The Manson Family got caught for burning an earthmover and stealing dozens of vehicles in a desert ranch. Authorities were unaware of their heinous crimes in LA.

The members of The Family were fugitives for several murders including Gary Allen Hinman, Sharon Tate and her friends, and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, among others when they were apprehended.

However, the joint force of California High Way Patrol, National Park Service Rangers, and Inyo County Sheriff's Office that apprehended over two dozen of The Family members were unknown of their earlier deeds, and the investigating authorities in the murder case had not drawn a conclusion and suspect at the point of the arrests.

The investigation teams who were working independently on Hinman, Tate, and LaBianca murders joined the dots and found the connection between the cases. They issued warrants for the arrest of The Family members on December 1, 1969, nearly a month after their arrest.

What Happened To The Manson Family?

The Mason Family was arrested and put in custody for car theft and property damage. They were later charged with the murders of Hinman, Tate, and LaBianca.

After LAPD issued warrants for the arrest of The Family's prominent members including Atkins, Van Houten, and Krenwinkel, they were charged with seven counts of murder and one of conspiracy. Manson and Atkins initially left by LAPD were also charged on June 15, 1970.

All the four defendants of the murder Manson, Atkins, Van Houten, and Krenwinkel were found guilty and initially sentenced to death. However, the death sentences were ruled unconstitutional in 1972 forcing the legal system to change their sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

While the members of The Family and their close associates rallied in front of the courthouse in support of Manson and his three female defendants during the trial which ran for almost 10 months, they later disbanded following the sentence.

Did Any Of The Manson Family Get Released?

Steven Dennis "Clem" Grogan is the only member of The Manson Family to get released from prison. He was paroled in 1984 after being convicted on December 23, 1971.

Clem was not convicted of the murder of Hinman, Tate, and LaBianca, but he was found guilty of helping fellow peers to kill Spahn's ranch hand, Donald Shea. He was initially sentenced to the death penalty but his sentence was changed to life in prison in 1972.

However, he was released from prison after getting parole in 1985 after helping the authorities locate Shea's body by drawing a map of the location of the burial site. He also headed a prison program of keeping Juveniles away from a life of crime and people like Manson.

Out of the four defendants Charles and Susan Atkins are already dead. Charles passed away from a heart attack in 2017 and Susan died of natural causes on September 24, 2009.

As of May 2023, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel remain behind bars. Van Houten has been denied parole 23 times with the latest being on July 23, 2020, and Krenwinkel was granted parole on May 26, 2022, but the decision was reversed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Both Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel remain behind bars.