Charles Manson became a household name in the 1960’s and 1970’s, but not for any good reasons. Charles Manson had an almost infallible charisma that attracted young men and women towards him. But it was this same charm that led others to work for him, to serve him and eventually, to kill for him. This is the story of a cult leader who almost got away with it all.
Born With No Name
On November 12th, 1934, “No Name Maddox” came into the world. His mother was unmarried 16-year-old Kathleen Manson-Bower-Cavender and later she would give him the name of Charles Manson. Manson never met his father, Colonel Walker Henderson Scott Sr. because he took off when Kathleen mentioned that she was pregnant with their baby.
An Absent Mother
During his childhood, Manson’s mother frequently left him at home with a series of babysitters while she went out drinking with friends. On one occasion, she attempted to rob an acquaintance and was arrested and sentenced to four years in prison. During this time, Charles was sent to live with an aunt and uncle in West Virginia.