The Beginnings of a Cult Leader: An Inside Look

Charles Manson, one of the most notorious criminals in American history, was born to a 16-year-old mother in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1934. His father, Colonel Walker Henderson Scott Sr., left when Manson’s mother, Kathleen, was pregnant, leading him to never meet his biological father. Kathleen later married William Eugene Manson, an alcoholic, and the two divorced after three years. In 1939, Kathleen was sentenced to prison for robbery, leaving young Charles to live with his aunt and uncle until she was paroled in 1942.

While living with his aunt and uncle, Charles caused trouble by lying, blaming others for his actions, and becoming the center of attention. At 13, he stole his uncle’s gun, hinting at his troubled behavior. He also had a disturbing encounter with his cousin Jo Ann, where he threatened her with a sickle. His time with his aunt and uncle was troublesome, with Charles yearning to be with his mother, Kathleen, who he visited at the West Virginia state prison while she served her sentence.

Charles displayed violent and manipulative tendencies from an early age, recruiting classmates to commit acts of violence on his behalf. He also showed a passion for music and played the piano at a young age. Despite his musical talents, Manson’s criminal behavior continued, leading his mother to send him to Gibault School for Boys in Terre Haute, Indiana. Life at the school was fraught with abuse from priests and bullying from other boys, leading Manson to run away multiple times.

As a teenager, Manson was sent to Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska, after a string of robberies. There, he and a fellow student committed armed robberies before Manson ventured into a life of crime under the tutelage of Nielson’s uncle. By the time he was caught and sent to reform school in Plainsfield, Indiana, Manson had already committed numerous robberies and seemed destined for a serious life of crime. His teenage years were marked by a pattern of committing crimes, being caught, and serving time in prison.

In the 1960s, Manson orchestrated the brutal murders of actress Sharon Tate and her friends, solidifying his place as one of the most infamous criminals in American history. Despite never physically committing the murders himself, Manson was charged with first-degree murder and received a life sentence, spending the rest of his days behind bars until his death at the age of 84. His troubled upbringing and early life of crime laid the foundation for the violent and manipulative cult leader he would become, leaving a legacy of fear and disturbance in his wake.