
Susan Atkins at her Sept. 2nd parole hearing, which was denied.
Susan Atkins, one of the notorious Charles Manson cult murderers, has died in prison at the age of 61.
Atkins died at the Central California Women’s facility in Chowchilla just before midnight Thursday. She had been fighting brain cancer. She was diagnosed in 2008. Soon after suffered partial paralysis and had to have a leg amputated.
Fourty-years ago Atkins savagely murdered actress Sharon Tate who was 8-months pregnant. Tate had been stabbed 16 times. Atkins also participated in the LaBianca murders the very next night. She was convicted of eight murders total.
Prosecutor Stephen Kay described Atkins as “the scariest of the Manson girls,” adding that “she was very violent.”
Former chief prosecutor and author of Helter Skelter, Vincent Bugliosi, says that Atkins will be remembered as “obviously as a member of a group that committed among the most horrendous crimes in American history.
“She apparently made every effort to rehabilitate herself. It has to be said that she did pay substantially, though not completely, for her incredibly brutal crimes. And to her credit, she did renounce – and, I believe, sincerely – Charles Manson.”
He also told of the sad and tragic upbringing of Susan Atkins. Her mother died when she was 3 and her father sold their home and all furnishings to pay hospital bills. He eventually became an alcoholic and often left his children alone, until one day he just didn’t come back. he children were moved to their grandparents home but by the 11th grade Atkins left. She described herself at this time as, “extremely angry, extremely vulnerable and directionless.”
It was soon after that she met Manson and “the family”.
Atkins is survived by her husband and had found God years ago. At her parole hearing September 2nd she uttered her last public words: “My God is an amazing God.”
Even though she was a murderer, I still think this is a sad story. What a lonely life.
[LAT/ CBS]