Teacher Gets New Trial to Defend Class Materials

A federal judge has vacated a $325,000 award to a student who took issue with her high school history teacher's unorthodox methods, which included showing gruesome photos of women murdered by Charles Manson.

"In short, plaintiff has shown that defendant Smith made pedagogical choices that some, and perhaps most, teachers would not have made...At worst, Defendant Smith's conduct would support a finding that he was careless."

See http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/05/25/46855.htm for more information.

Transcription of the chat on the LA Times website this morning

Los Angeles Times reporters Richard Winton and Hector Becerra joined City Editor Shelby Grad for a discussion about newly-released audio recordings that may help shed light on other slayings possibly committed by Charles Manson and his followers.

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Shelby Grad:
Welcome to another edition of LA NOW LIVE. I'm Shelby Grad...

Today we're going to taking about a potential break in the infamous Manson murders.. They involve an audio tape the LAPD would like to review. And whether the tape might reveal unsolved murders involving the cult...

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/01/local/la-me-manson-tapes-20120601
Monday June 4, 2012 9:00

Shelby Grad:
We;re joined by Times reporters Richard Winton and Hector Becerra.

Welcome!
Monday June 4, 2012 9:00

Hector Becerra:
Hi Shelby.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:00

Shelby Grad:
Now this is the tape we're talking about:

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in Texas this week granted a request from the LAPD to review eight cassette tapes containing hours of conversations between one of Manson's most fervent followers and his late attorney. The lawyer made the recording while interviewing Charles "Tex" Watson after he and other Manson family members had been arrested in 1969.

No one knows what's on the tapes, but they possibly represent the first new clues concerning the Manson murders in years. That was enough for the LAPD to take another look at the case, and it has Manson scholars excited about the possibilities.

Detectives believe that Watson may have discussed "additional unsolved murders committed by followers of Charles Manson," according to a letter sent to the U.S. Justice Department by LAPD Chief Charlie Beck.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:01

Shelby Grad:
Hector, how did the LAPD find out about the tape?
Monday June 4, 2012 9:01

Hector Becerra:
Richard can probably answer that better, but the LAPD does not have the tapes yet. Pending a successful appeal, they should get them in about a week or a bit longer.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:02

Shelby Grad:
Hector, you talked to some Manson experts about the tape. What are they saying?
Monday June 4, 2012 9:02

Richard Winton @Lacrimes:
They dont get the tapes for another week but the lawyer for Watson could appeal
Monday June 4, 2012 9:03

Hector Becerra:
The LAPD has known about the tapes for quite a few years but they could not get them for a number of reasons, including attorney-client privilege. The attorney died recently however.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:03
   
Matt: 
What will the chain of custody be? Who has them right now?
Monday June 4, 2012 9:03
   
cielodrive.com: 
Has anyone talked with Kendrick Jan and found out if they'll appeal the judge's ruling.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:03

Hector Becerra:
Shelby, experts disagree about cases of deaths they believe could be tied to the Manson family. But generally, those we spoke to mentioned at least one death they considered to be suspicious.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:04

Richard Winton @Lacrimes:
So far Watson's lawyer has not taken any telephone calls.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:04

Shelby Grad:
There are some specific deaths that some experts believe are suspect, correct?
Monday June 4, 2012 9:05

Hector Becerra:
Charlie Rudd, a retired Ventura County sheriff’s sergeant, investigated the disappearance of Manson defense attorney Ronald Hughes in 1970. He strongly believes that Hughes drowned or was battered to death by rocks and debris during a rainstorm that swelled a creek near Sespe Hot Springs. Rudd said there’s no evidence the Manson family was involved. But others believe Hughes, who had angered Manson, was a victim.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:05

Shelby Grad:
Richard you also talked to some experts about some suspicious deaths, right?
Monday June 4, 2012 9:06

Richard Winton @Lacrimes:
Yes there are three deaths that constant come up, Ronald Hughes- the attorney, Joel Pugh in London and John Vaught. all are presently not listed as homicides,
Monday June 4, 2012 9:06

Shelby Grad:
Richard, tell us about those cases
Monday June 4, 2012 9:07
   
cielodrive.com: 
John Haught, not vaught
Monday June 4, 2012 9:08
Richard Winton @Lacrimes:

Yes. Stephen Kay who prosecuted the case believes the Pugh death deemed a suicide in December 1969 is the most likely homicide. He does not believe the death is a a suicide and based that statetments he heard from the family and the mode of death
Monday June 4, 2012 9:08

Shelby Grad:
thx
Monday June 4, 2012 9:08
   
ZeroToOne: 
How'd they learn about the existance of the tapes, Richard?
Monday June 4, 2012 9:08

Richard Winton @Lacrimes:
My Typo on that name John Haught,
Monday June 4, 2012 9:08

Richard Winton @Lacrimes:
I understand the court informed the District Attorney's office which in turned informed the LAPD. There are very few people in the LAPD and Da now with extensive mansion family knowledge
Monday June 4, 2012 9:10

Hector Becerra:
One thing: In most of these cases, the suspicions currently come down more to gut-feelings and circumstantial connections than any forensic evidence.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:10

Shelby Grad:
Good point... And none of the case are currently considered homicides...
Hector, you talked to a guy who actually dug up on old Manson compound a few years ago looking for bodies... Tell us about that?
Monday June 4, 2012 9:11

Hector Becerra:
Yes Shelby, that was Paul Dostie, a former Mammoth Lakes police detective. He went out there with his Labrador Buster and said he and others found clear signs that there was evidence of human decomposition having taken place at a ranch in Death Valley. But four years ago investigators and scientists searched and dug up Barker Ranch and found no such evidence. Dostie believes they didn't dig deeply enough.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:12

Shelby Grad:
Hector, you've written a lot about the Manson case over the years... Why do you think it still holds such a fascination?
Monday June 4, 2012 9:13

Hector Becerra:
The case has fascinated in part because of Charles Manson himself as a bizarre cult leader, but also the brutality of the murders and the Hollywood connection, with pregnant actress Sharon Tate being murdered at the home she shared with director Roman Polanski. It was also probably the time in American history. Some, like Joan Didion, said it really marked the jarring end of the "flower power" era.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:14

Richard Winton @Lacrimes:
As Simon Wells who has written extensively on Manson tells me ultimately it is crime meets celebrity nature of the horrendous acts and reps a time in history
Monday June 4, 2012 9:15

Shelby Grad:
One reason for all the interest in the tape is that Manson apparently bragged about there being many more killings, correct?
Monday June 4, 2012 9:16

Richard Winton @Lacrimes:
Ye Stephen Kay tells me Manson bragged to his family being involved in 35 killings but of course he gave no facts
Monday June 4, 2012 9:17

Hector Becerra:
Yes, Manson apparently told a cellmate that there were 35 to 40 victims. Was it true? Who knows. But considering what he and his followers did, naturally there was good reason to believe it possible.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:17

Shelby Grad:
Yeah, it's hard to believe anything...
Monday June 4, 2012 9:17
   
ZeroToOne: 
Why the varying reports of when the tapes were actually recorded? I've read 1969, 70 and '71. If he was extradicted to LA in Sept. '70, seems they must've occurred before then (While Watson was in Tx w/ his lawyer). If they were made in '69, before Susan Atkins' (first) version was reported (on the front page of your paper) in mid.-Dec., '69, they'd prob be VERY valuable, no? Is there an actual date imprinted on the tapes container or in docs related to them?
Monday June 4, 2012 9:17

Richard Winton @Lacrimes:
The answer to the timing is post murders but before trial. I dont have more precise information. I gather from participants that they probably dont come before Atkins
Monday June 4, 2012 9:19

Shelby Grad:
Last question -- Richard, when will we know what's on those tapes??
Monday June 4, 2012 9:19

Hector Becerra:
ZeroToOne, I don't know the answer to that. Frankly, we have no idea what's on the tapes as far as what Watson say, or what's physically imprinted on the outside as far as a date. But you're right, that would seem to matter, possibly quite a bit.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:19

Richard Winton @Lacrimes:
I expect a couple of weeks but obviously Watson's lawyers could other ideas. I dont expect the LAPD to announce the content plus they neeed to consult with more expert Manson people who can provide greatest meaning to statements
Monday June 4, 2012 9:20

Shelby Grad:
Richard and hector, thanks so much for joining us!

Hector Becerra:
Thank you.
Monday June 4, 2012 9:21

Shelby Grad:
And thanks for joining us! See you tomorrow for another edition of LA NOW LIVE.

Manson follower's tapes may yield new clues, LAPD says

The official record says that Charles Manson and his cult followers murdered eight people during their reign of terror across Los Angeles more than 40 years ago.

But for those involved in bringing members of the Manson family to justice, there has always been the lingering suspicion that their trail of death was longer. Over the years, questions have persisted about a man's apparent suicide in England, the drowning of an attorney and whether bodies are buried under the California ranches the cult called home.

READ THE ARTICLE IN THE LA TIMES HERE

Jane Doe No. 59

Someone must wonder about her.

She was distinct looking, tall and willowy, and had a mouthful of dental work, suggesting a middle-class background and parents who cared.  So why, former homicide detective Cliff Shepard wants to know, does she still not have a name?

READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN TRUE CRIME DIARY

Thank you Wes Johnson for the link!

Manson Dance

Robert Hendrickson Interview with Earcandy

Robert Hendrickson is best known for directing the 1973 film "Manson", which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Starting in 1969, Hendrickson spent two and a half years filming the Manson Family for the documentary. 

Now after all these years, Hendrickson has a new film AND a new book on Manson. The book, "Charles Manson - An American Nightmare - Death To Pigs" is a transcription of all the interviews that were filmed while "Inside The Manson Gang" is the companion DVD. While most new Manson "products" simply repeat the fabricated "Helter Skelter" motive, Hendrickson's book and DVD actually provide NEW insight into the murders. While reading the transcripts, new facts emerge that put a new spin on the "trial of the century": There were conflicts of interest in regards to the lawyers; there were staged police photos; there is a Black Muslim influence; and the possibility that the murders could be a "performance art" commentary on the Vietnam War. 

Robert Hendrickson graciously consented to an interview and what follows is our chat on the interesting points that he brings up in his new book/film

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE

Judge gives tapes to LAPD in 'Manson family' investigation of unsolved murders

(CNN) -- A federal bankruptcy judge in Texas has approved a request from the Los Angeles Police Department to turn over audiotapes that may develop new clues about unsolved killings involving followers of notorious murderer Charles Manson.

The tapes are about eight hours of recordings between convicted murderer Charles Denton "Tex" Watson and his attorney from 1969, Bill Boyd of McKinney, Texas, whose law firm is the debtor in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the same state, court papers said.

Watson was convicted along with three other members of the so-called Manson family in the grisly 1969 murders of five people, including eight-months pregnant movie actress Sharon Tate.

According to court documents, Watson waived his attorney-client privilege to the tapes in 1976, and his attorney received partial payment for his legal fees when he gave a copy of the tapes to Chaplain Raymond G. Hoekstra, who subsequently wrote a book, "Will You Die for Me: The Man Who Killed for Charles Manson Tells His Own Story."

In March, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck wrote the U.S. court trustee asking for the original recordings. The judge approved the request on Tuesday.

"The LAPD has information that Mr. Watson discussed additional unsolved murders committed by followers of Charles Manson," said a letter signed by Beck and Lt. Yana Horvatich, acting commanding officer of the robbery-homicide division.

Beck's letter is dated March 19, seven days after Watson asked that all legal material relating to his case be turned over to his nephew, Brian Patton, of Rowlett, Texas, according to court papers.

"One last thing: I want to thank you for hunting me down. I'm so glad these documents didn't get in the wrong hands," Watson wrote in a March 12 letter to a U.S. court trustee asking that he forward the legal materials to Patton.

In November, Watson, 66, convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder, was denied parole for the 16th time and will be considered again in 2016, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

In March, Manson, 77, who is serving a life sentence for nine murders and who led his family of followers in a murder spree in 1969, was denied parole for the 12th time and will be up for parole again 15 years from now, when he would be 92.

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Not that it matters a bit, but how does a law firm go bankrupt, anyway? I'm not used to hearing that. They're selling the building using this YouTube video:

The Grump's Book Report: The Manson File: Myth and Reality of an Outlaw Shaman by Nikolas Schreck

It is available here: http://www.nikolasschreck.eu/ for 52 Euros ($65.00) It arrived in less than 10 days.

This is a huge expanded version of the previous version of “The Manson File”. When I say huge, it is over 900 pages with no “fluff” or pictures. It is very well written, full of new information. Very few “unnamed sources” are noted. Through meetings with Charlie, a lot of the things he said in interviews are explained. Such as “The divorce courts are running through Reno”, and I’ll call New York”.

There is way too much information to share, but I’ll let you know some of the changes to what we already know. I am just saying what is in the book. These are not my words!

Hinman - It was all about recouping the $$ for the bad mescaline. The Straight Satan’s were the ones that forces Bobby into this. Bobby did not call Charlie, Mary did. If that call was not made, it is doubtful that Hinman would have been killed.

April 1969 - Tex and Bruce botched a robbery (of drugs of course) at the apt of Joel Rosteau and his girlfriend Charlene Cafritz.  Rosteau ended up getting shot in the foot. The police got involved and found drugs all over his place.  Rosteau‘s attorney, Paul Caruso made it go away. Why is the name Caruso important?? He was also the attorney for Billy Doyle, Harrigan and Pic Dawson. He was also the law partner of Richard Caballero, Sadie’s first lawyer. Hmmmmmmm

Somewhere in the books on the case, Linda is quoted as saying to Sadie, “Remember that thousand dollars I had? I got burned up in the hills on some bad MDA”. Who burned her? Billy Doyle.

Aug 8 1969 - Rosteau makes a delivery of $20,000 worth of cocaine and mescaline to Jay at Cielo Drive. A large amount of LSD was also expected, however the LSD supplier (who owned a dress shop) was out of town till the next day. Rosemary‘s name is never mentioned, but it would have to be her..

Later that night, Tex and the girls go to Cielo with the intention of robbing Jay of his drugs. When he learns the LSD is not there, a fight breaks out and they end up dead. It reads that two of them were tied up, and the others killed. When Charlie and friend returned later, the other 2 were killed.

The LaBianca killings - This is a tough one. The book doesn’t even settle this. There are theories mentioned, some we’ve heard before. Yes Leno had had mob connections. The Genovese family is mentioned many times in the book. When The Beach Boys manger, Grillo(?) told Charlie, “I’ll call New York”!, he actually called Leno. This came from Grillo’s secretary.

Remember in Little Paul’s book where he talked about a mob lawyer putting him up in a hotel and questioning him??

Did Rosemary deal LSD? No credible source was ever found. But how did she accumulate an estate over 2 million dollars in 1969?  Her store sold wigs. Tex sold wigs. Important? Maybe, I don’t know.

If Leno was in debt to the mob for $200,000, why didn’t Rosemary cover it?

Was it a robbery? Maybe, the safe was empty and Bruce took off for England with Leno’s coins.

The Labianca’s had a drug dealer neighbor whose name was Quartermain. He was the boyfriend of the mother of one of the Murdered Scientologists., Doreen Gaul or James Sharp. He ran in the same circles as Rosteau. That was the reason for those murders.

There is way too much information to share in this forum. If you spent the $100 for “Death to Pigs”, there is no reason not to buy this. The Process is hardly mentioned at all. The whole Mafia, Catholic Church, Italian Bugliosi issued is explained in detail. It is best to have a pad and pen nearby as there are many facts you will want to write down. Porno movies, gay sex and kiddie porn discussed in great detail. (Altobelli and Charlie gobbled each other’s knobs a few times). Peter Lawford, the Kennedy’s, Marilyn Monroe, it’s all here!

Some facts I remember:

Joel Rosteau  Sebring’s dealer - Mafia
Both LaBiancas - Mafia
Candy Stevens (Charlie’s 2nd wife) - Mafia
 Candy took the alias “Leona” after one of her clients (Leno!)
Gary Hinman was an FBI Informant
The Straight Satan’s were Mob connected
Manson meets Dennis Wilson at Gary Hinman's house during a drug buy, not at his house. The whole hitch-hiking story was a cover-up.

This one caught my eye:

The prosecution offered Charlie a deal, 18 years in jail, if he testified against Tex and co. He refused.

The book is not entirely pro-Manson. Some of the theories are a little far fetched. But so was “Helter Skelter” for that matter!

The Tape is Allowable, says Texas Judge

From http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/lapd-allowed-manson-family-1448568.html

The Associated Press
PLANO, Texas — Los Angeles police are entitled to audio recordings of conversations between a Manson family member and his attorney, a Texas judge ruled Tuesday.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brenda T. Rhoades of Plano granted the request allowing police to obtain the eight cassette tapes containing hours of talks between Charles "Tex" Watson and Bill Boyd, a now-deceased Texas attorney who once represented Watson.

Detectives want to listen to the tapes to learn whether Watson described any unsolved killings in the conversations. An LAPD spokesman has told The Associated Press that officers have no specific information on what might be in the recordings.

A law firm in McKinney where Boyd once worked has the tapes, and a trustee in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding involving the firm asked the judge to grant legal authority to give police the recordings. Boyd died in 2009.

Watson is serving a life sentence for his role in the 1969 Tate-La Bianca murders. He previously made the tapes available to the co-author of his 1978 book, "Will You Die for Me? The Man Who Killed for Charles Manson Tells His Own Story."

Rhoades' ruling came despite an objection from Watson's current attorney, who argued Watson didn't waive attorney-client privilege when making the book deal.

In the book, Watson detailed his role in the killings of actress Sharon Tate and six other people but didn't mention any unsolved slayings.

Watson, now 65, was convicted of all seven murders. He and three other Manson followers were sentenced to death but had their sentences commuted to life when the death penalty was briefly outlawed in 1972.

Boyd, who was hired by Watson's family, conducted a long fight to prevent his client's extradition to California from Texas, where Watson went after the killings.

According to court records, Watson waived his right to attorney-client privilege in his dealings with Boyd in 1976. The law firm then surrendered the tapes to the co-author of Watson's book in exchange for partial payment of legal fees.

The Smell of Death at Barker Ranch

 

Photo courtesy Robert Hendrickson

Hendrickson writes:

Compounding this lack of concern for potential victims was my discovery of a hand written "help" note left behind by a possible hostage. After our trip, with members of the Family to their Death Valley hideout, Craig and I alone, later made another trip to Barker's, but this time with a dune buggy up the more difficult Golar Wash canyon. The other difference was, this time, the scorching desert heat was fast approaching. Also, this time we could do some investigating on our own, without the watchful eyes of the Manson Family. Strange as it seems now, there are only two things I remember about the abandoned Ranch from that trip.

After entering an old out building, (can be seen as Gypsy points it out in the new Manson Gang film) I found a piece of paper with handwriting on it. I took it back outside and read it. It was a note, apparently written by a daughter in hopes that it may find its way home to her mother. Somewhat desperate in its tone, I realized that the game of making a movie about the Manson Gang, wasn't a game anymore. Many thoughts were now crossing my mind, as Craig and I had a bite to eat. Also exhausted, after lunch we decided to take a nap on the ranch house front porch.

It must have been a hour or so later, when we awoke to the most God awful smell that anyone could possibly have imagined. The next thing we realized, was that it must have been at least 120 degrees, and we were in the shade. I'm sure that the troubling note found earlier had played some tricks on my mind, but without any question, we understood that the horrible smell could only be coming from a dead body. Craig quickly fired up the dune buggy and I, almost in a panic mode, returned the note to its original resting place. With breakneck speed two young filmmakers got the Hell out of there.

One of the possible grave sites sites is about 50 feet away from where Hendickson was sitting on the front porch when he smelled it.  Since it was soon after the arrests there would still be a lot of soft tissue decomposition going on (very smelly) and in that sandy soil, it would migrate up very easily.  According to one of our sources who went to the Barker Ranch in 1969, there is about two feet of alluvial deposition on that spot since 1969. If there is a serious dig it must be much deeper than the 3-4 feet that was previously allowed.