Charles Manson

Charles Manson required his followers to give up their belongings—and their names—as part of his continued manipulation, according to one expert.

Just hours before their death, Manson Family victims Leno and Rosemary LaBianca had been talking about the Sharon Tate murders that happened the night before.  

From alternate theories about Charles Manson's motives to Family members' stories in their own words, these 10 books will keep you up at night.

Charles Manson has gone down in the books as one of the most evil men in U.S. history, but the infamous cult leader never actually murdered anyone: Instead, he influenced members of his cult, dubbed "The Manson Family," to carry out the 1969 killings for him. Nine people ended up dying at the hands of the Manson Family, and many other crimes were committed in their name. What followed the murders was an utterly bizarre trial that captured the nation's attention, filled with Manson girls carving X's into their heads to show support for their leader, people attempting to murder and frame other Family members who were working with the prosecution, and Manson's own chaotic outbursts. Here are all the key Manson Family players.

When someone says "Charles Manson," you probably picture him as a wild-eyed, bearded man — hair long, "X" carved into his forehead. You probably envision him in his prison garb and handcuffs. But Manson, perhaps the most infamous cult leader in American history, didn't always look that way. Below, photos of Manson in his crime-ridden youth to his trial to his time spent aging in prison.

Charles Manson spent more than half his life behind bars by the age of 32 — using prison as a training ground to learn from seasoned criminals before embarking on his own reign of terror. 

George Spahn agreed to give Charles Manson and his followers a place to stay for free—but according to one Manson follower there was nothing “lecherous” about the relationship between Spahn and the women.

After Charles Manson encouraged violence, follower Bobby Beausoleil felt he had "no way out" during an altercation that led to Gary Hinman's death.

Charlie Manson seduced many of his female followers by targeting those who were “hungry for a connection” and becoming exactly what each woman had been looking for.  

Charles Manson probably would not have seemed like an intimidating man at first glance.