Where Charles Manson's cult followers are now
Some of Manson's followers turned to Christianity in prison
Charles Manson, the convicted mass murderer and cult leader who died on Sunday at the age of 83, orchestrated the gruesome murders of seven people in August 1969 in California by his followers, a group of runaways and outcasts known as the "Manson Family."
Here is what has become of several of the members of Manson's cult:
Charles (Tex) Watson, 71, described himself as Manson's "right hand man." On Aug. 9, 1969, he and three female accomplices murdered actress Sharon Tate and four visitors at her Beverly Hills home. The following night, they killed a couple, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, at their Los Angeles home. Watson remains in prison in California after repeatedly being denied parole. He became a minister in 1981, taking a path similar to some other ex-Manson Family members who also turned to Christianity.
Susan Atkins, who took part in several of the slayings including those at the Tate residence and who wrote "Pig" in blood on a house wall, died of brain cancer in a California prison in 2009 at age 61. Atkins had been denied a request to be freed on parole as the fatal illness took hold.
Patricia Krenwinkel, 69, who took part in the murders of the LaBiancas and at the Tate residence, has become California's longest-serving woman prisoner. In June, commissioners again denied parole for Krenwinkel, after a six-month inquiry to look into allegations that she had been abused by Manson or someone else, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Leslie Van Houten, 68, is serving a life sentence for taking part in the murders of the LaBiancas, a result that stemmed from her third trial in 1978. She was actually free on bond for a time after her second trial, which ended in a hung jury. She had been granted a new trial after an original death penalty conviction, in part because Ronald Hughes, her attorney during the first trial, disappeared just before closing arguments. He was found dead months later, and a court ruled she was denied effective representation.
In 2016, California Governor Jerry Brown overturned a parole board recommendation that she should be released, saying that Van Houten still posed an "unreasonable danger to society." In September, she was again granted her parole, in her 21st appearance before the board dating back to 1979, which started a 150-day review process that will likely culminate in a final decision by Brown.
Bruce Davis, 75, was sentenced to life in prison for the 1969 murders of music teacher Gary Hinman and stunt man Donald (Shorty) Shea. Brown has repeatedly overturned recommendations by the California parole board that Davis should be freed.
Robert (Bobby) Beausoleil, 70, is serving a life sentence for the 1969 murder of Hinman. A California parole board last denied his bid on Oct. 14, 2016. He will be eligible for a hearing again in 2019.
Lynette (Squeaky) Fromme, 69, was a member of the Manson Family and attended Manson's trial. In 1975, she was tackled by a Secret Service agent after she aimed a pistol at U.S. President Gerald Ford. Convicted of attempted assassination, she was sentenced to life in prison. She was paroled in 2009 and moved to Marcy in New York state, according to the New York Post.
Steve (Clem) Grogan, 66, was in the car for the ride to the LaBianca killings but not pinned to the horrific scene inside the house. He was sentenced to death in 1971 for the killing of Shea but that sentence was later commuted to life. The presiding judge in his case declaring that Grogan was "too stupid and too hopped up on [drugs] to decide anything on his own." Manson prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi said in a 1990s afterword to his book Helter Skelter that Grogan was "by all accounts the most unhinged and spaced out" of the Family members. Grogan's rehabilitation in prison was hailed by authorities and he was paroled in 1985, playing in jazz bands since his release.
With files from CBC News