. In 1971, Manson, Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten were convicted of murder. They were sentenced to death, but their sentences were commuted to life imprisonment when California abolished the death penalty in 1972.
Charles Manson became a symbol of evil and manipulation. He remained in prison until his death in 2017 at the age of 83. Manson never showed remorse for his crimes and continued to attract followers even behind bars. His notoriety persisted long after his death.
Tex Watson, who led the attacks, remains incarcerated. He became a born-again Christian while in prison and has been denied parole multiple times. Watson continues to serve his life sentence for his role in the murders, showing no signs of release.
Susan Atkins died in prison from brain cancer in 2009. She was denied parole 14 times and never regained her freedom. Atkins was known for her lack of remorse during the trial but later claimed to have found religion before her death.
Patricia Krenwinkel is the longest-serving female inmate in California’s history. She remains imprisoned, having been denied parole numerous times. Her involvement in both the Tate and LaBianca murders marked her as one of the most active participants.
Leslie Van Houten was the youngest member involved in the murders. She was denied parole 22 times but was eventually released in 2023. Her case was controversial, as she expressed remorse and showed signs of rehabilitation, but her role in the LaBianca murders kept her imprisoned for decades.
Linda Kasabian, who acted as the lookout, was granted immunity in exchange for testifying against the others. Her testimony was crucial in securing the convictions of Manson and his followers.
Impact
The Sharon Tate murders had a profound cultural impact, marking the end of the 1960s counterculture and altering America’s perception of safety and innocence. The brutality of the killings shattered Hollywood’s image of glamor and security. The murders exposed the dark side of the era’s free-spirited lifestyle.
The events also influenced public perception of cults and manipulation. Charles Manson became a symbol of evil, representing the dangers of charismatic leadership and psychological control. The case highlighted how vulnerable minds could be influenced to commit horrific acts, changing how society viewed communal living and countercultural movements.
Hollywood was deeply affected by the murders. The entertainment industry lost its sense of security, leading to increased security measures among celebrities. The fear generated by the killings contributed to a shift in film themes, with Hollywood producing darker, more cynical movies that explored violence and societal collapse.
The murders also influenced the true crime genre. The public’s fascination with Manson and his followers led to numerous books, documentaries, and films. Vincent Bugliosi’s Helter Skelter became a bestseller, establishing the narrative of Manson as a manipulative cult leader. The case’s complexity fueled decades of debate and analysis.
The legacy of the Sharon Tate murders endures due to the conflicting narratives surrounding Charles Manson’s motive. The “Helter Skelter” theory remains the most popular explanation, but alternative perspectives continue to emerge. This ambiguity keeps the story relevant, influencing popular culture’s fascination with crime and manipulation.
Tate/LaBianca Crime Scene Photos
The murders remain one of the most infamous crimes in American history. They changed societal attitudes toward violence, cults, and counterculture, leaving a lasting impact on Hollywood and public consciousness.
