Vanessa Richardson

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.

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.

It was an isolated property in the middle of the Mojave Desert known as Barker Ranch. The place was completely off the grid. Charles sold it to his followers as the ultimate spot to ride out the apocalypse while they found the fabled underground city.

It was an isolated property in the middle of the Mojave Desert known as Barker Ranch. The place was completely off the grid. Charles sold it to his followers as the ultimate spot to ride out the apocalypse while they found the fabled underground city.

It was an isolated property in the middle of the Mojave Desert known as Barker Ranch. The place was completely off the grid. Charles sold it to his followers as the ultimate spot to ride out the apocalypse while they found the fabled underground city.

Conveniently, it would also make them completely reliant on him with nowhere else to go, especially if they started to have second thoughts about their plan. Or maybe it's not so convenient. But Charles seemed to be all in. Down in LA, he got a cheap dune buggy and told his followers to get it ready for more rugged terrain.

Conveniently, it would also make them completely reliant on him with nowhere else to go, especially if they started to have second thoughts about their plan. Or maybe it's not so convenient. But Charles seemed to be all in. Down in LA, he got a cheap dune buggy and told his followers to get it ready for more rugged terrain.

Conveniently, it would also make them completely reliant on him with nowhere else to go, especially if they started to have second thoughts about their plan. Or maybe it's not so convenient. But Charles seemed to be all in. Down in LA, he got a cheap dune buggy and told his followers to get it ready for more rugged terrain.

He made them gather extra supplies and even taught them desert survival techniques. However, all of this cost money. Money Charles and the Manson family didn't have. Most of the time, they got by with panhandling around L.A. and scavenging around grocery stores. But if Charles' plan was going to work, they needed a lot more. So he turned to a more reliable income stream. Drug dealing.

He made them gather extra supplies and even taught them desert survival techniques. However, all of this cost money. Money Charles and the Manson family didn't have. Most of the time, they got by with panhandling around L.A. and scavenging around grocery stores. But if Charles' plan was going to work, they needed a lot more. So he turned to a more reliable income stream. Drug dealing.