Susan Atkins: Death of Manson Follower Less Than a Month After Parole Hearing

Susan Atkins's death happened late last night, according to reports from the Associated Press. Susan Atkins was a follower of Charles Manson, and admitted to killing pregnant actress Sharon Tate in 1969.

Susan Atkins's death happened at age 61, and less than a month after a parole board denied her a last chance of freedom. Susan Atkins has been terminally ill with brain cancer.

Susan Atkins's death comes with mixed emotions. After all, Susan Atkins spent the last decades of her live incarcerated for murdering Sharon Tate. Susan Atkins' death is the first death of the Manson cult.

The Manson cult was responsible for killing seven people in two Los Angeles homes in 1969. If Susan Atkins did not kill Sharon Tate, a little boy would have been born. Today, that little boy would be 40 years old.

Some people may think that it is cruel that Susan Atkins' death happened while she was incarcerated. Some think that she should have been allowed freedom in her last couple of weeks. After all - she was terminally ill.

According to CNN, in 1972 the Supreme Court struck down the nation's death penalty. Had that action not occurred, Susan Atkins's death would have come much sooner. I think this would have been better for society.

Before you think that I am cold and callous, the reason that I feel this way stems from the way she acted while on trial. According to the Associated Press, when asked about how it could be right to kill, she replied "How can it not be right when it's done with love?"

Think about all the taxpayer money that was wasted keeping this cold-blooded killer alive. While Susan Atkins said she was sorry for the murder she committed, it still does not take away from the fact that this woman took two lives out of this world.

The Manson group killed seven people total. According to the Associated Press, the group included not only Sharon Tate but also "celebrity hairdresser Jay Sebring, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, filmmaker Voityck Frykowski and Steven Parent, a friend of Tate's caretaker; and grocery owners Leno and Rosemary LaBianca."

Susan Atkins was also convicted along with Manson of the murder of musician Gary Hinman.

When another human being dies, it's never a time to rejoice. However Susan Atkins's death will not be mourned by many people. Her roles in the Manson slayings forever changed Los Angeles.

Sources:

Associated Press

CNN.com