Is Charles Manson still alive? Netflix's 'Conversations with a Killer' recounts notorious killer's crimes
Netflix's 'Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes' has renewed interest in the notorious serial killer. The documentary delves into previously unheard audio tapes of the serial killer and members of the Manson family to uncover the real intention behind the mayhem that was caused back in 1969. The official description of the three-part docuseries reads, “An unfiltered look into the psyche of infamous serial killer Charles Manson unfolds through contemporary interviews and exclusive audio recordings." Through interviews and recordings, the audience gets a closer look into Manson's personality and life.
Since the documentary released, viewers have been wondering about Charles Manson's whereabouts. After four decades behind bars, the serial killer breathed his last in 2017 at the age of 83. He died of natural causes at a hospital in Kern County, as per a statement by the California Department of Corrections. Manson garnered worldwide attention after he was apprehended for his part in the killing of nine people in California, which included Sharon Tate, Abigail Folger, Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, Supermarket executive Leno LaBianca, and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. Manson was not present at the scene of any of the killings, but reportedly directed a group of his followers to commit the heinous crimes. He was sentenced to death by a court in 1971.
During the judicial proceedings, the prosecutors claimed that Manson committed these killings to facilitate a race war. They believed he hoped Black Americans would be considered perpetrators of these killings, resulting in heightened racial tensions. Prosecutors submitted evidence of his vision, a theory later called 'Helter Skelter,' after the Beatles song. According to them, the serial killer believed the conflict would take over America, after which he would emerge as a leader of a new social order. These killings were an attempt on his part to realize this vision. Joe Berlinger, who is in the director's chair for the documentary, rejects this assertion.
The tapes in the documentary reveal that the murders took place due to a bad drug deal by Bobby Beausoleil. Bobby participated in the documentary and recounted that Manson brought a biker gang, the 'Straight Satans,' to his ranch. He quickly struck a friendship with them, going as far as to bring them drugs from Gary Hinman. The biker gang was reportedly not satisfied with the drugs, which led to a fight between Bobby and Gary. Ultimately, Manson sliced the drug dealer's face, and Bobby stabbed him to death. Bobby left a 'Black Panther' paw print on the walls of the murder site alongside the words 'Political Piggy.' Bobby was arrested and became a liability for Manson.
Bobby being in prison was a concern for Manson, as he could expose the cult leader's part in the murder. Hence, he went ahead and ordered the murders at Sharon Tate's house, where his followers left the 'Paw Print ' and 'Political Piggy' message. The next day, as the newspapers did not pick up on the detail, his group went ahead and murdered two other people in the same way.
"We're not the first ones, but I think this is going to be the high-profile version of the story in which we poke holes in the Helter Skelter idea. A lot of our unreleased tapes demonstrate that that was not the case," Berlinger explained in an interview with USA Today. "The motives were much more banal. It was a series of blunders by a guy who was hustling other people. A drug deal gone bad gets Bobby Beausoleil in prison." This revelation, and more about Manson's life, the murders, and the cult, are highlighted in 'Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes.' All three episodes are currently streaming on Netflix.
