The infamous “Manson Family” was a collection of drifters and dropouts drawn to the magnetic, twisted personality of Charles Manson—to the point they committed nine grisly murders on his instructions. But Manson also had a real family—a mother, a grandmother, two wives, and a number of possible children. Crime writer Jeff Guinn sheds some light on Manson’s real family life in his biography, Manson. Here are eight things you may not have known about the infamous cult leader and his kin.
Charles Mason in 1947.
- Photo Credit: Alchetron
1. Manson’s mother, Kathleen Maddox, was just 16 when she gave birth to him. She may not have been the greatest mother, but she was probably not as wild as the press portrayed her. She had lousy jobs and a deadbeat husband, but she did try to help her son. He was Charlie Maddox until his mother married William Manson, and he took his stepfather’s name.
2. Manson lived for part of his childhood with his grandmother, and his aunt and uncle. But they may not have been such a great influence either. They reportedly sent him to school in a dress to toughen him up, after hearing he had cried in class.
3. Young Charlie was not popular with his cousins or his classmates. Early on, he developed a reputation as a liar and a cheat who would try to blame others if he was caught doing something wrong. He reportedly learned early that if he acted crazy, he might create enough of a distraction that he could escape punishment.
Related: Helter Skelter: A Look Inside the Manson Family Murders
4. Manson was not stupid, but he was not the genius some of his followers (and some reporters) believed he was. His IQ was in the “high normal” range.
Manson with Rosalie Willis.
- Photo Credit: WikiTree
5. Manson married his first wife, Rosalie Willis, in 1955. Their son, Charles Manson, Jr., dropped the Manson name and took the name of his mother’s second husband. But his biological father’s crimes reportedly haunted him. He committed suicide in 1993.
Related: The Manson Family and the Gruesome Murder of Sharon Tate
6. Manson and Willis divorced in 1958. According to Manson's second wife, Leona Rae "Candy" Stevens, Manson has another son by the name of Charles Luther Manson. Stevens, who married Manson in 1959 and divorced him in 1963, claimed she gave birth to Manson’s second son. Charles Luther Manson, if he's out there, has managed to avoid the spotlight and disassociate himself from his notorious father. Little is known about the individual and his whereabouts today are unknown.
7. Manson’s alleged third son, Valentine Michael Manson, was the first born to a Manson “family” member—Mary Brunner. But he grew up outside the cult and managed to ditch the Manson name and escape into anonymity.
Related: Is Charles Manson Behind the Unsolved Murder of Reet Jurvetson?
8. A fourth alleged Manson son is the only one who actively sought to connect himself with the convict. Charles Roberts was adopted and says he learned later in life that Manson could be his biological father. He says his biological mother, known only as Terri, fell into Manson’s orbit and became his favorite. Charles Roberts reached out to Manson in prison who acknowledged he could indeed be his father. However, according to this report from CNN, DNA tests prove that Roberts is not a descendent of Charles Manson.
Featured photo: Getty Images
