Vanessa Richardson

As the summer of 1969 began, 34-year-old Charles Manson decided he wanted to kickstart the helter-skelter apocalypse himself. Inspired by a track from the Beatles' White Album, he was certain that an impending race war would drive the world into chaos. But so far, it had failed to materialize, and Charles was going to do something about it.

As the summer of 1969 began, 34-year-old Charles Manson decided he wanted to kickstart the helter-skelter apocalypse himself. Inspired by a track from the Beatles' White Album, he was certain that an impending race war would drive the world into chaos. But so far, it had failed to materialize, and Charles was going to do something about it.

As the summer of 1969 began, 34-year-old Charles Manson decided he wanted to kickstart the helter-skelter apocalypse himself. Inspired by a track from the Beatles' White Album, he was certain that an impending race war would drive the world into chaos. But so far, it had failed to materialize, and Charles was going to do something about it.

Could this desire of his to fulfill a prophecy like that himself be an indication that he never really believed in it in the first place?

Could this desire of his to fulfill a prophecy like that himself be an indication that he never really believed in it in the first place?

Could this desire of his to fulfill a prophecy like that himself be an indication that he never really believed in it in the first place?

He'd promised his followers that they'd escape to an underground city of gold in the middle of Death Valley. But if they were going to survive in the desert long enough to find the city, they needed money, and their drug-dealing operation wasn't cutting it. To get the funds they needed, they'd have to steal it.

He'd promised his followers that they'd escape to an underground city of gold in the middle of Death Valley. But if they were going to survive in the desert long enough to find the city, they needed money, and their drug-dealing operation wasn't cutting it. To get the funds they needed, they'd have to steal it.

He'd promised his followers that they'd escape to an underground city of gold in the middle of Death Valley. But if they were going to survive in the desert long enough to find the city, they needed money, and their drug-dealing operation wasn't cutting it. To get the funds they needed, they'd have to steal it.

After cycling through a few options, Charles landed on Gary Hinman, a music teacher and drug dealer he'd met when the family first moved to LA. Charles believed Gary was flush with cash. He had a couple of cars, and Charles knew he had a big vacation to Japan coming up. Plus, one of Charles' best friends, a guy named Bobby Beausoleil, had it out for Gary.

After cycling through a few options, Charles landed on Gary Hinman, a music teacher and drug dealer he'd met when the family first moved to LA. Charles believed Gary was flush with cash. He had a couple of cars, and Charles knew he had a big vacation to Japan coming up. Plus, one of Charles' best friends, a guy named Bobby Beausoleil, had it out for Gary.

After cycling through a few options, Charles landed on Gary Hinman, a music teacher and drug dealer he'd met when the family first moved to LA. Charles believed Gary was flush with cash. He had a couple of cars, and Charles knew he had a big vacation to Japan coming up. Plus, one of Charles' best friends, a guy named Bobby Beausoleil, had it out for Gary.

He apparently sold Bobby a bad batch of a hallucinogen called mescaline, and Bobby was happy to help Charles shake Gary down. On the night of July 25th, 1969, Bobby and three of Charles' most loyal followers went over to Gary's house.

He apparently sold Bobby a bad batch of a hallucinogen called mescaline, and Bobby was happy to help Charles shake Gary down. On the night of July 25th, 1969, Bobby and three of Charles' most loyal followers went over to Gary's house.

He apparently sold Bobby a bad batch of a hallucinogen called mescaline, and Bobby was happy to help Charles shake Gary down. On the night of July 25th, 1969, Bobby and three of Charles' most loyal followers went over to Gary's house.

The group included Charles' first recruit, Mary Brunner, the first male family member, Bruce Davis, and Susan Atkins, who joined the family in that first summer in the Bay Area. When they showed up at Gary's door, he didn't suspect a thing. He invited them right in. But Bobby didn't waste any time. He demanded Gary pay him back for the bad drugs.

The group included Charles' first recruit, Mary Brunner, the first male family member, Bruce Davis, and Susan Atkins, who joined the family in that first summer in the Bay Area. When they showed up at Gary's door, he didn't suspect a thing. He invited them right in. But Bobby didn't waste any time. He demanded Gary pay him back for the bad drugs.

The group included Charles' first recruit, Mary Brunner, the first male family member, Bruce Davis, and Susan Atkins, who joined the family in that first summer in the Bay Area. When they showed up at Gary's door, he didn't suspect a thing. He invited them right in. But Bobby didn't waste any time. He demanded Gary pay him back for the bad drugs.

Gary swore he didn't have any money to give them, and that made Bobby angry. But even after he beat Gary to a pulp, he swore he didn't have the kind of money they were after. When Charles found out, he told the group to keep working on Gary until he gave everything up. For almost three days, Bobby Beausoleil beat Gary within an inch of his life. Eventually, Charles told Bobby to kill him.

Gary swore he didn't have any money to give them, and that made Bobby angry. But even after he beat Gary to a pulp, he swore he didn't have the kind of money they were after. When Charles found out, he told the group to keep working on Gary until he gave everything up. For almost three days, Bobby Beausoleil beat Gary within an inch of his life. Eventually, Charles told Bobby to kill him.