Vanessa Richardson

The true apocalypse might not happen immediately, but the process had begun. That meant it was time to get out of town. The family packed their things, and in early September, he and over two dozen followers drove north to Barker Ranch out in Death Valley. To keep the Helter Skelter story alive, Charles sent his followers out into the desert.

The true apocalypse might not happen immediately, but the process had begun. That meant it was time to get out of town. The family packed their things, and in early September, he and over two dozen followers drove north to Barker Ranch out in Death Valley. To keep the Helter Skelter story alive, Charles sent his followers out into the desert.

The true apocalypse might not happen immediately, but the process had begun. That meant it was time to get out of town. The family packed their things, and in early September, he and over two dozen followers drove north to Barker Ranch out in Death Valley. To keep the Helter Skelter story alive, Charles sent his followers out into the desert.

Their job was to go on foot to look for the entrance to the underground city of gold. For the time being, the family was still devoted to Charles, though it was split between true believers and those who were just too tired from searching the desert to question him.

Their job was to go on foot to look for the entrance to the underground city of gold. For the time being, the family was still devoted to Charles, though it was split between true believers and those who were just too tired from searching the desert to question him.

Their job was to go on foot to look for the entrance to the underground city of gold. For the time being, the family was still devoted to Charles, though it was split between true believers and those who were just too tired from searching the desert to question him.

Does it seem like Charles' followers felt like they had no other choice? Or was there some glimmer of hope that his prophecy could still be true?

Does it seem like Charles' followers felt like they had no other choice? Or was there some glimmer of hope that his prophecy could still be true?

Does it seem like Charles' followers felt like they had no other choice? Or was there some glimmer of hope that his prophecy could still be true?

Well, naturally, the City of Gold was nowhere to be found. And surviving in the middle of the desert was a lot harder than scrounging for food around the city. Many of his followers remained fiercely loyal, but Charles finally started to lose his grip on some of them. People started slipping away in the middle of the night, risking the difficult walk into the nearest town in order to escape.

Well, naturally, the City of Gold was nowhere to be found. And surviving in the middle of the desert was a lot harder than scrounging for food around the city. Many of his followers remained fiercely loyal, but Charles finally started to lose his grip on some of them. People started slipping away in the middle of the night, risking the difficult walk into the nearest town in order to escape.

Well, naturally, the City of Gold was nowhere to be found. And surviving in the middle of the desert was a lot harder than scrounging for food around the city. Many of his followers remained fiercely loyal, but Charles finally started to lose his grip on some of them. People started slipping away in the middle of the night, risking the difficult walk into the nearest town in order to escape.

And even though the desert was isolated, it wasn't empty. Locals took notice of the strange things going on at the family's new ranch. Eventually, the police started poking around and realized that Charles and his followers were driving stolen cars. On October 10th, 1969, the authorities raided the Manson family's ranch and took most of them into custody. Charles wasn't home at the time.

And even though the desert was isolated, it wasn't empty. Locals took notice of the strange things going on at the family's new ranch. Eventually, the police started poking around and realized that Charles and his followers were driving stolen cars. On October 10th, 1969, the authorities raided the Manson family's ranch and took most of them into custody. Charles wasn't home at the time.

And even though the desert was isolated, it wasn't empty. Locals took notice of the strange things going on at the family's new ranch. Eventually, the police started poking around and realized that Charles and his followers were driving stolen cars. On October 10th, 1969, the authorities raided the Manson family's ranch and took most of them into custody. Charles wasn't home at the time.

He was down in LA trying to round up some food. But when he came back to Death Valley a couple days later, he was arrested too. Charles had gotten out of scrapes with the law before, but there was no talking his way out of this one. Some of the defectors were eager to tell the police about the murders, and that Charles had ordered them to do it.

He was down in LA trying to round up some food. But when he came back to Death Valley a couple days later, he was arrested too. Charles had gotten out of scrapes with the law before, but there was no talking his way out of this one. Some of the defectors were eager to tell the police about the murders, and that Charles had ordered them to do it.

He was down in LA trying to round up some food. But when he came back to Death Valley a couple days later, he was arrested too. Charles had gotten out of scrapes with the law before, but there was no talking his way out of this one. Some of the defectors were eager to tell the police about the murders, and that Charles had ordered them to do it.

After some questioning, the police realized the leather cord Charles used as a belt had belonged to Lino LaBianca. The pieces fell into place from there. On December 9th, 1969, he was charged with murder in what was being referred to as the Tate and LaBianca killings. All four of the family members involved in the crimes were charged as well. Charles finally had what he'd always wanted. Fame.

After some questioning, the police realized the leather cord Charles used as a belt had belonged to Lino LaBianca. The pieces fell into place from there. On December 9th, 1969, he was charged with murder in what was being referred to as the Tate and LaBianca killings. All four of the family members involved in the crimes were charged as well. Charles finally had what he'd always wanted. Fame.