by Jeff Guinn
In Will You Die for Me?, Tex Watson wrote that the large American flag was already on the sofa when the murders took place. Bugliosi notes in Helter Skelter that on the morning after the killings, Winifred Chapman told police that the flag had been in the house prior to the murders, though she did not specify where. Krenwinkel is certain that while Tate, Frykowski, Sebring, and Folger were slaughtered, the flag was not on the couch, and that she was startled to read news stories alluding to it being there. I believe Krenwinkel. Frykowski was sleeping on the couch when the intruders entered the house, and no one recalls him getting tangled with a flag during the early moments of the crime when he rolled around on the couch being kicked by Tex. Tex had inhaled an extra dose of Meth before setting out from Spahn, so his powers of observation may certainly have been skewed.
Chapter Fourteen: LaBianca and Shea
My sources for the description of the LaBianca murders and other events that night include interviews with Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten (noted throughout); Linda Kasabian’s testimony in Helter Skelter, pp. 266–73; statements by Kasabian and Vincent Bugliosi on the History Channel’s Manson documentary; Tex Watson’s Will You Die for Me?, pp. 145–51; Susan Atkins’s Child of Satan, Child of God, pp. 134–36, and her unpublished memoir; and ancillary interviews with Phil Kaufman and David Dotson. The account in this chapter of the murder of Shorty Shea is much less detailed because all the information is secondary. Manson, Bruce Davis, and Steve Grogan (Clem) were convicted of Shea’s slaying on circumstantial evidence, since his body was not found until many years later when Clem led the authorities to the ranch hand’s grave.
Then they piled into the Ford: Some books have Manson splitting driving with Linda Kasabian; in her interview with me, Krenwinkel said only Kasabian drove, at least as far as the LaBiancas’.
The only conversation was one-sided: Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel interviews.
The LaBiancas had worked hard: Bugliosi, pp. 43–44.
The LaBiancas weren’t able to drop Suzanne off: Ibid., p. 24.
Susan and Leslie fell into fitful dozes: Leslie Van Houten interview.
they’d partied on this street: Patricia Krenwinkel interview. Krenwinkel believes that Manson targeted “the house next door to Harold True’s” before they set out from Spahn that night. Her theory is that Manson wanted True to supply drugs to the Family, and that Manson hoped to implicate him in the LaBiancas’ murder and subsequently blackmail him.
But it didn’t seem that way to Charlie: Phil Kaufman interview.
Then he snapped to Tex: Leslie Van Houten interview. There’s some disagreement among Manson chroniclers whether Tex Watson was with Manson when Manson initially tied up Leno LaBianca with leather thongs. But in his memoir Tex writes that he was inside the house with Manson at that time, and that Leslie Van Houten and Pat Krenwinkel came inside after that.
Pat was afraid: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.
so they treated him to breakfast: Faith, p. 47.
He stalked around the ranch: Atkins unpublished memoir, p. 28.
That meant he wasn’t available: Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine.
Buckles’s response to the county detectives accurately reflected: David Dotson interview.
The FBI even suggested that the Bureau of Customs investigate: FBI File 62-113047-2, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
a polygraph administered on Sunday afternoon: Bugliosi, p. 36–37.
an L.A. friend of Tex Watson contacted Tex: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 14–22.
He called Gregg Jakobson and asked: Gregg Jakobson interview.
Around 8:30 P.M. on Sunday: Sanders, pp. 246–48.
Danny Galindo was still at the LAPD’s: Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine.
They often operated: David Dotson interview.
Fear was widespread in Los Angeles: William W. Collier, Lorraine Chamberlain, and A. J. Langguth interviews. Collier and Langguth both stressed that “celebrity” panic was restricted to the highest-end neighborhoods.
He couldn’t understand why: Emmons, p. 212.
But it was Charlie who had missed the obvious: Mary F. Corey, A. J. Langguth, Lorraine Chamberlain, and William W. Collier interviews.
Yet Charlie still used the press coverage: Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine.
For months, Los Angeles County lawmen: Ibid.
Charlie sent Linda Kasabian: Atkins unpublished memoir, p. 29.
Charlie was far less concerned: Sanders, p. 260.
Tex was ambivalent: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 22–23.
Tex was questioned by the same deputy: Ibid., p. 23.
Sharon Tate posthumously became: Bugliosi, p. 48.
Al Springer didn’t resemble: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 89–92.
Linda Kasabian couldn’t stand it anymore: Manson, History Channel; Sanders, p. 260; Bugliosi, pp. 271, 286–88.
Spahn Ranch became the antithesis: Gaines, p. 216; Bugliosi, p. 93; Sanders, p. 263; Watson, Will You Die for Me?, p. 22.
At daybreak on Saturday: Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine.
The combination of the Straight Satans’ invasion: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.
Danny DeCarlo was the first: Bugliosi, p. 101.
he soon settled on an obvious candidate: Atkins unpublished memoir, p. 30; Livsey, p. 52.
On a night late in August: Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine; Livsey, pp. 52–53; Sanders, pp. 271–72. The specific date has never been determined.
At first she thought she must have imagined it: Los Angeles Magazine.
At the end of August: Bugliosi, pp. 64–65.
these totaled almost 250: Patterson, Grand Expectations, pp. 716–17.
Chapter Fifteen: Death Valley
Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten provided me with firsthand descriptions of life on Barker Ranch. Leslie often enjoyed it: “I liked living out in nature without a lot of things.” To Pat, Family life in the desert was equivalent to modern-day survivalist cults whose main objective is to defy any encroachment by the government, violently if necessary. Both agree that the men in the Family had it much better in Death Valley than the women.
Charlie didn’t allow them to readjust: Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel interviews; Watson, Will You Die for Me?, p. 27; Atkins unpublished memoir, p. 33.
Leslie in particular wanted: Leslie Van Houten interview.
Many, worn down by physical labor: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.
Ruth Ann confided to Danny DeCarlo: Bugliosi, p. 110.
Juan Flynn accompanied the Family out into the desert: Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine.
Barbara Hoyt overheard Susan Atkins gossiping: Ibid.
Besides, everyone knew that Charlie could find you anywhere: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.
Steven Weiss saw a gun: Bugliosi, p. 66; Sanders, p. 273.
It irked Charlie that Paul Crockett: Bugliosi, pp. 233–38, 248.
The investigators weren’t being lazy: Records and Identification Department, LAPD; David Dotson interview.
The Barker Ranch larder was reduced: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.
Barbara Hoyt and Simi Sherri decided to risk it: Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine; What Happened After, History Channel, 2009.
A massive earth mover machine blocked a back road: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 27–28.
park ranger Dick Powell was on patrol: Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine.
Mary Brunner was finally released: Sanders, p. 284.
The trial of David Dellinger: Tom Hayden and Mark Rudd interviews; Hayden, p. 229.
Though they didn’t know: Bishop, pp. 24–26; Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine; Bugliosi, pp. 125–26.
As soon as the officers’ truck: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, p. 28.
Charlie gave Tex a shotgun: Ibid., p. 29.
September had been such a frustrating month: Bugliosi,
p. 69.
Tex got tired of waiting: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 29–30.
Crockett and Poston met in Independence: Bugliosi, pp. 231–34.
The Weathermen launched: Tom Hayden and Mark Rudd interviews; Mark Rudd, Underground: My Life with SDS and the Weathermen (William Morrow, 2009), pp. 170–83; Hayden, p. 229.
There were elements of mistrust: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.
Kitty Lutesinger was especially horrified: Sanders, p. 291; Bugliosi, pp. 75–76.
They had a hard time: Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine; Bishop, pp. 26–29, 33; Bugliosi, pp. 126–27; Sanders, pp. 292–94; Atkins, pp. 140–41; Faith, p. 42.
Lutesinger’s mother told her: Sanders, p. 294.
Pursell, Powell, and another officer: Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine; Bugliosi, pp. 127–30.
Following their arrests, most of the Family: Leslie Van Houten interview.
the overflow was so pronounced: Bravin, p. 103.
Lutesinger met with L.A. County investigators: Bugliosi, p. 76; Bravin, p. 105; Sanders, pp. 294–98.
The L.A. County lawmen bluntly told Susan: Atkins, pp. 142–43; Sanders, p. 299.
Charlie had warned his followers: Leslie Van Houten interview.
marchers jammed America’s streets: Hayden, p. 229; Reeves, pp. 128, 137–38; Ambrose, Nixon, p. 304.
Charlie remained in custody: Sanders, p. 302.
Still, it was something new to run down: Bugliosi, pp. 75–77.
and added a new name: Ibid., p. 71.
Now Whiteley and Guenther tried again: Ibid., p. 77.
Tex Watson decided that the outside world: Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 153–55.
Charlie began giving them messages: Sanders, p. 304.
it was hard to find Susan Atkins: Atkins, pp. 144–46; Atkins unpublished memoir, p. 33; Bravin, p. 140; Bugliosi, p. 78.
Chapter Sixteen: Unraveling
Interviews with David Dotson, Gerald L. Chaleff, Vincent Bugliosi, and Stephen Kay were extraordinarily helpful in my research for this chapter. Since its dates and descriptions of the investigation are firsthand, I also relied heavily on Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry.
Virginia Graham and Susan Atkins sat: Atkins, 145–48; Bugliosi, pp. 79–80.
Venice police responded to a call: Sanders, p. 307; Bugliosi, pp. 80–81.
They noticed that Charlie’s deerskin pants: Bugliosi, pp. 81–82.
Susan kept elaborating to Virginia: Oney, “Manson,” Los Angeles Magazine; Sanders, pp. 308–10; Bugliosi, pp. 82–87.
they did have another Straight Satan in custody: Bugliosi, pp. 88–94; Sanders, pp. 310–11.
Ronnie Howard was deeply disturbed: Bugliosi, pp. 96–97, 99.
Danny DeCarlo came to Parker Center: Ibid., pp. 97, 99–100, 106–9.
The next afternoon, Aaron Stovitz: Vincent Bugliosi and Stephen Kay interviews; Bugliosi, pp. 117–19.
Bugliosi began by accompanying: Bugliosi, pp. 120–23.
Next, Bugliosi and five members: Ibid., pp. 123–35.
Charlie knew what was going on: Patricia Krenwinkel interview.
Bugliosi issued a “want” for Charles Montgomery: Bugliosi, pp. 147–48.
Sandy Good had been overheard: Ibid., pp. 148–49.
Bobby Beausoleil’s trial for the murder of Gary Hinman: Ibid., p. 149.
LAPD investigators interrogated: Vincent Bugliosi interview; Sanders, p. 318; Bugliosi, pp. 152–54.
The LAPD contacted Mr. Krenwinkel: Sanders, p. 318.
He told about his interest in Charlie’s music: Gregg Jakobson interview.
Tex had hooked up with an old girlfriend: Gerry Griffin interview; Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 156–58; Bugliosi, p. 156.
Dennis rightly feared the wrath: Gregg Jakobson interview.
Columbia wouldn’t be pleased: Ibid.; Hotchner, pp. 292–94; Bugliosi, p. 157.
Richard Caballero met with Bugliosi: Vincent Bugliosi interview; Bugliosi, p. 157; Atkins unpublished memoir, p. 34; Atkins, pp. 148–49.
Though many of his staff begged him not to: Gerald L. Chaleff interview; Bugliosi, pp. 158–60; Watson, Will You Die for Me?, pp. 158–60.
Phil Kaufman, who had shared: Phil Kaufman interview.
But Charlie’s cousin Jo Ann recalls: Jo Ann interview.
their investigation benefited: Bugliosi, pp. 161–63.
Richard Caballero brought the Susan Atkins tape: Ibid., pp. 167–68.
Another defense attorney had the same goal: Ibid., p. 168.
Susan Atkins got her deal: Atkins, p. 149; Atkins unpublished memoir, pp. 34–36; Bugliosi, pp. 168–70, 218.
Aaron Stovitz swore in Susan Atkins: Bugliosi, pp. 173–85; Atkins unpublished memoir, p. 35.
The information provided by Mary Brunner: Bugliosi, p. 188.
they turned to Charlie’s old prison friend: Phil Kaufman interview.
Richard Caballero believed that Susan: Atkins unpublished memoir, pp. 35–36; Bugliosi, p. 190.
Susan began receiving her first visitors: Atkins unpublished memoir, p. 36.
When Charlie arrived at the Hall of Justice: Gerald L. Chaleff interview.
Chapter Seventeen: Charlie Is Famous
Much of this chapter is based on interviews with Vincent Bugliosi, Stephen Kay, Gregg Jakobson, Phil Kaufman, Bob Schieffer, Mark Rudd, Tom Hayden, Leslie Van Houten, and Patricia Krenwinkel. For those who want to know more about the radical movement in spring 1970, I strongly recommend Mark Rudd’s Underground: My Life with SDS and the Weathermen.
Charlie’s arrival in chains: Gerald L. Chaleff, A. J. Langguth, Bob Schieffer, Lorraine Chamberlain, and Tom Hayden interviews.
Joan Didion reflected on the murders: Didion, The White Album, p. 47.
L.A. was in the midst of a newspaper war: A. J. Langguth interview.
The director of the county’s public housing there: George Sidiropolis interview.
The most radical activists took it a step further: Mark Rudd and Tom Hayden interviews; Rudd, pp. 187–90.
Charlie had Squeaky, Ruth Ann, and some of his other: Bravin, pp. 108–9.
but now there were new recruits: Vincent Bugliosi interview; Bugliosi, p. 200. Some of this passage is also based on information from the former Family member who later tried to take back his interview with me.
prosecutors caught a major break: Stephen Kay interview; Bugliosi, p. 191.
Charlie was arraigned: Bugliosi, p. 191.
During the next six weeks: Ibid., p. 192.
Judge Keene also imposed a gag order: Vincent Bugliosi and Stephen Kay interviews; Bugliosi, p. 190.
turned the tapes Caballero had made with Susan: Sanders, p. 327; Livsey, p. 45; Felton and Dalton, “Year of the Fork, Night of the Hunter,” Rolling Stone.
Even as Angelenos ingested: Bugliosi, pp. 194–95.
Bugliosi continued accumulating evidence: Ibid., p. 196.
a local TV crew set out: Ibid., pp. 197–98.
Bernard Weiss decided to bug: Sanders, p. 327; Bugliosi, pp. 198–200.
Charlie used his jail time: Patricia Krenwinkel, Vincent Bugliosi, and Stephen Kay interviews.
Leslie changed her lawyer: Leslie Van Houten interview; Sanders, p. 327; Bugliosi, pp. 201–2.
Rudolf Weber told Bugliosi: Bugliosi, pp. 203–4.
Dianne Lake hadn’t had much to say: Sanders, p. 328; Bugliosi, pp. 205–7.
Charlie enjoyed his newfound fame: Phil Kaufman and Leslie Van Houten interviews; Gaines, pp. 218–19; Wilson, p. 184; Sanders, p. 333.
The LaBianca detectives located Harold True: Bugliosi, pp. 207–8.
Stovitz and Bugliosi worried: Vincent Bugliosi interview.
There was the cover of Life: Rick Perlstein, Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America (Scribner, 2008), pp. 243–44.
They immediately disagreed: Stephen Kay and Vincent Bugliosi interviews; Bugliosi, pp. 217–18.
Inyo County dropped the arso
n charges: Bugliosi, p. 220.
he granted an extended interview: Gregg Jakobson interview; Felton and Dalton, “Year of the Fork, Night of the Hunter,” Rolling Stone.
Bugliosi decided to reinterview Gregg Jakobson: Bugliosi, pp. 223–26.
Melcher was now petrified of Charlie: Ben Fong-Torres, Hickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsons (Atria, 1991), pp. 148–51.
The complexity of the case: Gerald L. Chaleff interview.
Altobelli corroborated: Bugliosi, pp. 227–29.
Shahrokh Hatami remembered: Ibid., pp. 229–31.
Inyo County sent Bugliosi: Ibid., pp. 231–47.
They contacted Linda Kasabian’s lawyers: Ibid., pp. 251–54.
she had to choose: Atkins unpublished memoir, p. 37.
reports of a terrible explosion: Rudd, pp. 193–98, 213; Hayden, p. 232; David Browne, Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY and the Lost Story of 1970 (DaCapo, 2011), pp. 120–22; Reeves, p. 175.
Kaufman realized that, but Charlie didn’t: Phil Kaufman interview.
Kaufman was left with a garageful: Currently, various Internet sites ask as much as $1,700 for pristine copies of the original LIE vinyl album.
Susan Atkins would recant: Atkins unpublished memoir, p. 37; Sanders, p. 335.
His apparent intent was to provoke: Oden “O.P.” Skupen interview.
Linda Kasabian gave birth to a son: Bugliosi, pp. 265–66.
Investigators got a copy of the ticket: Ibid., p. 276.
“Lotsapoppa” wasn’t dead after all: Sanders, p. 337; Bugliosi, pp. 279–80.
Pat Krenwinkel refused to give: Bugliosi, p. 283.
He and his attorneys discussed: Browne, p. 220.
The prosecutors thought: Bugliosi, p. 289.
Charlie felt good enough: Ibid., p. 292.
Spring antiwar demonstrations: Browne, pp. 168–71; Reeves, pp. 212–14, 216; Lorraine Chamberlain interview.