Charles Manson Research Paper Outline

Charles Manson

Profile by Ashlynn Skiba

Introduction

Charles Manson was a musician and infamous criminal who is most widely known for his role leading a cult called the Manson Family. In the late 1960s until the early 1970s, this cult was based in California. Manson manipulated his followers to carry out numerous violent crimes, including a series of at least nine murders in Los Angeles. One of the victims was pregnant actress Sharon Tate. Her killing alongside multiple others became known as the Tate-LaBianca murders. He was convicted of all of his crimes and sentenced to death, but this later became a life sentence.

Biography

Childhood

Charles Manson’s mother, Kathleen Maddox, was 16 years old, an alcoholic, and a prostitute when he was

The vast majority of his chosen attack victims were attacked by his followers rather than Manson himself. The victims were usually stabbed numerous times in a vicious manner. Some were shot with a .22 Hi Standard “Buntline Special” revolver. The only known victim who Charles attacked personally was Bernard Crowe, but he survived. He had been shot. Every victim was attacked in their residence.

Manson, like all cult leaders, painted himself as an all-powerful, messiah-like figure. His followers believed that they were a superior elite group with the responsibility of solving the world’s problems. Manson’s narrative was that “Helter Skelter” (a reference to the Beatles song) needed to be triggered by murders, and this event would involve a huge race war in which only the Family would be safe in an underground compound. They would then emerge near the end of the war, and elevate to world leadership over African-Americans.

Furthermore, Charles manipulated his followers with drugs and sex/intimacy. George Spahn’s ranch was where much of the cult’s activities took place as it provided a disconnection from ordinary

Before the first day of testimony even began, Mr. Manson wanted to ask jurors “a few simple, childlike questions that are real to me in my reality”. He was denied. Then, during the voir dire, Manson stared at Judge Older before moving on to Prosecutor Bugliosi. Bugliosi raised the question during a recess, “What are you trembling about, Charlie? Are you afraid of me?” to which Manson replied, “Bugliosi, you think I’m bad and I’m not.” This claim of innocence would remain throughout the rest of the trial. Manson held his ground.

On the day of opening statements, Charles Manson entered the courtroom with a large “X” that he had cut into his forehead. He said it signified, “I have X’d myself from your world.” The female co-defendants being tried with him had done the same. A few days later, the women wanted to testify that Manson had not taken part in the murders; they were still heavily under his influence. This changed the next day when Manson testified without the jury present, essentially saying this for them and justifying his actions as he did in his mind.

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