Charles Manson: Gone for Good?

Charles Manson

Comedian David Brenner once said that the easiest job in America was being Charles Manson’ s parole officer.  “Charlie, you ready to leave?” the cop would ask, and Manson would rant about Nazis, evil empires, and killing hundreds more people.  “Fine, okay, Charlie, see you next year.”

Funny, frightening, and unfortunately true.  In his 12fth and probably final bid for parole, Charles Manson was once again denied freedom this week.  The 77 year old mass murderer, convicted of slaughtering five in 1969, didn’t bother to attend.  He hasn’t shown up for a hearing since 1997 and at present is spending fifteen months in isolation after caught in possession of a weapon. 

It wasn’t the first time he's done something like that.

As the authorities read a litany of Manson's infractions, they also stated that he never worked for his GED or took a self-improvement course. 

Even his own attorney, DeJon Lewis, could find nothing positive to say. 

Manson’s next hearing is in another 15 years.  He’d be 92, if he lives that long.

Debra Tate

“I’m done with him,” said Debra Tate, 59 year old sister of the late Sharon Tate, the pregnant actress who was killed with four others.  The trial caused a worldwide sensation, and the crime still fascinates people today.   For the last 40 years, Debra has represented all the victims’ families.  She was only seventeen when her sister was knifed to death.  Later she cried in relief that she will never have to worry again about Manson again.

Actress Sharon Tate

Yet Manson, nuts as he is, is no recluse.

“He has a large interested public,” said Theresa Cisneros, spokeswoman for the Corcoran State Prison.  She noted that he receives more mail than the average prisoner and has a steady stream of visitors.  Some are just curious and some are college students writing papers about him.   Manson approves all requests though I’m sure most get in.  What else does he have to do? I thought, angry that this maniac has any rights  at all.

 But over the years he's released albums of his music and audio recordings of his beliefs.  Who gave him the power and equipment to do so?  Why was this man offered the opportunity to communicate to the outside world?
   

 So he no longer bothers attending hearings.  “At his age, I think he doesn’t care,” said Deputy District Attorney Patrick Sequeira.  “He would be lost if he got out.  He’s completely institutionalized.”

  

Too bad California set a moratorium on death sentences in 1972.  Manson and his three women accomplices got life sentences instead.  Leslie Atkins died of a brain tumor in prison.  Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel remain incarcerated. 

 But the agony's over for Debra Tate.  "I didn't expect to feel this joy today," she said through her tears.  

I pray to God that no one else will ever know the suffering that the victim's families have endured.   I also pray that Manson and his gang--four others are also in prison for previous murders committed by him--endure long agonizing deaths.  It's the best anyone can hope for.