One of the world's most notorious murderers and cult leaders is dead. Charles Manson died Sunday evening at a hospital in Bakersfield, California, where his health had been deteriorating.
It was Manson's desire to ignite an apocalyptic race war, which he called, "Helter Skelter," that led to the infamous Tate LaBianca murders. On August 9th, 1969, members of the Manson family killed actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant at the time, and four others.
The next night, they killed Rosemary and Leno LaBianca. Manson was convicted of murder and sentenced to death as were members of his "family". But his sentence was commuted to life in prison when the Supreme Court struck down the death penalty in 1972. Manson was 83.
Prior to his notorious crimes in California, Charles Manson was imprisoned in Chillicothe, Ohio. In September 1952, a number of serious disciplinary offenses resulted in Charles Manson's transfer to the Federal Reformatory at Chillicothe, a more secure institution. About a month after the transfer, records show he became almost a model resident. Good work habits and a rise in his educational level from the lower fourth to the upper seventh grade won him a May 1954 parole.