Charles Manson was born in Kentucky in 1934 as "No Name Maddox." the unwanted child of a prostitute. He spent his youth in foster homes, a small, sickly child exposed to alcohol, prostitution. and abuse By age 18, he had stolen money and cars. committed homosexual rape, and served time in institutions. Paroled in 1954. he married and had a son, but was soon divorced. In 1960 he was charged with pimping, fraud, and stealing cars. Back in prison he became a protege of bank-robbing murderer Alvin 'Creepy" Karpis. Manson was released in 1967 and moved to San Fransisco. where he led a cult following of 20 runaways and petty criminals mostly women. This group, "the Family," soon settled at a movie stunt ranch in Simi Valley, where they took hallucinogenic drugs, stored stolen goods, and armed for Helter Skelter, the nuclear and race war Manson predicted. By then me Family had 40 members. Manson targeted enemies he felt had hindered his quest for fame as a musician and he ordered the Family to kill them. In July 1969, Manson, Bobby Beausoliel, Susan Atkins and Mary Brunner (the mother of Manson's second child) killed a record producer and stole his car. A week later. Beausoliel, Brunner, and Sandra Good were arrested. Hoping to induce "Helter Skelter" Manson sent Tex Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins. and Linda Kasabian to film director Roman Polanski's home, where they murdered actress Sharon Tate and four others. The next night Manson and six helpers killed a middle-aged couple. In December, Manson and 10 cultists were arrested. Two turned state's evidence. but Manson and eight cultists were convicted of murder. All remain incarcerated.

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