Four decades after one of the world’s most notorious crimes,
a Manson Family member breaks her silence to reveal
how a series of choices led to ultimate destruction.
Life After Manson is an intimate portrait of one of the world’s most infamous crimes and notorious killers. At 21-years-old, Patricia Krenwinkel callously murdered three people at the command of Charles Manson. Now 66-years-old, she continues to be demonized by the public and haunted by the suffering she caused over four decades ago.
Through an exclusive interview with and never-before-seen footage of Patricia Krenwinkel, Life After Manson frames a historically irreconcilable story through a complex emotional lens, offering insight into what led a suburban girl to commit crimes the world will never forget. For the first time, the public will learn what caused a young girl to recklessly run away from home and toward destruction. Her unlikely relationship with the charismatic Charles Manson led her to cross every line of moral consciousness, resulting in the brutal murders she committed to win the approval of the man she loved.
Life After Manson offers a provocative character study that reveals a broken woman struggling with her past, her arduous effort to evaluate the cost of her choices, and the possibility of self-forgiveness. Can society offer her the same? Is it possible to identify with a woman who took life only to lose her own in a desperate effort to find love?
This website covers the details
31 comments:
Matt, thanks for this.
I have mixed feelings here. I don't know if a documentary of this kind will go against her at a Parole Hearing. My other thoughts are that PK has certainly (appeared) to show a lot of remorse for her crimes, however, her and the others were adults at the time, and should take responsibility for their own actions.
It's a pity that people like Mary Brunner, Danny Decarlo, Linda Kasabian and Ruth Ann Moorhouse walked away scotfree when they were art and part complicit in serious felonies.
BTW, I don't know if anyone ever considered that PK's hirsute appearance could have been down to polycystic ovary syndrome.
I have said that before about Pat's hair problem. She never got pregnant either, which, considering the amount of "relations" these people had, I am surprised.
Head's-up - when you see a movie or read a book relating to the late1960s / early 70s that makes no mention of relevance to the Vietnam War and or Lyndon Johnson / Richard Nixon, isn't that like NOT mentioning Barrack Obama when discussing 2008 - present ?
Also NOTE: "Life after MANSON"
YOU still need "MANSON" to "SELL successfully - "KRENWINKLE, not so much !
You are right, Robert. Always putting MANSON in the title to sell.
I have no sympathy for Pat. She was indeed an adult, and she did not follow Manson she would have ended up dead just like her sister.
Anyone who kills obviously has a screw loose, and it takes a special kind of person to kill- even if they are somewhat duped into it.
Like Bugliosi said in 2007, "My view is that everyone that did it, they already had murder to a certain degree coursing through their veins."
As for not getting pregnant, a lot of them never got pregnant and that leads me to believe that perhaps their sexual exploits were a tad exaggerated.
If you have STDs super often like these girls did, would that be related to not getting pregnant? Like they had created a hostile environment?
I don't know what Pat's other symptoms were. I shouldn't even begin to speculate. All I know is, she had a really bad hair problem, which usually is associated with PCOS. Unable to get preg is another symptom. Of course, a lot of the girls went on to have kids, minus Squeaky. LVH either, but she got preg at one time, as I recall reading.
Who knows.....on a different note, I do look forward to viewing this documentary, even though
it is probably extremely pro-Krenwinkle.
Heidi S said...
If you have STDs super often like these girls did, would that be related to not getting pregnant? Like they had created a hostile environment?
Heidi that literally made me laugh aloud...
Does anyone know, or can cite from a reputable source, more or less when Pat Krenwinkle publicly distanced herself from Manson? I was led to believe that it took her much longer to sever ties, as opposed to Leslie and Susan.
I remember that prison photo of her in Native American accessories, appearing to give off some sort of hand signal that, to the casual observer, could easily be interpreted as a Family "keep the faith" type- thing. Looking at her hair, I would have placed the photo at some time in the early 80's, at least.
Buckpaul2812,
I am sure that I read that the handsign meant 'loyal to Charlie'.
In the UK, we have tv programmes called 'Big Brother' and 'Celebrity Big Brother'. I just checked on Google, and it looks like the US has 'Big Brother'. What I think would be a nice idea would be to have the remaining Manson Family members as the contestants, and all live together in the Big House. Who would win? Would they rip each other apart?
Would they all still be blaming Charlie?
EQ;
Brilliant idea, and or it could even be like a Surviver" show in Death Valley. Not only would it be entertaining, but a teachable moment.
The prize - the winner goes FREE. Imagine - CHARLIE walks out again and then becomes the CEO of Obama Motors. A year later the first car that runs entirely on mystique is introduced. Charlie is awarded the GREEN metal ( America's highest honor) and is on his way to becoming the liberal's secret weapon against the Filthy Rich Pigs.
Then, a STAR emerges and reveals private audio recordings of him talking about the good-old days of preparing for the final Battle between Whites and Blacks.
Of course, within hours the airwaves are screaming "HE's the Devil. burn him at the stake."
Bugliosi chimes in: "I told YOU - HE's the most dangerous man alive."
Charlie, now realizing the gig is up - agrees to do an interview with Barbara Walters.
"Mr. Manson, how do you respond to those who think you are racist" ?
Well, Barbara, you know, IF we all just made love to people who were NOT of the same skin color as our own, eventually there would be NO White people or Black people, but only GREY people and then there would be no reason for any racism or WARs anymore.
Robert H.,
I love your prize of the winner going free!! Talk about pressure. Yes, Death Valley is a good idea - don't give them supplies - make them find their own food - haha!!
the only three who could probably make do in DV indefinitely: Squeaky, Sandy and Nancy. Of course, they would have to start earing rabbit.
eating LOL
If the winner's prize is to go free, we should have a booby prize for the contestant who receives the least audience votes. I suggest a first edition of 'Helter Skelter' signed by its esteemed author, or perhaps the complete collection of sermons by the Reverend Tex Watson (really scraping the barrel with that one).
I wonder if this doc will reveal any new info...
Rosie,
If she did reveal anything new about the case, it would only be to get brownie points with the Parole Board. You know how the Governor of California has rejected Bruce Davies' last two paroles partly on the grounds of him not revealing all he knows about Shorty Shea and other murders.
Even if she reveals nothing new, I'm curious to see this...just to hear her talk and see her body language..I think it's possible to learn a good deal just from those aspects.
equinox234 said...
If the winner's prize is to go free, we should have a booby prize for the contestant who receives the least audience votes. I suggest a first edition of 'Helter Skelter' signed by its esteemed author, or perhaps the complete collection of sermons by the Reverend Tex Watson (really scraping the barrel with that one).
I think Tex would be reading his own sermons if that was the prize for least popular lol
@wvredhead
I second what you say!
Hmm very true equinox234. This entire doc does seem like an elaborate plea for parole
As this thread is veering into "reality TV potentialities" I would loved to have seen the Good family reunion as a reality vehicle, narrated by Oprah. It would have been televisual gold, watching Sandy interrupting her (biological) family members at every turn, insisting the SHE has the metaphorical talking stick.
equinox, as you too are in the UK, what would you think of "The Good Life" as a title for this reality vehicle? ;-)
bucpaul2812,
Yes, an interesting possibility LOL. For US contributors here, "The Good Life" was a British sitcom about a couple who leave their city jobs to be self sufficient - eco types. It would suit Sandy down to the ground.
I don't know if they have the "Family Fortunes" show in the US where two families compete in a general knowledge quiz. You could have the Manson Family VS The Bugiosi Family (including the Mistress to make up the numbers. The only problem is the prize is usually a holiday, and let's face it, the Manson Family isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
wvredhead,
Regarding hearing Pat talk, she is featured talking in a documentary on YouTube, along with LVH who says "we knew people were going to die". She says something along the lines of "what we did can not be forgiven". She is quietly spoken, and comes across as being genuinely remorseful. But then again, she could be a good actress. Remember, they are all desperate to get out.
On the point made above about her body hair growth problem (which was pretty bad), I wonder if she suffered bullying as a teenager over this condition. It may have contributed to feelings of inferiority.
wvredhead,
If you go to YouTube, the Dianne Sawyer documentary on The Family/Charlie, PW is featured talking at 5:40 minutes. It gives a bit of her family background - affluent, but unhappy.
equinox234,
I think you may be right about Pat being bullied. Remember that high school group photo that was uploaded here a few months ago? In it, she looked impeccably groomed but her head was turned and the expression could be interpreted as "someone get me out of here".
If I'm not mistaken, didn't she attend high schools in California and Alabama? I could imagine a girl in high school in early to mid 60's Alabama who showed any evidence of hirsutism may as well have had the words "bully me" tattooed on her forehead. Think of Janis Joplin in east Texas and the level of bullying she had to endure - the south in the 60's wasn't exactly a nurturing environment for young women who didn't fit the Eleanore Roosevelt of Jackie O cookie cutter of femininity.
A very wise person once told me you have to deal with your childhood or your childhood deals with you. It's been said that depression is often rage directed inward - I think Charlie was "gifted" in the respect that he spotted the walking wounded and knew how to extract and direct that rage for his own ends. I think this is why Pat was able to kill with the level of unabashed gusto that (even) Susan and Leslie were unable to amass.
BucPaul2818,
"... I think Charlie was "gifted" in the respect that he spotted the walking wounded and knew how to extract and direct that rage for his own ends."
Yes, I think you are right on the money with the above. From what I've read about the residents of Spahn, most of them had family issues, had left home early etc. Charlie was probably very perceptive, added to that he was a career criminal.
I am not sure that in the 1960's if polycystic ovary syndrome was recognised. I believe nowadays it is treated with Metformin which is in fact a medication normally used for diabetes. I am sure I recall seeing a photo of PK where it looks like there is hair on her chest area. It's very unfortunate, and I sure she suffered a lot of embarrassment through it. The thing is Charlie would tell a girl like that that she is beautiful - and she fell for it!
Telling girls with body issues that they were beautiful seeming to be Charlie's "trick of the trade". I recall Susan saying how Charlie made her stand nude in front of a full length mirror and communicate how he found her perfect - interestingly, Susan too had her episodes of random unwanted hair. As did Gypsy.
As for the documentary about Patricia, I'm desperate to see it. The pedigree of the crew who worked on it is far from shoddy, so even if it might end up with accusations of it being a tool in trying to get Pat free, at least it won't be an exploitative schlock-fest.
I think she knows she will never get out I believe that she is trying to prevent someone from going down the same road as her.I feel for the victims it is beyond understanding how someone could harm these people.I was 14 when it happened and we thought that it was not possible that they did it at first.This was at a time when they had signs saying no long hair allowed No hippies.
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