"Helter Skelter" Killer Susan Atkins Dead at 61

"Manson family" member Susan Atkins died yesterday at California's Central Women's Facility at Chowchilla. She has been incarcerated since her conviction in October of 1969 for the murder of Sharon Tate. The Tate/LaBianca murders and subsequent trial were detailed in Vincent Bugliosi's 1974 book Helter Skelter.

Susan Atkins was born in San Gabriel, California. Those that knew her described her as a quiet, self conscious girl who belonged to the Glee Club and a local church choir. Atkins dropped out of high school when she was 18, and moved to San Francisco where she worked as a secretary, and topless dancer.

She met Charles Manson in 1967. Shortly after their meeting, Manson invited Atkins to join his group, who were about to embark on a summer road trip in a converted school bus.

The growing "Manson Family" would settle at the Spahn Ranch in the San Fernando Valley. Akins would give birth to a son on October 7, 1968. Manson named the boy Zezozose Zadfrack Glutz. Atkins parental rights were terminated when convicted. Her son was adopted and renamed, and she never had contact with him again.

On August 8, 1969, Atkins and fellow Manson Family members Lina Kasabian, Patricia Krenwinkel were ordered by Manson to accompany Charles "Tex" Watson, and to do "as they were told." As they drove to Beverly Hills, Watson told the others that they were going to a house to get money, and to kill the people living there.

When they arrived at Roman Polanski's Beverly Hills home, his wife Sharon Tate, Steve Parent, Jay Sebring, Aojciech Frykowski and Abigail Folger were there. Polanski was in Europe making a film. Atkins and the other Manson Family Members brutally murdered all five. Atkins would testify that she repeatedly stabbed the eight month pregnant Sharon Tate as she begged for her life. As she left the house, Atkins would write "PIG" on the front door with Tate's blood.

After a ten month trail, Atkins and her three co-defendants were convicted and sentenced to death on March 29, 1971. A year later Atkins's death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment due to the Supreme Courts decision to invalidate the death penalty.

Susan Atkins had been continually denied parole since, most recently on September 2, 2009.

She is survived by her husband of 22 years attorney James W. Whitehouse, who represented her at her 2000, and 2005 hearings.

Charles Manson and five of his "Family" are still serving life Sentences.