Manson Family Member -- Should She Go Free?

46. I was actually alive when this occurred!!! NO. Let her stay in jail. She had no compassion for her victims, including a pregnant woman who begged for the life of her baby.

Posted at 3:23PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Carol

47. At least she will have the ability to live to see her natural death. She should have thought about that before she helped kill people. Dumb Ass.

Posted at 3:21PM on Jul 14th 2008 by hypergrl

48. On March 21, 1967, Manson was released from prison in California. He was 33 years old and more than half of his life had been spent in institutions. He protested his freedom. "Oh, no, I can't go outside there...I knew that I couldn't adjust to that world."

Manson started to attract a group of followers, many of whom were very young women with troubled emotional lives who were rebelling against their parents and society in general. This was the core of the Manson Family execution team whom he ordered to kill pregnant actress Sharon Tate, her wealthy house guests, and the well-to-do LaBiancas, which was part of a plot by Manson to start a global race war.

The Sharon Tate murders
On the night of August 9, 1969, Manson directed some members of the Family, including Charles "Tex" Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins, and Linda Kasabian to go to the former residence of an acquaintance, record producer Terry Melcher, and kill whoever was on the premises. It was stated at trial that others, including Catherine Gillies, wanted to go as well, but didn't because there "was no room in the car." There is no proof that they were under influence of drugs or that any of them challenged Manson's wishes. They left their Spahn Ranch compound and arrived at midnight at the grounds of the Beverly Hills home of the film director Roman Polanski and his wife Sharon Tate. Polanski, highly acclaimed for his recent hit Rosemary's Baby, was in London working on his next film and had asked friends to stay with Tate, who was eight and a half months pregnant. Before entering the house, the Manson family members shot dead Steven Parent, an 18-year-old friend of Tate's gardener, William Garrretson, who was leaving the property and had unwittingly seen the intruders while getting in his car. Kasabian, who was acting as the getaway driver, expressed horror at the murder of Parent and was told to remain outside and keep watch while the others entered the house. The quotation, "I am the devil, and I have come to do the devil's work" has been attributed to Watson when Wojciech (Voytek) Frykowski awoke from his slumber on the living room couch. They assembled the four occupants of the house into the living room. The intruders asked if anyone had money, and, in replying that she did, Abigail Folger, heiress to the Folgers Coffee Company, was led to her bedroom to empty her purse. She was led back to the living room where the four occupants of the house were tied together. Jay Sebring, a noted hairstylist and friend of the Polanskis was visiting, and when he attempted to defend Tate, he was shot by Watson, who then kicked him several times in the face. Frykowski and Folger, who were staying in the house until Polanski's return from London, were able to escape from the living room and were each pursued as they ran onto the front lawn. Quickly overtaken by the attackers, Frykowski was stabbed fifty-one times, shot twice, and pistol-whipped 13 times in the head; Folger was stabbed twenty-eight times. Tate remained in the living room and begged for the life of her unborn baby. Susan Atkins later testified that she had replied, "Look bitch, I don't care about you. I don't care if you are having a baby. You are going to die and I don't feel a thing about it," before stabbing her to death. Before leaving the house Atkins used a towel to soak up some of Sharon Tate's blood and then used it to write "PIG" on the front door. This was allegedly inspired by the Beatles song Piggies.

Posted at 3:22PM on Jul 14th 2008 by she needs to rot in prison

49. Your Kidding me, Right? Let her out?? Are they out of their Fricken Minds? The Woman MURDERED a human being and her unborn child. She is Damn lucky that somebody hasn't already stabbed her like she did her victims.
Life's Hell Bitch, live with it!

Posted at 3:27PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Tammy

50. Let this SICK, twisterd piece of GARBAGE die a slow, agonizing death and then go straight to HELL where she belongs. It still will not be as bad as the horrendous death she personally gave to 8 month pregnant, beautiful actress, Sharon Tate. You have got to be one psychotic low-life to stab someone, pregnant no less, over and over again..and then hang her from the rafters. I hope she suffers and her brain cancer makes her head explode......................Rot in hell Atkins..it is where you are surely on your way to...Hoep it wass all worth it to you Be-at0chi.....

Posted at 3:24PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Miranda

51. He (or she) who shows no compassion should receive no compassion. Case closed.

Posted at 3:25PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Christie

52. She clearly isn't a threat to society at this point. The only reason at all to keep her in jail is a type of "let her rot" revenge that so many people here seem to exhibit. That does help anybody at all. Also, while she is a prisoner, all her medical bills are being paid by the people of California. So, I say, let her out.

Posted at 3:27PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Kat

53. She's lucky she didn't fry. boo-hoo. Who cares?

Posted at 3:27PM on Jul 14th 2008 by whateveryousay

54. Where was her compassion when she stabbed Sharon Tate and her unborn child? I think that Susan Atkins deserves a slow, painful death, and there should be no measures taken to extend her life or make her comfortable as she's dying. It's called karma baby, and it's a bitch.

Posted at 3:28PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Lynn

55. I say let her rot in prison where she belongs...

Posted at 4:11PM on Jul 15th 2008 by Kat Ramone

56. Oh, NoLee...you make me smile. :-D

I love that she's seeking "Compassion." What a hypocrite.

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6. Isn't the idea of sentencing someone to "life" is that they die in prison? So now their going to let her out because she's dying? That makes perfect sense!

Posted at 2:51PM on Jul 14th 2008 by NoLee

Posted at 4:22PM on Jul 14th 2008 by DS

57. I was also around when it happened. I had to sleep with the light on when I was a child, because of that ghoulish crime. NO, she deserves to rot in prison where she belongs.

Posted at 3:27PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Kat

58. Um no I agree..she had no compassion for Sharon Tate or any of the other victims..and she wants compassion?? Sucks to be her..let her rot..sorry but in this case what goes around comes around.

Posted at 4:12PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Kathy

59. AND, kitkat.......sorry to keep pickin on you.....BUT, she was PREGNANT for Gods sake !!! That animal not only took Sharon Tate's life, but, ALSO, an innocent, unborn baby !!!! THAT makes her murders even MORE horrific, if murder can get any worse.


No problem, I'm used to being picked on........... I understand that Sharon Tate was pregnant at the time. Once again, the crime was horrific but as a few others have stated -- it has been 40 years. The sixties were a crazy time and I'm sure Susan was influenced by not only Charles Manson but drugs as well. She only has a few months left to live anyways.

Posted at 3:29PM on Jul 14th 2008 by kitkat

60. Why should anyone show her compassion? Did she have any compassion for Sharon Tate screaming for her life and the life of her unborn baby? Let Susan Atkins rot in prision until she dies...no one has any compassion for her!

Posted at 3:29PM on Jul 14th 2008 by KaylieW.