Charles Manson Is Dead But Where Are The Manson Family Girls Now?

Charles Manson, the infamous cult leader who spent his life in prison since being sentenced in 1971 for seven murders, including that of actress Sharon Tate, has died at the age of 83. While Manson himself did not commit any of the murders, they were done at his behest by his followers, most of whom were women.

These young women, who along with a few men, were part of the commune-like group better known as the Manson Family, rose to notoriety in the immediate aftermath of the 1969 murders. But where are they today?

Mary Brunner was Manson’s first recruit and also mother to one of his children. During the Manson Family trials, she was charged with a murder — of Gary Allen Hinman — but turned witness for the prosecution in exchange for immunity. However, she went back to the Family afterward and was part of a 1971 plot — which involved hijacking an airplane — to free Manson and other Family members who were in jail.

Along with some others, she was arrested while Family members were robbing guns from a store in Hawthorne, California. Brunner was sentenced to 20 years in prison but was released on parole in 1977. She has disappeared into obscurity, changing her name to avoid the public eye.

Susan Atkins, known as Sadie Mae Glutz within the Family, was convicted of eight murders, including that of Tate. While she stabbed the pregnant actress in the stomach, she said: “Woman, I have no mercy for you.”

Atkins’ cellmate in jail, turned prosecution witness, testified about Atkins’ description of the murder. As Tate begged for her baby's life, Atkins told her, “You’re going to die and I don’t feel a thing about it.”

She was sentenced to death (later commuted to life in prison) and began her sentence Oct. 1, 1969. While in prison, she married twice, Donald Lee Laisure in 1981 — which she annulled soon after — and James Whitehouse in 1987. She was last denied parole Sept. 2, 2009, having sought release 13 times. Less than a month later, on Sept. 24, 2009, Atkins died of brain cancer. She was the longest-serving female inmate in the state of California when she died.

Leslie Van Houten was the youngest member of the Manson Family and also one of the most infamous because she was giggling during the testimony about the victims during the trial was ongoing (which she said was because she had been given LSD during the trial). She was charged with the LaBianca murders and in 1971 and was sentenced for execution (also commuted to life in prison under California law).

Her requests for parole have been turned down a total of 21 times. The last request, in April 2016, was approved by the parole board but vetoed down by California Governor Jerry Brown. She was again recommended for parole by a two-member panel Sept. 6, but it has yet to be confirmed by the board and Brown.

Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme is best known for attempting to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975. She began her association with Manson in 1967 but was not a part of the 1969 murders. She is one of the very few Family members who hasn't renounced Manson.

She was sentenced to prison for life for Ford’s assassination attempt, and was granted parole in July 2008, but wasn’t released at the time due to additional time she had to serve for a 1987 prison escape. She was finally let out on parole Aug. 14, 2009, and now lives in Marcy, New York.

Patricia Krenwinkel was the third woman who stood trial for the Manson family murders, along with Atkins and Van Houten. She joined the family in 1967 and was infamous for laughing and singing songs composed by Manson during the trial.

Since her death sentence was commuted to life, she has spent her time in jail, her parole requests having been denied 14 times, the last denial on June 22. She is currently the longest-incarcerated female prisoner in California.

Linda Kasabian met Manson only in 1969, and was present at the Tate murders, but was outside the house acting as a lookout. She told the cult leader afterwards, “I’m not you, Charlie — I can’t kill anybody.” She became the chief witness for the prosecution during the trials and was vitally important for the convictions.

After giving testimony, she went back to her husband and the couple moved back to her native New Hampshire with their children. She has lived mostly in hiding since and her last public appearance was in an interview with Larry King on Sept. 2, 2009, on his CNN show. However, even during the live interview on King’s show, she wore a disguise to maintain her low profile.