Vanessa Richardson

Within a year of getting to L.A., the family had grown to about three dozen people. To keep the group together, Charles moved them to an old Western movie set outside the city called Spahn Ranch in the fall of 1968. The days were filled with ranch working in the morning, LSD trips in the afternoon, and group sex at night. But it wasn't all fun and games.

Within a year of getting to L.A., the family had grown to about three dozen people. To keep the group together, Charles moved them to an old Western movie set outside the city called Spahn Ranch in the fall of 1968. The days were filled with ranch working in the morning, LSD trips in the afternoon, and group sex at night. But it wasn't all fun and games.

Within a year of getting to L.A., the family had grown to about three dozen people. To keep the group together, Charles moved them to an old Western movie set outside the city called Spahn Ranch in the fall of 1968. The days were filled with ranch working in the morning, LSD trips in the afternoon, and group sex at night. But it wasn't all fun and games.

Charles used these activities to remind everyone that he was their undisputed leader, selecting work assignments, overseeing the drug trips, and choosing who slept with who. But throughout it all, he continued to preach the same New Age philosophy that he'd developed in San Francisco. And as winter approached, Charles added something new into the mix.

Charles used these activities to remind everyone that he was their undisputed leader, selecting work assignments, overseeing the drug trips, and choosing who slept with who. But throughout it all, he continued to preach the same New Age philosophy that he'd developed in San Francisco. And as winter approached, Charles added something new into the mix.

Charles used these activities to remind everyone that he was their undisputed leader, selecting work assignments, overseeing the drug trips, and choosing who slept with who. But throughout it all, he continued to preach the same New Age philosophy that he'd developed in San Francisco. And as winter approached, Charles added something new into the mix.

He'd recently become obsessed with The Beatles' latest record, known as The White Album. He was fixated on one track in particular, Helter Skelter. Charles was convinced the song foretold an apocalyptic revolution triggered by a massive race war. Of course, he had a plan to keep his family safe from the violence.

He'd recently become obsessed with The Beatles' latest record, known as The White Album. He was fixated on one track in particular, Helter Skelter. Charles was convinced the song foretold an apocalyptic revolution triggered by a massive race war. Of course, he had a plan to keep his family safe from the violence.

He'd recently become obsessed with The Beatles' latest record, known as The White Album. He was fixated on one track in particular, Helter Skelter. Charles was convinced the song foretold an apocalyptic revolution triggered by a massive race war. Of course, he had a plan to keep his family safe from the violence.

They would move to Death Valley, a stretch of unforgiving terrain in California's Mojave Desert. There, he believed they'd find shelter in an underground city of gold, outside of time and space. And by early 1969, there were signs that his prophecy would actually come true. Violent protests erupted in LA and all around the country, fueled by racial tensions and the Vietnam War.

They would move to Death Valley, a stretch of unforgiving terrain in California's Mojave Desert. There, he believed they'd find shelter in an underground city of gold, outside of time and space. And by early 1969, there were signs that his prophecy would actually come true. Violent protests erupted in LA and all around the country, fueled by racial tensions and the Vietnam War.

They would move to Death Valley, a stretch of unforgiving terrain in California's Mojave Desert. There, he believed they'd find shelter in an underground city of gold, outside of time and space. And by early 1969, there were signs that his prophecy would actually come true. Violent protests erupted in LA and all around the country, fueled by racial tensions and the Vietnam War.

Charles told the family that the apocalypse would be upon them by the summer.

Charles told the family that the apocalypse would be upon them by the summer.

Charles told the family that the apocalypse would be upon them by the summer.

Dr. Engels, how much of this can be chalked up to the massive amounts of drugs they were taking? Can LSD affect our psychology so much that it leaves us susceptible to delusions like this?

Dr. Engels, how much of this can be chalked up to the massive amounts of drugs they were taking? Can LSD affect our psychology so much that it leaves us susceptible to delusions like this?

Dr. Engels, how much of this can be chalked up to the massive amounts of drugs they were taking? Can LSD affect our psychology so much that it leaves us susceptible to delusions like this?

Whether or not Charles actually believed any of this, he was certainly acting like it. To prepare for Helter Skelter, he taught the family how to fight with knives. He also took them out on what he called creepy crawling expeditions, where they practiced breaking into people's homes without getting caught. He even found a place for them to stay in Death Valley for when the apocalypse started.

Whether or not Charles actually believed any of this, he was certainly acting like it. To prepare for Helter Skelter, he taught the family how to fight with knives. He also took them out on what he called creepy crawling expeditions, where they practiced breaking into people's homes without getting caught. He even found a place for them to stay in Death Valley for when the apocalypse started.