The Fugly 3: Manson murderesses 1st prison mugshots from 1971

Oh the humanity! Feast your eyes upon some of the most creepiest, ugliest mugshots of Susan "Sexy Sadie" Atkins, Patricia "Katie" Krenwinkel, and Leslie "LuLu" Van Houten. These mugshots were supposedly taken when they FIRST arrived at the California Institute for Women in Corona, California in 1971. Clearly, these girls were nowhere near sane. What was it, folks that turned them so evil? What made these young women go from being regular, suburbanite, bouffant-headed, middle-class youths to glassy-eyed, snickering, coconut-headed, bloodthirsty maniacs with psycho eyes & shit-eating grins? Who the hell smiles on their first day of prison? I am at a loss for words. I am especially at a loss for words when my eyes saw mutton chops growing in on Pat Krenwinkel's face. Like I said earlier, "oh the humanity!"

Rob Zombie, Bret Easton Ellis team on Manson Family Series

In something of a curious pairing, director/musician Rob Zombie will team with AMERICAN PSYCHO author Bret Easton Ellis on an upcoming series exploring the infamous Manson Family and their vicious crimes in 1969.

Variety is reporting that the two creators, who both specialize in folks clearly out of their mind (albeit with very different aesthetics), are in early development at Fox on the series which “aims to tell converging stories of people and events leading up to and after the murders, from shifting points of view.”

Manson, of course is notorious for leading a sort of commune and forming the Manson Family, which turned murderous in 1969 and resulted in the deaths of seven people, actress Sharon Tate included. Since the arrests and convictions, his story has endlessly attracted fascination and inspired a host of art. Perhaps unsurprisingly (his HALLOWEEN II has quite the large image of Manson on a wall) Zombie counts himself among the intrigued. He says, “I have been obsessed with this insane story since I was a kid, so obviously I jumped at the chance to be involved in this incredible project. After speaking with Bret, I immediately realized that we shared the same vision for this epic madness.”

The Ellis/Zombie Manson series is still quite a ways off. Keep an eye on Fango for more as it develops.

Is a scorpion just a scorpion?

Recently, Patty told Brian Davis the story about how she found a scorpion in her house last July 3rd. As she was doing so, she realized that she has never told the story to all of you. Want to hear it? This is absolutely NOT made up.

This past fourth of July, Patty posted on facebook: "Is there any folklore that you are aware of surrounding a scorpion in the house? We had an unexpected and bizarre visitor last night." Her knowledgeable and thoughtful friends had much to offer. One mentioned that symbolically, a scorpion means self-protection, or a need for protection. In Ancient Egyptian legend, a scorpion brings good luck and wealth in the very near future. Native American lore imparts many meanings to the scorpion: it may represent metamorphosis and openness to change. Endurance, tenacity, determination and willpower is another theme that is related to independence, self-possession, fearlessness, forcefulness and intensity. And of course, the scorpion is one of Manson's favored symbols.

He or she was tiny: maybe an inch and a half long. Patty never did get a photo of it because when she went to catch it in a canning jar, she squashed his right pincer. At that point, he was no longer portrait worthy. Patty immediately googled scorpions, and discovered that unless you have a bad allergy, you won't die from a scorpion bite. It will only itch like hell! The sting is far, far worse than a bumblebee, Patty is told.

Around the same time, Patty had been communicating with a friend of Manson's whom she had just been introduced to. Patty wrote to him that "you may be surprised to hear (or maybe you won't be) that Patty had a scorpion in her kitchen last night." Manson's friend replied that no, he was not surprised, because these things often happen in his circle. Furthermore, he stated that back in the day, these types of occurrences would scare the crap out of him. Now, he just sits back and enjoys the wonder and the mystery of it all. He said that among Charlie's friends, they call this kind of ooEEoo "myme."

Last September 28, DebS wrote the following to Patty: "There was a scorpion in my laundry tub this morning! I have no idea how it could have gotten there. The laundry room is on the second floor. There is a door out to the deck as well as one into the house in the room but the screen door is always shut. I've seen only one scorpion in the nine years I've lived here and that was outside, where it belongs!"

Patty has wondered ever since then if the two scorpions found 100 miles and three months apart are related incidents. Neither Patty nor Deb had seen a scorpion in years, and they are both long time California residents. Were they put there on purpose? What do you think?

Catherine Share looking damn good!

Ladies & Gentlemen, I give you the newest photo of Catherine "Gypsy" Share to feast your eyes upon. She looks really good in my opinion, especially for a lady in her 70's. I do hope Ms. Share is doing well!

Desert Sun

Desert Sun was a band formed by Shoshone - Tecopa residents Paul Watkins and Brooks Ramsey Poston in the early 1970s with the help of other local musicians.

The blond guy seated in front of Brooks is Clinton Crable, who died in 2003.

Ever wondered who the curly haired guy is? It's actually Paul's brother, John. John is a very well known Topanga musician.

Paul Crockett was desert Sun's manager. 

When Desert Sun split up and Paul Watkins went to work in the mines of Tecopa, he staked out his own mining claims, divorced, remarried, raised a family, wrote a book on Manson and headed up the first meetings of the Chamber of Commerce.

Brooks Poston & Jane Boltinhouse followed their guru, Paul Crockett to Northern Washington State. There Brooks & Jane continued as 'Northern Lights' performing a number of Desert Sun's original songs. Poston and Boltinhouse remain in WA. Paul Crockett Passed January 10, 2014.

A recent Jane Boltinhouse pic

Paul Crockett Has Passed

Thanks to the blog reader that tipped us to this news.

I have received word from his wife and partner of 40 years, Sylvee, that Paul Crockett, “an amazing, incredibly wise man, took his departure on Jan. 10, 2014.

Read the tribute here                                                                                 Help with the bills

Charlie's grandson Jason on the 700 Club

Thank you anonymous friend, for sending this one in. It is very interesting stuff, with a photo of Charles Manson, Jr. Patty had never seen before.

Fighting Your Family's Demons
By Annika Young
The 700 Club

CBN.com: In the ring, Jason Freeman knew he had to be disciplined, focused and fearless. "The only thing that could beat me was the other guy, and it wasn't going to happen."

Like most fighters in the mixed martial arts world, Jason had a nickname. His was Charlie Manson III, a name he inherited from his dad. He was Charles Manson Jr. and I knew that Charlie Manson, Sr. was my grandfather. It was to be kept quiet, under a rug. 

His parents never married. Jason lived with his mother and stepfather who raised him. His biological father kept his distance. As the son of a notorious killer, he was fighting his own battles with depression and a drug addiction. "Earliest memories were mainly phone conversations and pictures that he sent and Christmas gifts. I don't know if he just realized that I was fine; I was taken care of, that he didn't think he needed to be there." 

One night Jason's father checked out on him for good. He killed himself when Jason was a freshman in high school. Despite their splintered relationship, Jason took his father's death very hard. "I blamed my father's suicide on my grandfather. Jason poured those emotions into high school football and wrestling. "I knew that my anger needed to be directed in a positive manner." 

Still, Jason's ties to the Manson family name haunted him, and he swore to break the cycle of drugs and violence. But his hair-trigger temper was working against him. "People knew I could fight. I would fight. I didn't have a problem with fighting. When I was provoked, I knew I could hurt somebody and I didn't want to hurt nobody." 

As an adult, he found another way to vent his anger... through mixed martial arts. But to make money, he started selling drugs, and soon started using them, too. Jason felt the consequences of his actions. "When you're on drugs that make your family not want to be around you or not like you, you don't fit in. You get mixed up into whatever kind of drug it is to hide yourself from reality. You're in a box. You don't know how to get out." 

Eventually, Jason was arrested and convicted for drug trafficking. His worst fear had come true. "I just - I don't want to fail. (I) seen it all around me, all my life."

He asked God to help. "Laid in bed probably for hours just crying and just asking for forgiveness and help; help to understand, give me some wisdom to realize the path I'm on isn't the right path."

He found a Bible, but wasn't sure where to begin. He met someone who helped. "There was an ordained minister in there for relapsing back on crack cocaine. I started asking questions and I said, 'I don't know where to start in this long Book, this Bible.' He said 'Well, just you know, read John. Everybody starts at John.' He prayed over me. I accepted Jesus in my heart. At that point I wanted to walk a different path."

He took the first step. "I went straight to the Bible and I ran every day. I stayed focused on myself. I stayed focused on understanding why I'm in here."

Jason served his time. He also met and married Audrey. He says on his journey of faith, she helped him every step of the way. "I didn't know for the longest time which way was up or down and I can honestly say when I met my wife, Audrey, it's been a rough road, but she made me who I am today."
In 2011, he decided to step out of the ring for good. Jason remembers his conversation with God on the night of his last fight. "I was asking Him, 'Why am I out here?' He said, 'I built a stage up underneath of you to speak off of and reach others.'"

Now he talks to kids about how to avoid the mistakes he made. He says with God's help he's been off the drugs and his anger is in check. He and Audrey are raising three boys and working on leaving a legacy founded on faith in God. "I got my whole family. I love it."

The kid with the notorious family ties has found his purpose through his faith in Jesus Christ. "Once people get to know me for me and not the name, I carry my own weight. I feel God moves through me like He moves through a lot of people. And if that name somehow attracts attention over to my corner, then I've got something positive to speak about."

Bugliosi Talk Cancelled

Thanks to blog reader Rosie for alerting us!

Manson Family Knives

I got a new press photo that I'd never seen before!  This apparently ran in newspapers in 1984, the back is stamped "Received Examiner Reference Library Feb 20 1985"  The caption-

"(LA 11-AUG.9) -- Manson Family Knives-- This is a photo of the various knives, and a record album of Charles Manson's songs, that were seized in a 1969 police raid on the Barker Ranch in Death Valley.  The album was sold by Family members, Lynette Fromme and Sandy Good Pugh on the streets of Independence, Calif. while Manson was in the Inyo county Jail.  (AP Laserphoto) (pjh41400mbr) 1984     SLUG: MANSON ANNIVERSARY

Julienne Busic Today

Sunset77 was recently pondering whether or not a huge, military Croatian funeral on Youtube was for Zvonko Busic, husband of Julienne, who committed suicide earlier this year? Susnset inspired Patty to start poking around until she located this website: zvonkobusic.com. Although Patty does not speak Croatian, she does know how to use Google translator. She read there that:

"In September in 1976. years, Zvonko Busic, his wife - American Julienne - and three Croats, hijacked TWA plane in New York and eventually were arrested in Paris, France. The only goal of the operation was to draw world attention to the murder, closing opponents and human rights violations committed by Croats former Yugoslav dictator.

Their only request was that the leaflets of these misdemeanors publication in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, International Herald Tribune. Although the plane was not weapons, an incident connected with the kidnapping took place, to their chagrin, the New York City police officer was killed while three others were wounded.

Zvonko Busic and received a life sentence (with the possibility of parole after 10 years for Zvonko and Julienne for eight years, recommended by the judge).

The other three Croats were given 30 years each in prison. All Bušić's co-defendants were acquitted in 1989. year. Only Zvonko remained in prison until his release in July 2009th year, almost 32 years later, the high-security section Terre Haute in Indiana."


It surprised Patty to realize that Juliana is American, and that Zvonko was obviously well regarded by his countrymen. So yes, the funeral was for the husband of the woman who Squeaky legendarily hit on the head with a hammer. Has anyone ever heard why Squeaky did that?

Thanks Sunset for the inspiration. Peace.