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For more up-to-date information on Charles Manson and other Family members: read: Your Guide To The Manson Family Members — And Where They Are Now
A friend of mine stopped at a convenience store while driving across the California desert in the late '80s. As he turned the aisle, he almost had a heart attack. He was staring right into the face of Charlie Manson! He quickly realized this short teenager was too young, and of course Manson was locked up. Still, the resemblance was uncanny. The teen's mother protectively came over and gave my friend a dirty look. He thought he saw a scar on her forehead, but he couldn't be sure as she quickly ushered the boy away. As he drove out of the parking lot, he noticed a "Charlie Lives" bumper sticker on the car. Was it a random fan, a follower, or could that have been one of Manson's children?
There was a guy hanging out in the desert in the 90s who claimed to be Zezozose Zadfrack Glutz, a girl named Kimberley Davis who claims Manson's name is on her birth certificate, and now there is a rock musician in L.A. with a band called New Rising Son making claims.
It got me wondering — where are Manson's children today?
In January 1955, Manson married Rosalie Jean Willis. In 1956 (Most likely April, if my calculations are correct) Rosalie gave birth to his son, Charles Manson Jr., who died by suicide in 1993.
According to court records, Manson married Leona Rae "Candy" Stevens in California in 1959 (During a short break from prison). In April 1963, Leona was granted a divorce; she and Manson allegedly had a son, Charles Luther Manson, (Bugliosi, Internet Accuracy Project, Wikipedia) possibly born April 10, 1963. (Charliemanson.com). After the marriage, he was back in prison in 1960, so the dates are somewhat dubious. Or he got out for awhile again.
Manson was in and out of prison for much of his life. In an interview with Brian King, later used in the film Charles Manson Superstar, Manson says, "Every time I get out, I get a woman and a kid, and then she runs off...then the kid shows up 20, 30 years later, fat and acting like his mother..." He gets so detailed and resentful here that I get the impression he is speaking only of Charlie M. Manson Jr.
I have watched a number of similar interviews with Manson, and whenever the question comes up, he likes to say, "They are all my children." He doesn't mean all of the children from the Family are his children. He means everybody in the world. In a 1981 interview, Tom Snyder quizzed Manson on the subject and got the usual Mansonese.Tom: And besides the son from your marriage, you've got, what, four other children somewhere? Manson: Oh, I don't uh, uh, think I'm responsible for as many as you people want to lay on me.
Tom: Well, how many children do you have, Charles?
Manson: How many children do I have? Uh, I don't know. I've got lots of children, man. Uh, in fact, sometimes I think even you're a child.
Tom: But you just said you don't have any children, you don't have any family in context of the Ranch. I'm talking about children that (sighs) are your, uh, natural children.
Manson: How many are my natural ego?
Tom: No, children.
Manson: Oh, children? I would divide one child from the other?
Transcription from www.charliemanson.com
Keep in mind this was written in 2007.
When Manson had his "Devils Witches" in Death Valley, two pregnant women ran away and were found hitch-hiking (Bugliosi). Children's Services picked up 10 children in the subsequent desert raid. Not counting people who may have left the Family beforehand, that is 12 children. With the free love and various bikers running around, it's difficult to say how many of those children could be Charles Manson's biological offspring. Plus, from early videos it is clear by their ages some of the children were born before the formation of the Family.
Obviously, I am not the first one to ask this question. Here is an in-depth investigation, featuring Mary Brunner's baby, who was born April 15, 1968.
Valentine Michael, nicknamed "Sunstone Hawk" and "Pooh Bear" has dropped out of sight since this video was filmed around 1993.
Public Contenders:
Matthew Robert: I would need an exact date of birth. His claims are based on a one-night-stand his mother had with Manson and another biker which is difficult to substantiate. It seems like the real Manson kids try to hide and avoid publicity. The louder someone makes the claim, the more it makes me doubt them.
kimberley davis (manson)
Date: 29 Sep 2004
charles manson is my biological father. he may be in the eyes of the public a horrable person but to me he is my daddy. i am 35 years old and he never even had the chance to meet me. his name is on my birth certificate as being my father. i was born november 22nd 1969 in alexandria louisiana. i love charles so much that it breaks my heart to read all the negative things that people write about my father. if anyone wants to comment about this post then please write all you want. Kimberly... (sic) This one is a dead-end. (From the website websleuths.com: http://users.adelphia.net/~mansonmurders/disc2_frm.htm)
On the website from cielodrive.com and themansonfamilytoday.com, they mention several ex-family members with children:
Coincidentally, David E. Smith, M.D**. and Alan J. Rose*** conducted "A Case Study of the Charles Manson Group Marriage Commune" 15 months prior to the murders. here are some relevant excerpts:
Attitudes Toward the Children
One of the most significant characteristics of the communes in general is the return to natural, almost primitive techniques of childbirth and child rearing. This commune was no different. Of the 14 females in the "immediate family," two were pregnant at the time of our observation. Both said that Manson was the father, although there was no way to verify the claim, as the sexual relations in the group were polygamous. It should be noted that Manson was held in such high regard by the girls that all of them wanted to carry his child.
In general, commune dwellers reject the concept of both pre-natal care and well-baby care, as well as birth certificates and immunizations. (editor's note:one more problem hindering my research). The mother [of one child] and the group were against circumcision, but later forced by county health officials to have the operation performed. This occurred after the child was given to foster parents while the mother was being tried for a drug violation (possession of marijuana). It was at this time, also, that the child was given a birth certificate. This latter "injustice" was viewed by the group as the most harmful, as it was felt that this was an example of certification and harassment by society. To have the child numbered and registered with the state by means of a birth certificate is a practice that most commune dwellers reject.
Since the group had extremely permissive sexual attitudes, the members felt no need for conventional marriage relationships which they considered psychologically destructive. The large number of divorces in the larger society and in their own family backgrounds helped them to rationalize or reinforce this attitude.
The group functioned as "one husband and wife." They took communal responsibility for the children, although the mother cared for the infant during the early natal period with breast feeding. The entire group believed that they gave the child more attention and affection than did most families. The child was always the center of attraction and went everywhere with the group. The child was viewed as the one member of the group to most closely emulate and followe, as he alone was "untainted" by society. Charlie used the words of Jesus, "He who is like the small child shall reap the rewards of heaven," as a guide for the group's child rearing philosophy.
***Research Associate, Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic.
