Charles Manson, the mastermind who engineered some of the most notorious murders of the 60’s, including that of famous actress Sharon Tate, died on November 19, 2017 while serving his life sentence in California State Prison.
After his death, a woman who claims to be the criminal’s lover, has finally revealed the shocking inside story of America’s most notorious killer and cult leader in her memoire Member of the Family.
Who was Charles Manson?
In the late 1960’s, Charles Manson rose as the leader of a dangerous cult and the mastermind behind a string of infamous murders in Hollywood which eventually put him on the list of the most famous criminals of the 20th century.
Standing over just five feet tall, Charles Manson was simply an average-looking petty criminal that no one could have ever guessed would turn into a mass murderer. In 1971, Manson was eventually caught and imprisoned for life for his heinous crimes.
The Crimes of Manson Family Cult
The Manson Family cult spearheaded by Charles Manson consisted of 100 young followers who were influenced by the ideology of their leader and followed an unconventional lifestyle of drug use. Once Charles Manson was released from prison for petty crimes, the cult moved to a deserted ranch in San Francisco where they plotted a string of murders in Hollywood that left 35 people dead.
Charles Manson while in prison
Manson wanted revenge from the entertainment industry that had once rejected him therefore he used his most obedient disciples to orchestrate the crimes and ordered them to kill everyone. Manson was never personally involved in any of the killings.
Dianne Lake Tells Charles’ Story
Manson died on November 19, 2017 after losing a long battle with cancer and one of the youngest members of the Manson cult, Dianne Lake, has spoken up about America’s most notorious criminal in her book Member of the Family where she recalled a number of memories from her old days including the first time she met Charles Manson and how she eventually fell in love with him.
It has been 47 years since the famous killings in Los Angeles that shook the entire nation, and Lake has finally broken her silence on her relationship with Manson. In an interview with PEOPLE regarding the release of her new book, Lake described Manson as an extremely intelligent and observant young man who had the talent of understanding and fulfilling others’ desires.
Falling In Love With a Mass Murderer
At the age of 14, Lake was already living on her own, free from parents’ supervision. It was then when she first met Charles at a party in California and became intimately involved with him. Lake was desperately in need of affection, and not having a family of her own, she turned to Charles with the hope of finding love. Manson picked up on the young teenager’s weakness and pulled her under his spell. Lake eventually joined the cult and became the youngest member of the ‘Manson Family’.
Lake admitted that she was loyal to Manson for two years up until he went on a killing spree, ending the lives of seven innocent people in two days. A year later Manson and Lake, who then was 17 years old, met again, this time in court where she testified against the cult leader and his loyal following. She no longer felt anything towards the man she had once loved.
Dianne Lake, Nov. 2017
Making Peace with the Past
Dianne Lake eventually left behind her troubled past and moved on with her life. She was able to earn a master’s degree from college and found love again in the form of her husband with whom she has three children. She said: “It’s taken me this long really to get to the point where I can admit or have been able to realize that I really was a victim. I feel very unburdened and I feel untethered from the shame of being associated with this person who has become the icon of evil.”
