Those Crazy Christians
By: H. Allegra Lansing
Tags: Christianity, Manson Murders, True Crime, Prison, Evangelism

The Manson Family killers who were born again in prison

In the mid-1970s, while incarcerated for the capital crime of murder, three members of the Manson Family cult became born-again Christians. Bruce Davis, Susan ‘Sadie’ Atkins and Charles ‘Tex’ Watson each dedicated their lives to Christ, accepting Jesus as their Lord and Personal Savior.

These three young people — two of whom are still alive today — who once blindly followed a dangerous cult leader and committed nine brutal murders, turned their lives over to God and became representatives of his divine power of forgiveness and redemption.

Two of the killers (Atkins and Watson) also established prison ministries devoted to saving other inmates and lost souls. And they made public statements via books, interviews and websites, about their newfound faith. All three of the killers also referenced their Christian conversions during parole hearings, which opens them up to inspection by the justice system and the public.

Were Sadie, Tex and Bruce really born again? Do their religious conversions entitle them to forgiveness?

In writing my 2019 book The Manson Family: More to the Story, I created a narrative or chronology of events starting with the release of ex-convict Charles Manson from prison in March 1967, into the maelstrom of San Francisco’s hippie counterculture. Over the next two and a half years, Charlie gathered about three dozen young people in an alternative anti-establishment ‘family’. The Family used hallucinogenic drugs, participated in sexual orgies, associated with criminal elements, and became increasingly more larcenous and violent until they committed a crime wave in the summer of 1969 that still draws headlines more than five decades later.

Susan Denise Atkins was one of the first young people to join Manson’s growing family. She was 19-years old, already had one felony and several arrests on her record and was seeking a place to belong after the death of her mother and abandonment by her father. She was also a heavy drug user (speed and LSD) and the survivor of child sexual abuse.

Bruce McGregor Davis met Manson and the women in early 1968 in the Los Angeles area. Originally from Louisiana, he had dropped out of university and made his way to California in search of enlightenment. He joined the Church of Scientology and just before meeting Manson, had been arrested on a marijuana possession and spent ten days in jail before the charges were dismissed.

Charles Montgomery Watson was a college student at North Texas State University who moved to Los Angeles in 1967. This former farm kid and frat boy was introduced to the Manson Family through Beach Boys’ drummer Dennis Wilson. Watson played football in high school, but in Los Angeles Watson was fast becoming a drug dealer. He also became Manson’s number one Stud — tall and attractive, he could bring in women with money or credit cards to donate.

All three of these people had been raised in the church. Susan remembered her church choir coming to her home when she was a teenager, to sing for her dying mother. Davis was raised by a Christian family in the south. Watson grew up near Dallas, attending Sunday services. He was taught that Good Christians didn’t call attention to themselves. They sat in a pew and conducted themselves with modesty and decorum. In fact, he’d been told that holy rollers — those who gave in to the more ecstatic experience of Christ’s love — were bad Christians. When he moved to L.A. Watson was also exposed to Scientology.

Nobody joins a cult. And nobody sets out to start one, either. Charles Manson left prison in 1967 simply determined to be free, and to pursue a music career. But with his background raised in the Nazarene Church in West Virginia, and his training as a pimp and sex trafficker, Manson became an individual who believed in revelations and his own divinity above all others.

Charlie was also well-versed in the Gospels and could recite them, word for word. During his early months of freedom, he was introduced to 19-year old Patricia Krenwinkel who had once dreamed of being a nun. During the autumn of 1967, the season that Manson met Susan Atkins, he and Krenwinkel would often recite bible passages to each other in the old school bus they lived and traveled in.

It is clear that the people who gravitated to Manson were each looking for connection, for love, for a sense of belonging. They found, in Charlie, someone who began to portray himself to them as not just a father figure, but a spiritual leader.

One follower, 19-year old Brooks Poston, was high on acid the day he met Manson. Poston hallucinated that Charlie was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. And in the summer of 1968, while living in Chatsworth, California at Spahn Ranch, Manson began giving sermons based on the Bible to his followers.

“Charlie preached and supervised acid sessions, and at night amused himself by soaking in a hot tub while Leslie read to him from the Bible, always the Book of Revelation. Charlie loved all the imagery, and some of it made its way into his sermons… Charlie not only interpreted the Bible for his followers, he defended it to them. Though they all respected and feared him, sometimes Charlie’s edicts elicited at least mild protest, especially among the women when he reminded them in some new way that they were completely subservient to the group’s men. He always cited the Bible as the basis for his rules… Charlie explained that if something was in Scripture it had to be true, and he would not tolerate any debate.” — Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn ©2013 Simon & Schuster

Soon, Charlie also discovered The Fountain of the World — a nearby religious order that combined pagan practices, apocalyptic Christian rituals and Hare Krishna esotericism into their dogma.

“The Fountain of the World was a religious order based upon the spiritual teachings of Master Krishna Venta, who lived from 1911 to 1958. Krishna Venta and his acolytes had formed a commune in Box Canyon in the Santa Susana Mountains near Simi Valley. They were dedicated to humanitarian service. The members wore robes, grew their hair long, and went barefoot; the women wore scarves on their heads.” — Member of the Family: My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside His Cult, and the Darkness That Ended the Sixties by Dianne Lake, Deborah Herman ©2017 William Morrow

Dianne insinuated in her memoir that Charlie’s real intention in visiting Fountain of the World was to become their new messiah, not realizing that they were still devoted to Krishna Venta, who died in a suicide bombing at their compound a decade before.

Manson stayed at the Fountain for a week. There, he saw his first Messianic Passion Play, where the trial, crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ is relived theatrically. Returning to Spahn Ranch, Charlie (who started referring to his last name as ‘Man’s Son’) immediately began his own passion play, with LSD as Eucharist. Mary Brunner (his first follower, and mother of his young son) performed as ‘Mother Mary’, serving in the role of chief mourner during the reenactments.

“Sometimes he would reenact the crucifixion when we were on LSD and it was very realistic… and then the questions would begin. ‘Would you die for me?’” — Leslie Van Houten from the program “Turning Point” ©1994 American Broadcast Company (ABC)

“With his long hair and beard, his eyes staring from face to face, he seemed to be Jesus speaking to his twelve apostles…That’s when I felt he might be Jesus Christ.” — Child of Satan, Child of God by Susan Atkins with Bob Slosser ©1977 Logos International

After spending several months at Spahn Ranch and after Susan Atkins delivered a baby boy (the second child born to the Family), Manson decided to leave Chatsworth for Death Valley. The Family spent a couple months in the desert before Charlie decided to return to Los Angeles, to reconnect with Dennis Wilson and other influential music insiders. Shortly after his return, he heard The Beatles’ White Album for the first time and had a vision of what he called Helter Skelter: a global race war that would decimate the planet, leaving most white people dead and black people as victors. The Family would escape Armageddon by hiding in Death Valley, but eventually would ascend to the seat of power when black people realized they didn’t have the leadership skills needed to rule the world. This prophecy was based on Manson’s own white supremacist beliefs, dogma from Black Muslims he’d encountered in prison, and heavy doses of LSD.

His sermons to his Family now incorporated elements of Helter Skelter, with warnings of a bloody conflict imminent, hand-to-hand street battles, and carnage from coast to coast. He told his Family to prepare to see horrific things, but to be focused on their survival. The ultimate victory now lay, now in winning a recording contract, but becoming sovereign leader of the entire planet.

A domino effect caused by Manson’s delusions, the Family’s continuing decline, and several botched drug deals ultimately resulted in the nine murders (including the seven Tate/LaBianca victims) the following summer.

Members of the Family were arrested three months after the murders in Death Valley, on arson charges. Park Rangers had discovered a Michigan Loader (an earth-moving machine) torched and traced the tire tracks found near the scene to the two meager ranches where the Family were staying. They also discovered a few people living near the Family, former members and associates, who were eager to warn them about how dangerous Charlie and the others had become.

Brooks Poston, who had once believed that Charlie was Jesus Christ, now told these officers how “these weirdos had sex orgies and weapons and Charlie had them all believing that he was the Second Coming of Christ. The Family… talked about killing people and evidentially they had. The officers needed to catch them because they were dangerous.” (Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn ©2013 Simon & Schuster)

Poston no longer thought Charlie bore any resemblance to Christ. The former Manson Family member was instrumental, the following year, in helping prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi understand Helter Skelter — the motive ultimately used to convict the Family of murder.

Tex Watson committed all seven of the Tate/LaBianca murders — with some help from Susan Atkins and Patricia Krenwinkel. He fled Death Valley ahead of the arson arrests. Watson placed a collect call to his mother in Texas and told her that he’d ‘found Christ’ — knowing it would motivate her to send money for transportation. It worked, and Watson flew back to Dallas. He didn’t stay long, however. He flew to Mexico, then Los Angeles, then Hawaii, then Los Angeles again, and finally back to Texas where he attempted to lay low. His parents had no idea he’d committed the most notorious murder spree in recent history.

“I slept most of the time, ate little and threw up, whenever I tried to please her {his mother} by downing one of her huge Texas meals. I didn’t wash, just lay around, watching television blindly with the shades drawn, screaming at my parents to shut up if they tried to speak to me.” — Will You Die For Me? by Charles Watson and Chaplain Ray ©1978 Fleming H. Revell

Susan was involved in the July 1969 murder of Gary Hinman, ten days before the Tate/LaBianca murders. She and Mary Brunner each held a pillow over Hinman’s face to smother him, after he’d been stabbed by another man. Gary was still alive after the stabbing and attempted smothering, so Bobby Beausoleil stabbed him again while Brunner and Atkins destroyed evidence at the scene of the crime.

Susan was also present at Cielo Drive, the home of Sharon Tate during the so-called ‘Helter Skelter’ murders on August 9th. Susan held a knife on three of the victims including Tate, ordering them into the living room where Watson had another victim. She helped tie up the victims, and then began stabbing one, Wojciech Frykowski, in the legs. The two wrestled on the floor, until Tex stepped in and began beating Frykowski over the head with his gun grip. Frykowski managed to run outside, but Watson chased him and killed him on the lawn. Patricia Krenwinkel then chased victim Abigail Folger outside, where she and Watson killed the 25-year old woman.

Susan was left inside the home, with a hysterical Sharon Tate (who was 8-months pregnant) and the dead body of Tate’s friend and former lover Jay Sebring. She held Sharon, who pleaded for the life of her unborn child. Atkins told Tate she didn’t care about her, called her a bitch, and told her to prepare to die.

But she was unable to stab the woman, and requested help from Tex who came inside, pushed Susan aside and stabbed Sharon to death.

Bruce Davis accompanied Charles Manson to the home of Gary Hinman, a day before his death. He held a gun on Hinman, while Manson slashed the victim across the temple with a sword. The two then left, with Hinman still alive, taking a car and other stolen items from the home.

Two weeks after the Tate/LaBianca murders, Davis joined several other men (at Manson’s orders) in killing Spahn Ranch hand Donald ‘Shorty’ Shea.

Atkins, Davis and Watson were each convicted of murder in 1971 and sentenced to death. Those sentences were commuted to life in prison (with the possibility of parole) a year later, after the California Supreme Court temporarily abolished the death penalty.

Bruce Davis was the first to become a Christian, in 1974.

Susan Atkins and Charles Watson followed, the next year.

They each publicly denounced Manson, their former leader, as each accepted Jesus Christ as their new one.

Many inmates become born-again Christians or Muslims, as a path to salvation and reinvention. When the old self becomes insufferable and unacceptable, they shed their skin and adopt a new identity. Many incarcerated Christians, in particular, identify with the life of Christ who was persecuted, imprisoned and brutalized.

Their conversions each came shortly before each faced their first parole hearings. Susan was the first to go before the parole board in 1978. She also published her memoir that year, Child of Satan, Child of God was published through Logos International, which was supposed to establish a trust for Susan’s proceeds of the royalties. A 1970 garnishment order established that any financial profits the convicted killers might receive must go instead to Wojciech Frykowski’s descendants. However, Logos International filed bankruptcy the following year and the trust was never established.

Susan interviewed in 1976

Susan was denied her 1978 bid for parole.

Three months after Susan’s first parole hearing, Bruce faced his. The board showed no more leniency to Davis than they had to Atkins. The two were actually writing each other about their newfound faith. But Bruce’s mother panicked over the correspondence between her son and Crazy Sadie, insisted that he end the relationship with Atkins, and he did.

Atkins and Watson each pose with their books, published in 1977 and 1978

Watson also published a book ahead of his own 1978 parole hearing, a tell-all called Would You Die For Me? In the book, he admitted that he alone killed Sharon Tate (Susan had bragged to inmates and the grand jury that she was the one who stabbed the pregnant actress) but never acknowledged his role in the murder of Shorty Shea. He was also denied parole. But he met his wife, 20-year old Norwegian Kristin Svege, through the book. She had read it and was impressed with his conversion story. The two married in 1979 and had four children before conjugal visits were denied to those serving life sentences. Doris Tate, mother of Sharon Tate, was largely responsible for California repealing this perk for lifers.

Catherine Share joined the Manson Family in the summer of 1968. The 26-year old musician and actress was one of the oldest members of the Family, and the most devout. After the murder convictions, she was involved in the Hawthorne Shootout — the robbery of an Army/Navy surplus store near Los Angeles, with the intention of stealing enough firearms to break Manson out of prison. Instead, Share was wounded and captured, and sentenced to prison. She also served a second stint in prison in the late ’70s for credit card fraud and embezzlement. Today, she is also a born-again Christian, repentant of her association with Manson, and speaks frequently on news programs and documentaries about her time with the Family.

Catherine ‘Gypsy’ Share

During the 1980s, Charles Watson created his prison ministry, Abounding Love Ministries. He believes that God has forgiven him for killing eight people.

“My children… wanted to know why I was here… I put it to them in a way that a six-year-old could understand, that dad did a horrible thing in the late ’60s and that he’s now suffering the consequences… but daddy’s been forgiven by God, you know, through Christ.” — Charles Watson, from his 2016 parole hearing

In 1986, Suzan LaBerge, daughter of Watson’s victim Rosemary LaBianca, anonymously wrote to Watson. She’d had a nervous breakdown after the murders of her parents. Now married with children, she credited her recovery to Christ — she, too, was born-again.

After corresponding secretly for a year, Suzan visited Tex at the California Men’s Colony, near San Luis Obispo. It didn’t take long for her to become convinced of Watson’s remorse, whereby she told him who she really was. Suzan vowed to help his parole efforts.

“During our visit, I shared the forgiveness I felt toward him and I felt very certain that Charles was deeply remorseful for what he had done.” — Suzan LaBerge, quoted in “The Long, Chilling Shadow of Manson” by Richard C. Paddock, © August 06, 1994 Los Angeles Times

LaBerge argued that he had paid his debt to society! She even met his family.

Suzan LaBerge poses with her mother’s killer, Charles ‘Tex’ Watson and his four children

When Doris Tate saw Suzan show up at Watson’s parole hearing and defend the sonofabitch, she tore into her. Doris reportedly walked out of that hearing and in the parking lot, within the hearing of several witnesses, yelled to LaBerge, “You are one STUPID SHIT!”

For many victims of violent crime, forgiveness sometimes feels like the only way to heal.

Susan Atkins converted from evangelism to Roman Catholicism in the 1980s. She also married a young law student, James Whitehouse, who became her attorney of record a few years later.

She also published a second book, The Myth of Helter Skelter, originally on her now-defunct website where she attempted to present a clearer story of the murders and why they happened.

Susan Atkins Whitehouse

After having lied to several inmates, and the grand jury, and rejecting her immunity deal in favor of rejoining Charles Manson, she must have had terrible guilt and shame. I think Susan was deeply regretful of her actions. I also think she was completely insane but there were moments of clarity in her life when she tried to make sense of what happened. But you can’t claim you murdered a pregnant woman who begged for her life, while you laughed and said, ‘I don’t care about you, bitch,’ and then expect leniency from the courts. Still, she fought for her freedom. The rest of us knew it was pointless. Susan never did.

Bruce Davis served as Tex Watson’s assistant in his prison ministry, when the two were incarcerated together at the Center for Men’s Corrections in San Luis Obispo.

In 1985, Bruce married a flight attendant named Beth. Sixteen years later, they had a daughter before separating. Davis said that fear of his release was part of what soured the relationship with his ex-wife. He has minimal contact with his daughter, now 18-years old.

In 1993, Charles Watson was transferred from the Men’s Colony to Mule Creek State Prison, in Ione, California near Sacramento. Officials at the Men’s Colony were upset at the way that Watson had commandeered the warden’s office for his personal ministry. In the early 90’s while at Mule Creek, psychiatric reports for Watson deemed him ‘a walking time bomb’ and claimed he had a lot of repressed hostility and was still a threat to society.

In 2003, Kristen Watson divorced her husband (she left him for a man she met at church). She had homeschooled their children, to protect them from the public. Kristen continues to live in California, now remarried. Their kids are grown, and little is known about them. They are of college age, and at least one has served time in the U.S. military.

In 2008, while exercising at a Curves™ gym in prison, Susan Atkins had a seizure. She was rushed to the infirmary where they diagnosed her with brain cancer. She was moved to the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, north of Fresno. A leg amputation followed, and her health quickly declined.

In 2009, her attorney-husband petitioned the court for a compassionate release. Arguing that her medical needs far outweighed the punitive sentence she received so many years before, and that she was bedridden and unable to harm anyone, James Whitehouse made his case. Surprisingly, he had one very high-profile supporter: former prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi.

Susan and her husband during her 2009 special hearing. She was unable to communicate during the proceedings except to mumble her prayers.

Susan was denied her compassionate release. She died at the prison in Chowchilla, on September 24, 2009.

Bruce Davis continues to serve at the Center for Men’s Corrections. In 2000 he had hip replacement surgery and reported ongoing pain for several weeks related to the surgery. For many years, he avoided counseling and participation in Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous, claiming that his faith was enough to heal him of his prior misbehaviors, but by the late ’90s he had acquiesced and had undergone psychiatric evaluations, and participation in both AA and NA.

Davis’ most recent parole hearing

Bruce has expressed remorse for his crimes. Understanding the gravity of his actions, though, took time.

“I had one officer a few years ago ask me about it and he said he was living in southern California… I think he was seven or eight years old, first or second grade, something like that. He said ‘well, my friends and I were afraid you were going to kill us until somebody said ‘oh, they’re only trying to kill the rich people’.’ And he said, ‘my friends and I just relaxed because we were poor.’ The thought of children in fear had never come to me like it did then and it turned up my regret and shame several degrees… I’d thought about parents having to bury their children, the most unnatural thing there is. Nine sets of parents having to have these funerals… it started to really hit me what that meant… I’m responsible for nine people in my mind, two directly, but I supported the cult, the gang, the Family, whatever you call it, so whatever they did, I never said no. I never said you ought to stop… Before the 2010 hearing, I was in my cell thinking about this and I… was somewhere between asleep and awake and I saw Gary’s gravestone and Donald’s gravestone side by side… and this woman… She was standing at my side and she pointed at the gravestones and she said, ‘that’s all you left me’.” — Bruce Davis, from his 2014 parole hearing

Bruce has been granted parole five times, meeting the eligibility as set forth by the California parole board, to be released. Each time his parole has been reversed by former California governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown.

“I understand that Mr. Davis is a model prisoner and volunteers in a variety of activities, which help his fellow prisoners. Mr. Davis knows the system. It’s to his advantage not to cause trouble and to be cooperative. It’s good that he contributes to the prison society. Remaining in prison should be his penance for his crimes. Let him continue to contribute by remaining in prison for public safety…” — Gary Hinman’s cousin Kay Martling at Davis’ 2017 hearing.

Davis has had a clean record for decades, long renounced his association with Manson, had no violent infractions during all of his years incarcerated, has family and a support system. He was again recommended for parole in 2020.

During Charles Watson’s 2016 (unsuccessful) parole hearing, author Lis Wiehl attended, to learn how a good Christian boy from small town America became a vicious killer.

“Listening to Watson recount the events of those nights, I recalled my son’s warning when I started researching the book. ‘Are you sure it’s safe, Mom?’ He worried that Manson’s followers — those who sent ‘fan’ letters to prison or read about him and his cult following and aspired to, like Watson, also do ‘something witchy’ — would try to hurt me. When he’d asked the question I’d laughed it off, but sitting next to Watson, I felt a cold chill. Finally, after a nearly nine-hour hearing, the verdict was announced. No parole. For now. Watson will be up for parole again in five years, but I’m hoping he was listening when one of the victims said… ‘If you’re such a born-again Christian, then take compassion on us and don’t make us show up here again’.” — “My Quest for the True Story of Charles Manson Brought Me Face-To-Face With Evil” by Lis Wiehl ©May 2018 Huffington Post

Watson in 2016

Watson is next eligible for parole in 2021.

When asked about his future plans, Watson has stated that he wants to move to Texas and become a televangelist. His prison ministry (Abounding Love Ministries) still exists although he has no formal office anymore. Today, the Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego where he has served since 2017, has assigned Tex a more appropriate role as a janitor.

Charles Denton Watson

“My childhood was full of toys, dogs, cowboy shows, snap pistols, Scouts, building go-carts and vacation Bible school — even faithful appearances at the local Methodist church with my family… To me, church was full of do’s and don’ts. I felt those do’s and don’ts hindered me from the fun and games of life. Besides, as far as I was concerned, I was on my way to heaven because I went to church every Sunday. I didn’t connect Christ’s death and resurrection with my salvation. …Seven human beings lay dead by my hands. Through my blindness, I allowed the destroyer to kill, steal and destroy the lives of others, as well as my own. By giving myself to drugs, drug-crazed friends and the desires of the flesh, many fell victim. The ripple effect of my behavior caused tremendous pain far and wide, something I apologize for and deeply regret to this day. …In May 1975, I was sick and tired of serving the world, the flesh and the devil. I was finished with being ripped off. No more did I want to do things “my way.” I was looking for answers. I knew I had messed things up to say the least. At that time, Christ came to me through many of His servants; a lady in the visiting room, clergymen from the outside and other inmates sharing the Gospel. They assured me that God loved me regardless of how great my sin, and that he provided forgiveness through his performance, not mine. …Today, my time is spent sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in prison and through the ministry website. I have been solidly committed to full time ministry almost since my salvation in 1975. Through these prison walls, the Lord has made a way for His testimony to be shared with thousands of people worldwide.” — From AboundingLoveMinistries.com

Bruce McGregor Davis

“I wanted to reject God’s moral demands, especially that His favor required my submission to the Lord Jesus Christ.” But in the end, he tendered a surly, disrespectful surrender. “Okay, God,” he remembers saying while lying in his cell bunk. “You say you love me and we both know that I don’t love you. You say you want to help me, but I don’t believe it. I’ve never done anything for you. But if you still love me, and still want to help me, then do whatever you can.” “That was the truth, and it was as ugly as I could give it to Him.” Mr. Davis says. “And little by little, He began to transform important aspects of my life. By God’s grace, in my 32nd year, I was saved.” “God’s not giving me what I want, but He’s giving me what I need. I don’t agree that I still need it, but He’s in control and knows better. I whine about it, but His message to me is, ‘You so underestimate the character of sin.’” Mr. Davis now has a ministry in prison. He spends time studying the Bible, and is working on a Ph.D. in theology from Bethany Bible College. Although he’s held other prison jobs-from mopping floors to running a support group for terminally ill patients in the infirmary-he now works in the chapel, doing peer-counseling, teaching Bible classes, and leading worship. The notoriety of his crimes, he says, gives him a platform to share the gospel. “I’m sorry to say that people here who are willing to listen have misconceptions about what’s real. Should a person be listened to because he did something bad? No. But in here everything’s backwards.” One thing that isn’t backwards: The God who works outside prison walls works inside as well. Mr. Davis says his own change shows “that God is merciful. That there is such a thing as hope.” — World Magazine March 2000 by Lynn Vincent

Susan Denise Atkins

“As I sit here in my cell writing this to you, whosoever you may be…” “When I was a young woman, before my incarceration, there were lots of messages givers out in the world. Pretty much the way it is now. Growing up I had heard the message of Jesus Christ, but hadn’t really heard it, nor did I pay very much attention to it…” “Since I’m an expert, based upon my experience, of having been decieved [sic] by those who claim to be far more than they were. I can assure you that it is more than comforting to my soul, to have been blessed to finally hear the truth, to accept the truth, which is not a piece of information based upon any message, but clearly is the Person, Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed Son of God. And not to just hear the TRUTH speak to my heart, but to accept Him into my heart, and to be given such an awsome [sic] opportunity such as the Dove’s Nest, to share this incredible Good News with you…” “…There is a genuine, authentic, real message, it’s not mine, it’s not exclusively anyone’s. It’s God Almighty’s message to humanity through the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is my hope and sincere prayer, that you will at the very least, investigate what He had to say. If you don’t have a bible, get one, and read the Gospel of Saint John. It’s a good place to start…” “… Sincerely, I remain, your faith-filled sister in Jesus, the anointed Son of God. Susan” — SusanDenise.net

A late 1970s photograph of cult leader Charles Manson, standing beside a prison chapel altar

Portions of this story were excerpted from The Manson Family: More to the Story (published June 2019 by Swann Publications)