More than four decades behind bars did not curb Charles Manson's violence or bizarre behavior: He got in trouble more than 100 times for assaults, making threats and even trying to start a fire and flood the prison.
The cult leader and convicted killer, who ordered his followers to murder seven people in 1969, died Monday of natural causes. He was 83.
Manson remained a menace to all around him even after going to prison. While serving his life sentence, Manson attacked prison staff, got drugs and phones into his cell and even tried to escape using a hot-air balloon, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Manson's supposed plan to escape was foiled in 1982, when he was housed in a prison medical facility in Vacaville, California, southwest of Sacramento. Guards found a catalog for ordering hot-air balloons and nylon rope.
"Suffice it to say that he cannot be described as a model prisoner," Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, told the Los Angeles Times.
Over the years, Manson tried smuggling in several weapons, including hacksaw blades. The same year of his failed escape, guards found one of the blades in his cell, along with marijuana and LSD.
He continued to either bust free or at least cause chaos on several occasions, such as when he attempted to start a flood in one prison, and when he set his mattress on fire.
He also successfully snuck three cell phones into his cell and was able to make calls and send text messages to people in Florida, New Jersey and California.
Manson got in trouble with guards on numerous occasions, usually leaving the worst of his verbal abuse for female guards. Among the citations were spitting in one guard's face and throwing hot coffee on another.
Prison officials said Monday that Manson died of natural causes. Several members of his cult, known as the Family, are still behind bars for their roles in the killing of actress Sharon Tate and six others.
The group wrote messages in their victim's blood after the murders, including "Helter Skelter," referencing the Beatles song that became synonymous with the cult thereafter.
A hot air ballon? Who the f*ck did he think he was, Phileas Fogg?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf the balloon escape had amounted to anything more than a pipe dream, I think it would have been kind of cool. That doesn't mean I approve of Charlie's other crimes.
ReplyDeleteAre inmates allowed to see Pow escape movies? This one might have given Charlie the idea. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066833/?ref_=ttpl_pl_tt
I'm shocked to hear Charlie preferred to abuse the female guards over the male guards, shocked.
ReplyDeleteSuch a little man.
I thought that it was Lottsapoppa that said he would come and kill everyone at the ranch if he didn't get his money, not the straight satins. Thinking the straight satins only threatened Bobby.
ReplyDeleteMy comment above was supposed to be on the post about the Hinman murder scene. How do I delete this one?
ReplyDeleteMatthew,
ReplyDeleteBelow the post you want to delete, you should see something like this.
The date and time followed by (a picture of a garbage can with a lid)
Click on the picture of the garbage can.
" ... ♫♪♫ Up ... up and aWAYyy ♫ ... " =D
ReplyDeleteNone of the posts have garbage cans on my end. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteLook at it on the web version instead of the mobile version
DeleteAustinAnn74 said...
ReplyDeleteA hot air ballon? Who the f*ck did he think he was, Phileas Fogg?
So much for the myth that prison was his home, although I guess one could argue that one has to get away from the house sometimes !
Christal Hayes said...
More than four decades behind bars did not curb Charles Manson's violence
No kidding !
It's a violent world in there. Just ask Bruce.
orwhut said...
If the balloon escape had amounted to anything more than a pipe dream, I think it would have been kind of cool
I have to agree with that. Apparently that sort of thing doesn't only happen on CSI Miami. It would have been one heck of an escape {like Bruce in a pine box} but the reality is that if there's one individual in the US of A that couldn't remain free for long, it would have been Charles Manson. Either his own actions would have got him arrested {let's face it, he has 'previous' as we say in England, on that one !} or his face or his known cohorts. Anon he could never be.
xreles said...
I'm shocked to hear Charlie preferred to abuse the female guards over the male guards
Think: his Mum, his Grandma, his first wife, Candy Stevens, Sadie, Linda......
Not such a shock. But I'd say it was debatable that he reserved the worst of his verbal abuse for female guards. I think nasty, disgusting things said to a female seem worse than if they were said to a male.
I just found out I am his son after all the years
ReplyDelete