• Charles Denton "Tex" Watson,  Charles Manson

    LAPD Probing into Twelve Unsolved Murders Linked to the Charles Manson Family

    Charles Manson Video: Charles Manson Parole Hearing   Parole Denied

    The 2011, aged 77 Charles Manson

    This revelation was mentioned back in May with the Charles “Tex” Watson’s attorney’s bankruptcy case.

    But, now the LAPD is pushing forward with the investigation.

    The Los Angeles Police Department disclosed Thursday that it has open investigations on a dozen unsolved homicides that occurred near places where the Manson family operated during its slew of murders four decades ago.

    The Police Department made the revelation amid a legal battle to obtain hours of audio tapes recorded in 1969 between Charles Manson follower Charles “Tex” Watson and his attorney. The LAPD has said detectives believe tapes could shed more light on the activities of Manson’s group.

    Watson has been fighting to limit the LAPD’s access to the tapes. This month, a federal judge in Texas granted an emergency order preventing the police from executing a search warrant at an office where the tapes are kept.

    LAPD officials did not disclose details of the cases and said the department is examining the murders because they occurred near known Manson hangouts around the city.

    “These cases have circumstances that are similar to some of the Manson killings,” Cmdr. Andy Smith said. “We are hoping that these Tex Watson tapes can provide us further clues on these cases… We are doing this for the families of these victims.”

    Manson and his followers were convicted of killing eight people in a notorious plot to incite a race war that he believed was prophesied in the Beatles song “Helter Skelter.”

    Here is a video report from KNBC, Channel 4, Los Angeles:

    [youtube]http://youtu.be/e7BbeiiPgGM[/youtube]

    The federal bankruptcy court should speedily consider Charles “Tex” Watson’s appeal and rule that the police have the ability to search the tapes.

    Justice demands nothing less.

  • Charles Denton "Tex" Watson,  Charles Manson,  Leslie Van Houten

    Maxwell Keith – Attorney for Two of Charles Manson Family Has Died

    Maxwell Keith center
    Photo: Los Angeles Times

    Maxwell represented Charles “Tex” Watson and Leslie Van Houton.

    Maxwell S. Keith, the defense attorney for two members of the Manson family who went to prison for their roles in the grisly 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders, died Tuesday of natural causes in the San Luis Obispo County town of Templeton, his family said. He was 87.

    Keith entered the sensational case in December 1970 when he was appointed by the court to replace the attorney for Leslie Van Houten, the former prom queen charged with murdering Leno and Rosemary LaBianca and conspiring to kill Sharon Tate and four others.

    He took over her defense just before closing arguments and had only a few weeks to review more than 18,000 pages of court documents. The trial ended in a hung jury. He remained Van Houten’s attorney during the retrial, which ended in 1978 with her conviction for first-degree murder.

    Keith also represented Charles “Tex” Watson, who in 1971 was convicted of first-degree murder for his involvement in the murders.

    In both cases, Keith argued that his clients had been brainwashed by Manson into committing the heinous crimes.

    He replaced attorney Ronald Hughes, who had disappeared during a rainstorm in Ventura County when the trial was nearing its end. Hughes’ body was found in a creek near his campsite several months later. No signs of foul play were found, but speculation abounded that he was killed after angering the cult leader with his vigorous defense of Van Houten.

    Keith targeted Manson as the mastermind of the crime rampage that resulted in the deaths of seven people, including Tate, the pregnant wife of director Roman Polanski.

    But, none the less, despite his arguments both Watson and Van Houten were convicted and sentenced to death (a sentence which was later commuted to life in prison).

  • Charles Denton "Tex" Watson,  Charles Manson,  Leslie Van Houten,  Patricia Krenwinkel,  Sharon Tate,  Susan Atkins

    Updated With Video: Charles Manson Family Accomplice Charles Denton “Tex” Watson Denied Parole

    Charles Denton “Tex “Watson – Charlie Manson’s Right-Hand Man

    And, rightly so.

    Charles Denton “Tex” Watson, one of the chief participants in the Manson Family murders in the summer of 1969, will stay in prison at least another five years, the California Board of Parole Hearings announced Wednesday.

    Watson, 65, was denied parole for the 16th time, the board said, and will not be considered again until 2016.

    Watson, along with Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Linda Kasabian were convicted in 1971 of murder and sentenced to death for the killings of five people, including the eight-months pregnant movie actress Sharon Tate, on the night of August 9, 1969. They and their leader, Charles Manson, were convicted and sentenced for stabbing Leno and Rosemary La Bianca to death the night after the Tate killings.

    Sharon Tate

    “Tex” Watson who is known as Charlie Manson’s right-hand man physically committed the murders at the homes of Sharon Tate and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. Susan Atkins was present with Watson at both murder scenes. Atkins died in prison in 2009.

    Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel also a Tate/La Bianca murder accomplice remains in prison and was denied parole earlier this year. Leslie Van Houten also remains in California prison.

    Linda Kasabian, who also was present at both murder scenes was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying against Manson and his family of followers.

    Watson was convicted in 1971 of seven counts of murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder.

    He will be considered for another parole review in five years, prison officials said.

    Family members of Watson’s murder victims attended the hearing on Wednesday at Mule Creek State Prison in rural Ione, California, where he is held on a sentence of life with the possibility of parole, said Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

    Charles Denton “Tex” Watson should have been executed decades ago along with Charles Manson and the rest of his scumbag followers. It is only because of the California Supreme Court’s decision, People V. Anderson that outlawed the death penalty (for a time) that saved his sorry ass from the gas chamber.

    Like Susan Atkins, Watson should NEVER be released and should die in prison. Here is one of the murder scene photos (Sharon Tate lies in her own blood):

    Charles Manson’s next parole hearing may be coming up in 2012.

  • Charles Denton "Tex" Watson,  Charles Manson,  Leslie Van Houten,  Patricia Krenwinkel,  Sharon Tate,  Susan Atkins

    Charles Manson Family Accomplice Charles Denton “Tex” Watson Denied Parole

    Charles Denton “Tex “Watson – Charlie Manson’s Right-Hand Man

    And, rightly so.

    Charles Denton “Tex” Watson, one of the chief participants in the Manson Family murders in the summer of 1969, will stay in prison at least another five years, the California Board of Parole Hearings announced Wednesday.

    Watson, 65, was denied parole for the 16th time, the board said, and will not be considered again until 2016.

    Watson, along with Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Linda Kasabian were convicted in 1971 of murder and sentenced to death for the killings of five people, including the eight-months pregnant movie actress Sharon Tate, on the night of August 9, 1969. They and their leader, Charles Manson, were convicted and sentenced for stabbing Leno and Rosemary La Bianca to death the night after the Tate killings.

    Sharon Tate

    “Tex” Watson who is known as Charlie Manson’s right-hand man physically committed the murders at the homes of Sharon Tate and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. Susan Atkins was present with Watson at both murder scenes. Atkins died in prison in 2009.

    Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel also a Tate/La Bianca murder accomplice remains in prison and was denied parole earlier this year. Leslie Van Houten also remains in California prison.

    Linda Kasabian, who also was present at both murder scenes was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying against Manson and his family of followers.

    Watson was convicted in 1971 of seven counts of murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder.

    He will be considered for another parole review in five years, prison officials said.

    Family members of Watson’s murder victims attended the hearing on Wednesday at Mule Creek State Prison in rural Ione, California, where he is held on a sentence of life with the possibility of parole, said Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

    Charles Denton “Tex” Watson should have been executed decades ago along with Charles Manson and the rest of his scumbag followers. It is only because of the California Supreme Court’s decision, People V. Anderson that outlawed the death penalty (for a time) that saved his sorry ass from the gas chamber.

    Like Susan Atkins, Watson should NEVER be released and should die in prison. Here is one of the murder scene photos (Sharon Tate lies in her own blood):

    Charles Manson’s next parole hearing may be coming up in 2012.