Vanessa Richardson

The police searched it and found a bloody knife in the wheel well. And Bobby matched a fingerprint they'd pulled from the crime scene. He tried to make some excuses, but the cops weren't buying it. Bobby was arrested and charged with murder. When Charles found out, he knew time was of the essence.

Bobby wasn't a patient guy, and if Charles couldn't get him out of trouble, there was a good chance he would talk. To get the heat off of Bobby, Charles decided they would do some copycat killings to make it seem like the real killer was still out there. And Charles had the perfect target in mind. Terry Melcher's old house on Cielo Drive.

Bobby wasn't a patient guy, and if Charles couldn't get him out of trouble, there was a good chance he would talk. To get the heat off of Bobby, Charles decided they would do some copycat killings to make it seem like the real killer was still out there. And Charles had the perfect target in mind. Terry Melcher's old house on Cielo Drive.

Bobby wasn't a patient guy, and if Charles couldn't get him out of trouble, there was a good chance he would talk. To get the heat off of Bobby, Charles decided they would do some copycat killings to make it seem like the real killer was still out there. And Charles had the perfect target in mind. Terry Melcher's old house on Cielo Drive.

Now, there's some disagreement over why Charles chose Cielo Drive as the target. Some people think it was a way to get back at Terry Melcher for refusing to give him a record deal. But others have pointed out that Charles likely knew Terry wasn't living there by that point. So maybe he chose it just because it was a house he knew.

Now, there's some disagreement over why Charles chose Cielo Drive as the target. Some people think it was a way to get back at Terry Melcher for refusing to give him a record deal. But others have pointed out that Charles likely knew Terry wasn't living there by that point. So maybe he chose it just because it was a house he knew.

Now, there's some disagreement over why Charles chose Cielo Drive as the target. Some people think it was a way to get back at Terry Melcher for refusing to give him a record deal. But others have pointed out that Charles likely knew Terry wasn't living there by that point. So maybe he chose it just because it was a house he knew.

It was secure, hidden behind a gate, so there was little chance of getting caught in the act or anyone escaping. Either way, whoever was in that house would have a lot of money for them to take to Death Valley. For Charles, that was as good of a reason as any. On August 9, 1969, Charles put a follower named Tex Watson in charge of the operation.

It was secure, hidden behind a gate, so there was little chance of getting caught in the act or anyone escaping. Either way, whoever was in that house would have a lot of money for them to take to Death Valley. For Charles, that was as good of a reason as any. On August 9, 1969, Charles put a follower named Tex Watson in charge of the operation.

It was secure, hidden behind a gate, so there was little chance of getting caught in the act or anyone escaping. Either way, whoever was in that house would have a lot of money for them to take to Death Valley. For Charles, that was as good of a reason as any. On August 9, 1969, Charles put a follower named Tex Watson in charge of the operation.

He was joined by Susan Atkins, who'd been a part of the Gary Hinman murder, along with Patricia Krenwinkel and Linda Kasabian. All were fiercely loyal to Charles, and willing to kill in his name.

He was joined by Susan Atkins, who'd been a part of the Gary Hinman murder, along with Patricia Krenwinkel and Linda Kasabian. All were fiercely loyal to Charles, and willing to kill in his name.

He was joined by Susan Atkins, who'd been a part of the Gary Hinman murder, along with Patricia Krenwinkel and Linda Kasabian. All were fiercely loyal to Charles, and willing to kill in his name.

The details from the murders at Cielo Drive are well-documented, so there's no need to go over all the grisly details here. For those who are interested in more specifics, check out The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Gwynn. But just like the Gary Hinman murder, the crimes at Cielo Drive were violent and bloody, and by the end of it, five innocent people were dead.

The details from the murders at Cielo Drive are well-documented, so there's no need to go over all the grisly details here. For those who are interested in more specifics, check out The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Gwynn. But just like the Gary Hinman murder, the crimes at Cielo Drive were violent and bloody, and by the end of it, five innocent people were dead.

The details from the murders at Cielo Drive are well-documented, so there's no need to go over all the grisly details here. For those who are interested in more specifics, check out The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Gwynn. But just like the Gary Hinman murder, the crimes at Cielo Drive were violent and bloody, and by the end of it, five innocent people were dead.

Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, Abigail Folger, Stephen Parent, and most famously, the house's current resident, actress Sharon Tate, who was pregnant. Even though Charles didn't get any money out of it, he did get something else he wanted. Publicity. After the bodies were discovered the next morning, it was all over the news. The sheer violence of it was staggering.

Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, Abigail Folger, Stephen Parent, and most famously, the house's current resident, actress Sharon Tate, who was pregnant. Even though Charles didn't get any money out of it, he did get something else he wanted. Publicity. After the bodies were discovered the next morning, it was all over the news. The sheer violence of it was staggering.

Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, Abigail Folger, Stephen Parent, and most famously, the house's current resident, actress Sharon Tate, who was pregnant. Even though Charles didn't get any money out of it, he did get something else he wanted. Publicity. After the bodies were discovered the next morning, it was all over the news. The sheer violence of it was staggering.

And there was the celebrity aspect. Along with being a famous actress, Sharon Tate was married to the director, Roman Polanski. But there was one thing missing. Even though they left the Black Panther symbol, nobody picked up on the attempt to link the murders to the Black Panthers, which meant Bobby Beausoleil would stay in jail and the race war wouldn't start.