The Roman Polanski Rape Case is Reborn - LADA Says Testimony Can Be Unsealed

White is black and day is night. 

Bruce Davis Was Denied Parole Today

 via sfgate.com

Charlie Says - Movie Review

    Charlie Says (2019) hit the theater as a limited release in 2019, and pretty much came and went, barely even registering a showing at the box office, only taking in about $37,000. Despite this poor showing, it is actually a pretty good film, well worth checking out. The movie comes at the TLB saga from a different angle- a post-murders, feminist slant. The production values are relatively good, and there are some decent performances. It is currently available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Roku. 

    When it comes to movies about the Manson saga, it is probably best to look at the films from two angles- how does it work as a movie, i.e. entertainment, and how does it fit into the whole area of Manson/TLB studies regarding accuracy. This film is not a documentary, so problems with accuracy should not deter you from viewing it. Word of warning: there is abundant nudity and sexual situation in the film.

     The source material for the movie is The Family by Ed Sanders, and The Long Prison Journey of Leslie Van Houten by Karlene Faith (the producers add a disclaimer at the end that the movie was made without the cooperation of Leslie and Katie. Susan had already passed away at this point). The primary focus of the movie is on Lulu, with Katie and Karlene Faith playing prominent supporting roles. Susan does feature as well, but not too as large a degree as the others. Charlie is of course in a large number of scenes, but he is not the focus of the film. 

    The film itself alternates between two time periods- the mid 1970s and the months leading up to the TLB murders. Karlene Faith is a grad student that is invited by the warden of the California Institute for Women to teach courses to Lulu, Sadie, and Katie, who are being kept in isolation after having had their death sentences overturned. Karlene is a feminist scholar and focuses part of the sessions with the girls on the premise that they may also be victims of Manson's abuse. As the story progresses, the girls come to some painful realizations about the lives they led with Manson and the horrors they took part in. 

    All of the actors involved do a good job, with some giving real scene stealing performances. Hannah Murray as Leslie and Sosie Bacon as Katie are very expressive and emotional in their portrayals. Marianne Rendon actually underplays Sadie, making her more pensive than the typical over the top crazy Sadie portrayals we have come to expect. Merritt Wever really nails the socially conscious and empathetic Ms. Faith. 

    Some scenes to look out for: Paul Watkins bringing a young girl to the ranch who doesn't fall for Charlie's act or his jailhouse pimp games, Melcher's visit to Spahn for Charlie's music showcase, Charlie's physical and sexual abuse of Sadie over salad dressing (this really highlights his misogyny and control over the women) and the final key scenes in the movie: the LaBianca's murders and the cut to the 'present' when it really sinks in for Leslie.

    The LaBianca's murder scene is harrowing. We see the casualness of Charlie dispatching them inside, the confusion and mounting terror in Lulu, Rosemary's desperate fight for her life against a knife wielding Katie as she hears her husband being murdered down the hall. It culminates with Tex and Katie prodding Lulu to stab Rosemary. Hannah Murray plays this scene to great effect, punctuating each stab with her own blood curdling screams. The look she has on her blood spattered face afterwards is powerful.   

     Now onto the actual history in the film. A lot of the Manson movies are hampered by the fact that there is an awful lot of information and back story to pack into a running time of around two hours. Out of necessity, things are left out or condensed for storytelling's sake, or put onto composite characters or other characters. Charlie says at times suffers from some of these faults. 

    The set at Spahn is pretty accurate, and it is actually the same set used in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. We also get to see Squeaky taking care of George (in more ways than one), Charlie orchestrating an orgy, Charlie's head games, the acid trips, Dennis Wilson, the Straight Satans, etc. these scenes come and go pretty quickly. 

     The motive for the murders is presented as being part Helter Skelter and part Manson's frustration at his derailed music career. After Melcher passes on Charlie's music, Charlie starts to spiral, becoming more and more aggressive in pushing Helter Skelter on the Family. Helter Skelter was mentioned in passing at first, but after this rejection, it takes center stage. 

    The filmmakers actually gave most of the women distinct, actual personalities, rather than the cartoonish portrayals they often get in some films. 

    The murders themselves receive little screen time. We are shown Tex and Sadie getting high on speed the night of Cielo. the murders at Cielo are condensed into a short but powerful scene of Sadie holding a terrified and pleading Sharon while Katie tells Tex to 'kill her.' Tex slashes Sharon's face and then the scene ends. The Waverly scene is slightly longer, but the actual murders aren't depicted in a graphic manner where we see Rosemary being stabbed by Leslie- we just see Leslie thrusting a knife over and over.

    Manson here is shown to be more of a con man and wannabe pimp than in some of his other on screen portrayals. He is shown to be manipulative more than he is shown to be some kind of mystical guru with extraordinary powers of persuasion and the ability to stop clocks. He uses a mix of drugs, physical abuse, sex, jailhouse games, and some pseudo philosophy in order to manipulate the Family members. 

      Overall, Charlie Says is one of the better Manson related films. The performances of the leads make it standout, and the portrayal of the relationships between the three women and Manson are fascinating to watch. It also includes a fairly accurate portrayal of life at Spahn.   

Patricia Krenwinkel - May 26, 2022 - Parole Hearing Transcript

Tobias sent me the link to Patricia Krenwinkel's most recent parole hearing over a week ago but I failed to notice in a timely manner as I've been outside hunting rabbits and earwigs in the hot Ohio sun. Thanks, Tobias. 

And thanks as always to cielodrive.com for stocking and hosting the Manson Family research library year after year. You rock, dude. 

Kit Fletcher is Janet Marie Owens. But is she also Cory Hurst?

"The whole thing. I think it's sick."

Cory Hurst's feigned disgust during Robert Hendrickson's 1973 Academy Award nominated documentary Manson will never fade from Manson lore. Hurst arrives onscreen a third of the way through the film sounding like she met her connect at Pioneer Chicken on the way to her interview. Nevertheless, she remains more palatable than Alice and the other Goons Bugliosi scraped from the floors at Sybil Brand to serve as witnesses against the foolish Susan Atkins, and manages to drop a couple of the best lines in the study before exiting the stage. 

Assuming sweet Joan Huntington did not write those lines for her. More recently, the band Slipknot placed Hurst's words into the minds of a younger generation. (I also found another brief take on the Slipknot intro here.) 

While not everyone is familiar with Cory Hurst, or in fairness might not care a whit since no payday exists at the end of yet another depressing rainbow once Hurst reads her lines and hands things off to less attractive broken women, Hurst's small role in Hendrickson's documentary caught our attention. 

Common to other female Manson fringers, 1970's porn rumors swirl around Hurst. Th sex trade. A possible awful upbringing. If we could find Hurst, maybe she'd corroborate the child and adult sex trafficking claims mentioned by victims' family members during MF parole hearings. 

Regarding the research, were home hair clippers not a thing yet in the 1970's? Yikes. 

Jesse Pearson was Hendrickson's Don Pardo. "Teenaged Cory Hurst was arrested for a minor offense, possession of a marijuana joint, and placed in the same cell as Susan Atkins, a confessed murderess," narrator Pearson tells us. 

Teenaged? Locked in a cage with a m-m-murderess? We had to check. 

 

The sun had set on Hurst's teenage days half a dozen years earlier. At the time of her incarceration with Atkins, Fletcher/Owens/Hurst was almost twenty-six. Adding to the mystery, Lt. Earl Deemer thought Fletcher was a fella. 

Sexy Sadie knew the truth and tried to run the same game on Fletcher that Charlie successfully ran on her. Unfortunately for the fam, Atkins' sweet nothings turned Fletcher into a prosecution witness. 

From the transcripts: 

No admonishments or nuthin. "You misrepresented yourself to the police and stayed in our jail under a false name? Hilarious! It's okay because we all know you're honest at heart. Let's move along and start repeating what Virginia Graham said earlier. I'm putting her in my book don'tcha know."

*Sometimes my quotes are not actual quotes. Don't blame me. All Cretins are liars. 

Here's the Press Courier relaying what Atkins said in the Fletcher/Owens letter that landed Owens in Older's courtroom. Sorry I can't get you closer. A copy of the actual letter is located in Box 10 page 147 but appears to be missing at this time. Hook us up in the comments if you've got the goods. 

So Kit Fletcher is Janet Marie Owens. She's the daughter of a career Navy man. A marijuana joint gets her locked up close enough to Susan Atkins to eventually elicit a confession. Owens' testimony begins on Page 17 in these transcripts provided by almighty Cielo. 

Confused and filled with legal questions after reading the testimony about the letter, I emailed Dreath and asked what was going on in the courtroom that day. Why does attorney Shinn care so much about Atkins' personal mail? Dreath's responses are in italics. 

The letter testified to was mailed, notice that becomes an issue with Shinn. There is a presumption in the law that a letter deposited in the mail is received by the addressee. However, there is also a presumption that the mailing person sent the letter if it was received. The point of the testimony is to establish that Fletcher/ et al received it. That is all VB needs. A confession gets around the hearsay rule as a statement against interest.

Susan Atkins was naive to say the least. The folks at Sybil Brand and the LAPD were monitoring her mail. Why she thought her jailers wouldn't do just that, rights or no rights, confuses me. Photocopies were made. 

And btw didn't Atkins say she told a bunch of crazy stories around the jailhouse to keep the lesbians away? What's all this woman you are beautiful stuff? 

Why is the defense so concerned with police intercepts of Atkins' mail? 

First, the defense never offered was going to be: a frame up. Stealing letters is some evidence of that.

Second and more importantly, dumbass…I mean Shinn at least had some brain electrodes clicking and whispering to him, ‘There might be something wrong with stealing and photocopying inmate letters without reading them their Miranda rights.’ Of course, since Shinn is part of the Nightmare Team, he couldn’t remember the California inmate mail rules allowed it. But at least he went….”Huh…something is wrong here…I think.'

The Supreme Court invalidated those rules in 1974.

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If you have time, read a few minutes before and after the Owens testimony. Bananas. Ronald Hughes arrived a few minutes late to court and explained to a chastising Judge Older he possessed neither car nor home phone, his ride never showed, and xyz. 

"Just be happy I made it, your judgeness..."

Older glared down at Hughes. His chagrin is obvious. "We all have problems. I don't want to hear yours." 

Caught off-guard by Older's total lack of empathy, I laughed. Snorted more like. Don't you mess around with the old judge. He's hiding a six shooter under those robes. 

And is fair:

SUSAN’S LETTERS BARRED IN COURT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, 1970

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26 – Letters implicating a defendant in the Tate-LaBianca murder trial were barred from evidence today pending results of a defense appeal for a higher court ruling on admissibility.

The letters, written by “Manson family” member Susan Atkins, reportedly include passages which implicate her in the murders. They were scheduled to be read today as the trial entered its 20th week.

However, Miss Atkins’ attorney, Daye Shinn, objected that the letters should not be admitted into evidence, since his client was not advised that their contents could be used against her.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charles Older granted Shinn’s motion to take the matter to the district court of appeal, and granted a delay for that procedure.

Contents of the letters written by the 22-year-old defendant while she was in Sybil Brand Institute have been censored by Judge Older to omit any reference to other defendants.

One of the letters was received by a Long Beach resident, Janet Marie Owens, on Dec. 18, 1969, a week after Miss Atkins was indicted for the murder.

Deputies said that all “Manson family” mail was ordered photostated and turned over to Los Angeles police department investigators.

One of the investigators, Sgt. Manuel Gutierrez, said he had asked officials to photostat all “family” mail to assist him in further investigation of the case. He admitted that if incriminating evidence were found in the letters he would “definitely use it against them.”

Miss Atkins sat chatting with two other female defendants — Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten — and seemed little concerned that the letters were to be read to the jury. Meanwhile Charles Manson, the “family” leader, still clean shaven, sat listening intently and offered suggestions to the four-lawyer defense team.

By MARY NEISWENDER

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Here's the local gang back in 2013 discussing another letter Atkins wrote Fletcher that was for sale for ten thousand dollars a decade ago. I'll tell you everything Mark Ross told me for eight and the location of your favorite taco truck. 

Noticing Chris B in the 2013 comments, I contacted him and asked what he remembered. Chris said those statements were made by another Chris B and therefore he shall henceforth be known forevermore into perpetuity as Tall Chris B on account of his being six feet five inches tall. 

But then he remembered he'd indeed made those long ago comments, so I'm unsure if the Tall part remains added. Chris also linked me to a list he made of prosecution witnesses in a blog post everyone new to the cases should bookmark immediately. Taking that list back to the comments section of Austin Ann's 2013 post, it's clear some of the blog crew had the same idea. Max Frost asks Hendrickson to clear the air but does not receive an answer. 

Max is smart. Deb once told me Hendrickson had everyone sign a release and kept all of the releases. Which means this question is answerable. We also might die wondering. Hopefully, Owens is not in our final thoughts though. That'd be so odd. 

Do you ever attempt to arrange your happy memories for when your life flashes before your eyes during your last seconds, or are you hoping for the best? I think about it a lot. Please let me remember this day and not that one, O I beseech thee. 

If you stare at these two photos long enough, the bottom one turns into a sailboat.   

Same lady. 

Like the more famous Manson prosecution witness Linda Kasabian, Owens never straightened up. She was in prison on and off from 2000-2010, and then again from 2012-2014. Sixty-nine years old at her final sentencing, Owens lived the hard times for real. 

"You are of the highest quality and beauty since Manson," Atkins told Owens in a letter. Sadly, time smacks the pretty out of all of us. No one escapes. 

Some think Owens died in 2015. Others say she's in a place where she doesn't understand the words people say and her government benefits never touch her hands. I'd choose dying in 2015 if those were my options. But I know life doesn't work like that. 

Before I go, I have a quick question. Why do you think Hendrickson had Hurst tell the stories about the family's sexual kicks obtained from murder, Liz Taylor, and Tom Jones in his film? I understand Bugliosi wanted several witnesses to repeat the same things so his shady witnesses appeared less shady to the jury, but what did Hendrickson need in his moment? 

I'd get so much more out of Hurst looking straight into the camera and coming clean. "Sadie sent me a letter saying she did it and btw here's the letter, Greenwhite. It's yours because I love you." 

I'd believe her but also laugh. Everybody knows I'm forever down with Joan.  

This post was created with the help of Beckham, Bunt, Chris B, Deb, Doug, Dreath, and Montana. Many million thank you's to you all.  

June 29th in Manson History

Today is the twenty-ninth anniversary of Jay White's death. While I use gallows humor much of the time to deal with the awfulness I find in my research, moments like these remind me that none of this is a joke. If you're out there thinking you're at the end of your road because of how you feel inside, please ask for the help that is always available once you take the first step.  

Classy Broads and Typos - Prose and Cons Editor Frank Earl Andrews

What's up with these dudes and their creepy fingernails all the time omg barf. 

Say hello to Frank Earl Andrews, editor. FYI, a television twice that size costs about the same right now in the flyover states losers like me call home. Viva technology. 

Please excuse yet another trip into what you might consider ephemera this week. My interest in nature/nurture and the cultural reaction to the Manson Family only deepened after Mark Ross explained the true motive behind the August 1969 murders during long private conversations we had prior to his death. Mark made me promise to never reveal his secrets until after he was gone but I'm just not ready yet. Apologies.  

Instead, I'm inhabiting my safe space. And anyway like they always say, "I wonder how Zero is doing tonight?" And, "Ask Zero's mom what she thinks about Mark." 

Wake up, Claire...they're all dead. 

I sounded like Ethan Hunt there didn't I? Before we get going, let's note that I'm not sure if Andrews is deceased. He might be typing away right at this moment. I'd hate to put an untrue RIP upon anyone. You know I'm all about peace and love. 

Lately, we're working on an article about old people in prison and xyz. Wanting screen caps, I asked Deb if she had the book with the Krenwinkel poems and prose in it Chris B sent me excerpts from one weekend night back in the misty past. 

"Yes. Give me five minutes. I'll scan fifty-three pages for you." 

True story. You can also buy the physical copy of the paperback on Amazon for your collection if you desire. I will drop Krennie's submissions into another post if anyone is interested. My advice is to not read them all in one sitting. Or at all really. 

Katie Reeves was light years beyond Andrews though. Galaxies. 

Oof. 

I was seriously looking forward to what Andrews planned on rhyming with vendetta and dude just straight up left us all hanging. That's no bueno. Why isn't freedom free indeed. 

"Bada bing this next poem is titled Puppies Ain't in Pet Store Windows No More. I wrote it one day while sitting on the terlit."

Recently, Michael Channels and George Stimson mentioned a convict incarcerated with Charlie who was known colloquially as RD. The word vile was attached to RD's name. Channels added that everyone Manson knew in prison was vile. Channels went on to point out that in his opinion, almost everyone who attempted to befriend Charlie made their overtures with a business deal in mind. 

Preparing to discuss Krenwinkel's writing craft with you, I noticed Andrews was a former convict. After all of the RD talk last week, I wondered if a bit of digging would reveal a similar scenario. I found two newspaper articles that will deliver pure bliss with your morning coffee. 

Leslie understands everything about me too. 

Andrews was a lifelong criminal before becoming an editor. He shot a police officer four times while committing his crime in 1962. America was still America then. That stuff didn't happen.  

 Whatever. I think I'll become an archaeologist by saying I'm one. But maybe not. The sun is hard on me. 

They were like,  "Welllll we're not sure..." 

I'm no Andrews fan but the points make themselves. We're heading outside in the dark to kill slugs so I'll spare you my soapboxery this time around. Channels called that scene though. Nailed it, imo. 

I hope you turned yourself around, Frank. The sunny side of the street is so much easier to walk down. 

Gordon GW. Ohio.  

Mansonland - Part Three of a Michael Channels Series Was Posted This Morning

I like these videos. Are you watching?

Is Lynette Fromme an Anti-Heroine?

It's too hot outside this afternoon to work in my garden, and I gave my beloved Trek away on the promise of a new Trek. As a result, I'm inside reading and hanging out on Messenger. I found this awesome piece online about anti-heroines in literature and the question of whether Lynette Fromme fits that mold popped into my mind. 

I believe a revolutionary could make a case that Fromme is a real life anti-heroine. She pulled a pistol on the former center of the Michigan football team (Go Bucks!) who was employed at the time as the President of the United States. I know I brought this up before but I seriously wonder if Ford was scared for even five seconds. Men were tougher then. 

Boy, the way Glenn Miller played...

Anyway. Squeaky didn't kill anyone. And did her time. Is your hate for Lynette Fromme as strong as your hate for the killers, or do you see her in another light? 

The Florida Man Who Allows Bodies to Rot in Refrigerators Reappears - Manson Estate Hearings Update

Jay White's 1986 missed family court date in Ohio remains the linchpin in Jason Freeman's control over the Charles Manson estate. I'm holding out for a hero but things are not looking splendid for those in favor of keeping whatever Freeman has planned for his "grandfather's" memory from happening. 

Boutique pricing on bone chips sifted from his not grandfather's ashes perhaps. Maybe Freeman could run an endless fake ashes promotion like they do for Saturday night pancakes in Jersey roadside diners. The possibilities are seriously limitless if a dreamer dares to dream. 

Crispy bacon with my pancakes, please. 

Fact. Hillbilly ghouls are the worst kinda ghouls. Followed by writers. 

I'm not sure why I'm so obsessed with this Manson estate hearings sham. I think Channels' will is up next if you're also following along from home. Back when they showed trials, I was a huge Court TV fan. Ruben Garcia is my Ito now. I read everything he says slowly and twice. 

You gotta understand I'm no lawyer. Not even from Torrence. Lawyers answer my stupid questions though. Some even after my first email. I rail why why why can't the not guilty family of a guilty man lay their blood kin to rest without outside involvement? Isn't life hard enough? 

The responses always come back with laughing emojis and links to Smokey and the Bandit. "Because he's thirsty, dummy." 

Some nights when I attempt to listen to a sweet-voiced angel in my Airpods, an angry man rants about beating the crap out of this or that person in the Manson scene if they ever fought. Sadly, that guy and most every other guy in this health club ain't got a shot against Freeman. I've noticed bullies kinda circumvent all of that by acting nice around the people they know will whoop them. Maybe you've noticed too. 

The pill is bitter but Jason Freeman will kick your ass and there's no two possible endings to the confrontation. You're better off hopping on board if you ask me. And plus sometimes it's safer to call pretty girls fat instead, amirite?

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A small tidbit I thought I'd share from my recent creepy crawls. Maybe you know this already because you're the top insider of all insiders but here goes for the rest: Charlie was on ice for so long the coroner offered to cremate his decomposing body. Brunner and Roberts said go for it. Only Freeman refused. That's love right there. Send Netflix to his house. 

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Speaking of Netflix...you know about this, right? You can tell me your favorite EAP song in the comments if you like. Mine is probably I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, but I have a lot of favorite Elvis songs tbh. 

Since we're all so open and honest with one another here, I'll share that I helped a lanky, big bosomed gal make a baby in the hotel with the guitar-shaped pool across the street from Graceland. Our baby went on to become the first person to hot air balloon jump into the Badlands at night during an electrical storm, and also the second Irish-American champion of the World Bocce Ball League. True story. Gabbagool.

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Oh! I almost forgot. When I was messaging around about Freeman this past weekend, someone close to the action informed me an offer was made to Freeman via the lawyers (this was back when Freeman was claiming he wanted to spread Manson's ashes at sea) where Pooh Bear himself would rent a Cali boat ride so he and Freeman could dump Charlie over the side after saying their goodbyes. 

Freeman never responded. 

We're not like those animals, Judge Garcia. Look into your heart. 

GGW, O.H.I.O.

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One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.