Charles Manson's Offspring?

"I didn't want to believe it. I was frightened and angry. It's like finding out that Adolf Hitler is your father. I'm a peaceful person - trapped in the face of a monster," said Los Angeles resident, Matthew Roberts.

Roberts was given up for adoption 41 years ago after his biological mother, Terry, whom he found living in Wisconsin (with the help of a social service agency), admitted that she was raped by Charles Manson two years before the Manson Family murders.

Roberts learned that he was originally named Lawrence Alexander, but his biological mother kept the secret for a long time.

There have been no DNA or other related tests perform to confirm these suspicions, however, side-by-side photos of the two reveal eerie similarities.

Roberts admits he sees the similarities himself. "If I get worked up, my eyes get really big and that's really freaked some people out before," he tells the British newspaper The Sun.

"I've tried to tone that down quite a bit. I don't like having that effect on people," he adds. "I don't even like the fact that I'm big. It makes me even scarier. My hero is Gandhi. I'm an extremely nonviolent, peaceful person and a vegetarian."

"I don't even kill bugs. I've had long hair all my life. I could make it go away, but I can't let the world and their fears change me."

Manson has given Roberts his prison phone number, but Roberts has no plans to visit Manson. However, he says that he has had some correspondence through letter writing with him. Manson, 75, is currently serving a life sentence in California's Corcoran State Prison for the Tate/La Bianca murders.

"He sends me weird stuff and always signs it with his swastika. At first I was stunned and depressed. I wasn't able to speak for a day. I remember not being able to eat."

There have been an overwhelming number of online supporters who empathize with Roberts. Many have posted sentiments that encourage him not to believe that he is "the sins of his father." Others relay their shock of such an unbelievable situation. Nearly all commend him on his bravery to reveal such a horrifying secret to the world.

In the ageless question of nature versus nurture, it seems in this case that nurture wins out. Indeed, this would be a troubling discovery for anyone, but it has not, does not and will not define who Matthew Roberts is.

Inquisitor.com

http://www.inquisitr.com/49181/charles-manson-son/

Parentdish.com

http://www.parentdish.com/2009/11/25/surprise-your-biological-father-may-be-charles-manson

Kplr11.com

http://www.kplr11.com/news/kplr-charles-manson-son-illinois-112409,0,7520756.story?track=rss

Nydailynews.com

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2009/11/24/2009-11-24__report.html