[RosieCotton]

When did that whole thing take place? I only have a vague idea of what happened, and I'm not sure I WANT a clearer picture.

[HairOfTheDog]

1969.... If you get a chance to see a documentary on TV about it, check it out.... Basically, Manson had a Jesus complex... Looks a little crazy to me, but people followed him and he led these people from pretty normal backgrounds to do horrific things ~for~ him.

A quick search found this summary that rattles off the basics. 30 years later, Manson cult thrives

[Ramius]

The trial was in 1970 to 71. He led a cult that murdered a dozen or so people, including the most famous of them the family of Sharon Tate, an actress.

He never actually killed anyone, but exercised complete brainwashed control over his "family" of followers. They did all the killings at his command. Lynette "squeaky" Fromme, who later made an attempt on the life of President Ford, was one of his "family" that had been let out of jail.

You may not really want to know the details, or I'd post a link. Google, however will show more than enough.