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Authorities say Susan Atkins -- a Charles Manson follower convicted in the 1969 murder of actress Sharon Tate -- could soon be released from prison because she is near death. State corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton says the now 59-year-old Atkins is terminally ill and is being considered for so-called "compassionate release." Thornton says the corrections department is reviewing the request, which would then be passed to a state sentencing court. Such releases are rare -- only 16 percent of requests were granted last year. Thornton did not say what sort of illness Atkins has.

CORONA, Calif. (AP) — Former Charles Manson follower Susan Atkins, convicted in the 1969 murder of actress Sharon Tate, could soon be released from prison because she is near death, authorities said. Atkins, 59, is terminally ill and being considered for so-called "compassionate release," state corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton said. She gave no details of Atkins' illness, but said a doctor had determined she had less than six months to live. The corrections department was reviewing the request, which if approved would then be passed to the state Board of Parole which has the power to release Atkins under state...

"Manson apparently refused to go back to his cell and assumed a fighting stance with a correctional officer, said Todd Slosek, a spokesman for the California Department of Corrections. Slosek didn't have exact details on when the incident occurred, other than to say it happened sometime this week. He said he didn't believe either Manson or the officer was injured in the confrontation. "

COUPEVILLE, Wash. -- The father of slain actress Sharon Tate has died of congestive heart failure at a convalescent home in Coupeville at 82. Paul Tate died Wednesday. The news of his death was announced Sunday by a nephew, Ron Cobb, in Los Angeles. Sharon Tate and four others were slain at her Beverly Hills estate on August 9, 1969, by followers of Charles Manson. She was married to director Roman Polanski and was eight months pregnant at the time. Manson was later convicted of masterminding the murders, carried out by his disciples in a killing spree that claimed two...