Helter Skelter

William Garretson is arrested following the discovery of Sharon Tate’s murders but is released three days later for lack of evidence. The police are unwilling to connect the Tate killings to the Hinman and LaBianca murders and instead pursue a drug-related angle for the Tate killings. This early arrest highlights the shaky link between the crimes and the investigation’s evolving focus.

Police raid Spahn Ranch in an attempt to break up an auto theft ring and arrest Manson and his followers. The raid brings the Manson Family into the legal spotlight and foreshadows the sprawling legal battle to come. The tension between law enforcement and the commune escalates as investigators begin to connect them to the crimes.

The Manson Family is released from prison and later two girls fleeing Death Valley tell police that the group has moved to Barker Ranch. Susan Atkins is alleged to be involved in the Hinman murder. The report fragments hint at a broader conspiracy and set the stage for later confessions and indictments.

Susan Atkins is arrested and reveals to her fellow inmate Ronnie Howard that she personally killed Sharon Tate and was involved in eleven other killings. The confession expands the scope of the crimes and accelerates the pursuit of additional charges. Her statements draw investigators deeper into the Tate and LaBianca cases.

Los Angeles DA Vincent Bugliosi interviews Danny DeCarlo, who tours Spahn Ranch and mentions a .22 caliber Buntline revolver matching the weapon used in the murders. This testimony provides a concrete weapon link and helps build the case against the Manson followers. The gun becomes a through-line for ballistics comparisons.

Ronnie Howard calls the homicide division with Susan Atkins’s confession, prompting Bugliosi to seek a high bail for Manson so he can buy time to gather evidence for the grand jury. The tactic is a legal maneuver to delay trial while crucial evidence is assembled. The strategy influences how the prosecution builds its case.

Bugliosi interviews the Manson Girls and secures arrest warrants for participants in the killings. Linda Kasabian surrenders to police, and fingerprints from Tex Watson and Patricia Krenwinkel are matched to those found at the Tate residence. The case gains formal traction as the investigation tightens.

During the grand jury proceedings, Susan Atkins provides full details of the Tate and LaBianca killings. As a result, Susan, Leslie Van Houten, Tex Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, Linda Kasabian, and Charles Manson are all brought up on charges. The legal process accelerates toward a formal indictment and trial.

A reporter and photographer from KABC-TV retrace the events as reported in the newspapers and discover where the bloody clothes from the murders have been discarded. Steven Quint’s father asks about the revolver, but the police dismiss his inquiries, prompting him to share the story with the news media to embarrass investigators. The media coverage adds public pressure to solve the case.

Bugliosi uses ballistics testing to link the .22 revolver to the gun used on victim Jay Sebring. This forensic link solidifies the investigation’s gun-forensic narrative and supports the prosecution’s timeline. The weapon becomes a critical piece of the case against the defendants.

Manson chooses to represent himself at trial, and Bugliosi tricks him into requesting more time, giving investigators additional time to prepare a stronger case. The self-representation leads to a courtroom dynamic that complicates proceedings. The delay helps the prosecution fortify its strategy against the famed cult leader.

Bugliosi interviews former Manson Family member Paul Watkins, who explains Manson’s belief that the Beatles were sending him messages to spark a race war dubbed Helter Skelter. The testimony contextualizes the defendant’s mindset for the jury. It highlights the radical edge of the case and the prosecutor’s attempt to discredit Manson’s theories.

During the trial, Linda Kasabian testifies about Tate and LaBianca despite repeated objections. At one point Manson lunges at the judge but is subdued. He demands to testify, but much of what he says undermines his defense. The defendants are ordered out of the courtroom during the closing arguments, underscoring the volatile atmosphere of the proceedings.

Ultimately all defendants are sentenced to death, but California later eliminates the death penalty in 1972, making them eligible to apply for parole in the future. The sentencing marks the culmination of the trial, while the repeal changes the long-term fate of the convicts. The case remains a landmark in American legal history.