Scene of the Crime

by Les MacDonald

  Meanwhile the revolving door was in constant use by the defence lawyers. Charles Hollopeter, who replaced Manson as his own attorney, was dismissed and replaced by Ronald Hughes who then went missing. Hughes was then replaced by Irving Kanarek. Hollopeter must have thought he got off lucky. He was only dismissed. Hughes would later turn up as a murder victim. While the family all but admitted the killing no one was ever charged. Finally, on January 25, 1971 the guilt phase of the trial ended. All of the defendants were found guilty as charged on all counts. Manson, who had already threatened Bugliosi and Older during the trial, went crazy and once again had to be removed from the courtroom. Outside, on the steps of the courthouse, Bugliosi informed the media that during the penalty phase of the trial the prosecution would be seeking the death penalty against all of the defendants.

  The girls had done absolutely nothing to help themselves during the trial. Frequently, during vivid testimony about the brutality of the murders, they would be laughing and making faces in front of the jurors. Now, during the penalty phase, they would get one more chance to show remorse. When Susan Atkins was asked if she ever felt sorry she replied that she had no guilt in her. Patricia Krenwinkel was asked if it bothered her at all when Abigail Folger was screaming for her life. She simply replied, “No.” When Leslie Van Houten was asked the same thing she replied that sorry was just a word and could not bring anyone back. For his part, Manson once again threatened the establishment saying that there would be a lot of bloodletting if he received the death penalty. On Monday, March 29, in a tightly secured courtroom, the jury returned with the sentences. However, one more time, Manson would disrupt the proceedings before the sentences could be read. Once again, he railed against the judge for not being allowed to defend himself and, once again, Older had him removed. The first sentence to be read was a death sentence for Charles Manson. The girls all erupted and Older also had them removed from the courtroom. As with their leader, the girls all received death sentences for each count of murder. However, on February 18, 1972 the state of California abolished the death penalty in a 6-1 vote by the State Supreme Court. One hundred and seven prisoners on Death Row, including Charles Milles Manson and his followers, had their death sentences automatically reduced to life in prison. The commutation of their sentences meant that each of the killers would be eligible to apply for parole in 1978.

  Where Are They Now?

  Susan Atkins married and divorced while in prison. She also received an Associate of Arts degree. In later years she denounced Manson and became a born again Christian. She applied for parole 18 times and had always been denied. In 2009, suffering from cancer she applied again on compassionate grounds and once again was denied. She died on September 24, 2009 just days after being denied her freedom.

  Patricia Krenwinkel received a Bachelor of Science degree through correspondence. She has applied for parole eleven times and been turned down each time. She was 63 years old at the time of her last application in 2011. She was once again turned down. She can apply once again in 2016. Krenwinkel is currently incarcerated at the California Institute for Women in Chino, California.

  Leslie Van Houten was also married and divorced while in prison. She has received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature through correspondence while in prison. She has become very critical of Manson and appears to show genuine remorse. Many feel that she will be the first one to be released because she only participated in the LaBianca killings and was not present at 10050 Cielo Drive. She was once again turned down for parole on June 5, 2013. It was her twentieth parole hearing. She can next apply in 2018. She is also housed in the California Institute for Women in Chino, California.

  Charles "Tex" Watson, who was tried and convicted separately, married and fathered four children through conjugal visits. When Doris Tate objected, the conjugal visits ceased. Watson founded the Love Abounding Ministries in 1980 from his cell. He was turned down at his latest parole hearing on November 17, 2011. He can next apply in 2016. He is currently incarcerated in the Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California.

  Bobby Beausoleil continues to serve his life sentence for the murder of Gary Hinman. He was denied parole at his last hearing in 2010. He cannot reapply for parole again until the year 2015. He is currently incarcerated in the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Oregon.

  Doris Tate was the first person to ever read a victim impact statement at a hearing. She would consistently show up at as many of the parole hearings as possible to help ensure that her daughter's killers would not go free. Mrs. Tate died in 1992.

  Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who became the family's leader after the trial was found guilty of the 1975 attempted assassination of President Gerald Ford. She was released in 2009 after serving 34 years in prison.

  Roman Polanski would go on to have legal problems of his own. He left the United States in 1977 when he was charged with having sex with a thirteen year old and risks arrest if he returns. He continues to have major success with films such as Frantic, Tess, Chinatown and he won a Best Director Oscar for The Pianist. Polanski was arrested at his home by Swiss authorities at the request of the US relating to his 1977 charge of sex with a thirteen year old. He was incarcerated for two months and then placed under house arrest as he fought extradition to the US. On July 12, 2010 the Swiss courts rejected the US request and Polanski went free. He is still under an Interpol Red Notice which basically means that they are keeping tabs on him with hopes of extraditing him back to the US. For now, it appears that the director is safe in Switzerland.

  Vincent Bugliosi went on to write the book Helter Skelter which is certainly the definitive book on the subject. It still ranks today as the number one selling true crime book of all time. He has authored eleven other books with several having been made into television movies.

  Prisoner #B33920 Charles Milles Manson is now 77 years old and has spent 57 of those years in prison. His last parole hearing was in 2012 at which he predictably ranted and raved. It was determined that he would not be eligible to apply for parole again for another 15 years. At that time Manson would be 92 years old.

  We have dealt with the seven most sensational murders committed by the Manson family. It is estimated that the family was responsible for anywhere between 35 and 55 murders.

  Part II: Quick Hits

  Eric Smith

  Eric Smith age 14

  Savona, New York 1993: Eric Smith was born on January 22, 1980. His childhood was not really anything out of the ordinary. He had been bullied a bit at school due to his appearance. He had bright red hair, lots of freckles as well as ears that were set a little lower than normal. Despite this, his grandfather Red Wilson said, “He’d always come in and give us hugs and kisses. He liked being a clown.” On August 2, 1993, the 13 year old traded the clown label for one that would stay with him forever, murderer.

  On that day Eric was biking to a local park when he came across four year old Derrick Robie. Eric lured him into a wooded area near the park and then murdered the boy in a terrible way. First he strangled Derrick and then dropped several large rocks on his head causing massive heads wounds. He then opened Derrick’s backpack and took out the red Kool-Aid that the boy was taking to the park. He then poured the drink into Derrick’s head wounds. Then he took off the boy’s clothes and sodomized him with a branch from a nearby tree. It was a violent, brutal murder any way you choose to look at it. The ages of the boys makes it even more chilling. Five days after the murder, Derrick, who loved to play t-ball, was buried in his baseball uniform. Two days later Eric Smith confessed. He was charged with second degree murder.

  Derrick Robie age 4

  The trial was held a year later in August 1994. Eric Smith was found guilty and sentenced to the maximum sentence available at that time. The sentence was a minimum of nine years to life. Eric has been denied parole seven times with his next hearing scheduled for April 2014. He will be 34 years old and, at that time, will have been in prison for almost 20 years. He is currently
serving his sentence at the Collins Correctional Facility in New York..

  The last words go to the killer himself Eric Smith and prosecuting attorney John Tunney. Eric Smith: “I know my actions have caused a terrible loss in the Robie family. And for that, I am truly sorry. I’ve tried to think as much as possible what Derrick will never experience. His 16th birthday. Christmas. Owning his own house. Graduating. Going to college. Getting married. His first child. If I could go back in time, I would switch places with Derrick and endure all the pain I’ve caused him. If it meant that he would go on living, I’d switch places but I can’t.”

  John Tunney: “I don’t doubt that somewhere along the line, a light bulb has gone on. And all of a sudden Eric has a better understanding of the enormity of what he did. Does that mean he’s now safe to be back among us? Of course not!”

  The Camden Killer

  "I'd have killed a thousand if I'd had enough bullets."

  - Howard Unruh

  Howard Unruh in custody

  Camden, New Jersey 1949: In 1949 Howard Unruh was a 28 year old recluse who read the Bible and loved guns. He was a combat veteran of World War II seeing service as a tank gunner. He was an expert marksman. He kept a German Luger as a souvenir of his days in the war. Howard lived with his mother in a small apartment and always felt that the neighbors talked about him behind his back. One day he would make them all pay. That day came on September 6, 1949. Howard Unruh left the apartment that day with the German Luger and 33 rounds of ammunition.

  The number of dead would rise to 13

  Unruh stopped at a shoe repair shop and shot the cobbler to death. He then stopped at a barber shop and killed a six year old boy before shooting the barber. When he stopped at a tailor's shop only to find the tailor was not there, he killed the tailor's wife. He then shot a man to death in his car. Two women who were only guilty of driving by were next. He had already killed seven when he shot a three year old boy looking out of a window. Next was a ten year old boy who didn't die until the next day. Then he walked into an insurance company and shot the salesman who had sold his mother an insurance policy. Unruh then walked back to his apartment building and stopped at a neighbor’s suite. This neighbor had recently complained about loud music being played in Unruh's apartment. The neighbor, his wife and mother were all killed while a young boy hid in the closet. He then returned to his own apartment. Within minutes the police had tossed in tear gas and the spree was over. Howard Unruh calmly surrendered. At the time of the killings in 1949, the massacre in Camden was the largest spree killing to date.

  Unruh was charged with 13 counts of willful and malicious murder with malice aforethought and three counts of assault and battery. It was determined that he was unfit to stand trial. He was sent to the New Jersey Hospital for the Insane which has since been renamed the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital. Unruh was later diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. He remained in the prisoner wing of the TPH until his death in 2009. He was 88 years old when he died and had been in custody for 60 years.

  Killed Over a Kiss

  Derrick-Hardie outside the High Court in Auckland

  Auckland, New Zealand 2011: On July 29, 2011 Theodore Derrick-Hardie attended a birthday party with his ex girlfriend…never a really great idea. He also brought a knife to the party…again, not a great idea. His ex seemed intent on showing the 17 year old Derrick-Hardie that their relationship was indeed over. To that end, she flirted with Warren Rosillo,18, at the party. Theodore wanted to leave but his ex had no intention of leaving the party with him. Instead, she planted a great big kiss on the lips of Warren Rosillo. It was simply too much for the jealous Theodore to take. He spun Warren around and stabbed him in the face and chest. Rosillo died a short time later.

  Theodore took off and booked a room at the Heritage Hotel. He texted friends telling them of the murder. The next day he was arrested in his hotel room. He pleaded guilty on what was supposed to be the first day of his trial. Before sentencing, it came out that Theodore had previously threatened his ex and her new boyfriend. He also owned a machete and a variety of knives. He was sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum of 11 years.

  The Bed & Breakfast Murders

  Christian Nielsen

  Newry, Maine 2006: During the Labor Day long weekend in September 2006 a killing spree occurred that became the largest case of multiple murders in Maine in 14 years. The bodies of three women were found at the Black Bear Bed and Breakfast in the small town of Newry. A 31 year old cook, who lived at the Black Bear and worked in a nearby town, had called his parents and asked them to come to the Black Bear. When they arrived they noticed a trail of blood leading to the back of the Inn. They followed the blood trail and found the dismembered body of a woman. They immediately called the police. When the police arrived they found the bodies of two more women. All three victims had been shot and dismembered. The state police chief, Craig Poulin said, “This is a particularly gruesome crime…a crime of horrific proportions.” The cook, Christian Nielsen, confessed. He had also killed a man and attempted to burn his remains.

  Nielsen walked the police through the murders. He killed James Whitehurst on Friday and dumped his body in the woods. On Sunday, he killed the innkeeper, 65 year old Julie Ballard. On Monday, Julie’s daughter Selby showed up with a friend. The visit was quite unexpected. Both were murdered the same day. The police recovered what was left of James Whitehurst from the woods outside of town. Nielsen was charged with the four murders. He had apparently been late with the rent and Julie Bullard was attempting to have him evicted. Nielsen was found guilty on all four counts of murder. He received four life sentences with no chance of parole.

  Who Shot the War Hero?

  Denver Colorado 1981: Glenn Greening was an American hero. He signed up with the US Air Force in 1939 at the beginning of World War II. When the US entered the war after being attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor, he began flying combat missions in the South Pacific. His military record was impressive. That record consisted of four bronze stars and 20 commendations. Glenn retired from the Air Force in 1967 at the rank of senior master sergeant. After retiring he became a successful salesman. He was married with one daughter.

  On February 24, 1981 Greening traveled to Denver on a business trip. He met up with two friends at the Landmark Hotel at 8pm. At about 9:30, the trio then went over to the Rodeo Lounge. A bit later Greening went outside alone. At 11:25pm his body was discovered in the parking lot. Sgt. Bang of the Glendale Police figured that Greening had been gunned down during a robbery attempt. Greening’s wallet was missing. Sgt. Bang said: “It didn’t go like the robber wanted and Mr. Greening got shot.” Bang believes that there is still someone out there who knows something and he still believes that the case can be solved. Anyone with any information is asked to call the Glendale police Department at 303-607-2589.

  On a frigid winter night in Colorado, Glenn Greening was shot in a parking lot and left to die. A war hero deserves better.

  The Colorado Springs Killings

  Colorado Springs, Colorado 1975: The duo of Freddie Glenn (above) and Michael Corbett committed their first murder on June 19, 1975. They grabbed Daniel Van Lone who had just finished his shift at the Four Seasons Hotel. They drove the 29 year old cook to a remote field and ordered him to lay down on the ground. Michael Corbett then shot him in the head. The robbery netted the killers a whopping 50 cents. Corbett was a soldier at Fort Carson. On June 27, Corbett and Glenn were set to meet another soldier at Prospect Lake. Corbett was supposed to sell Winfred Proffitt some marijuana. Instead, he became the pair’s second murder victim. At Fort Carson, Corbett was being trained with bayonets and he stabbed the 19 year old Proffitt just to see what it would feel like.. A few days later, on July 1 Glenn and Proffitt along with two recruits decided to rob the Red Lobster on S. Academy Blvd. in Colorado Springs. They left without any cash but grabbed an 18 year old woman on the way out. They took the woman to an apartment and repeatedly raped her. She was then taken t
o a trailer park where she was strangled by Glenn. She died just as she reached a house for help. A bloody fingerprint showed that she was inches away from the doorbell when she collapsed. The victim went unidentified for a week. Her name was Karen Grammer.

  Karen Grammer

  Karen Grammer with her brother Kelsey circa 1974

  Corbett completed the murder spree by shooting 21 year old Winslow Watson in the face. The killers were arrested within days. Corbett was charged with the murders of Van Lone, Proffitt and Watson. He was found guilty on all three counts. He received two life sentences and the death penalty. Glenn was charged with the murders of Van Lone, Proffitt and Karen Grammer. He also received two life sentences and the death penalty. The death penalty was for the Grammer murder which had the aggravated rape charge attached to it.

  Two years later the Colorado Supreme Court abolished the death penalty. Freddie Glenn became eligible to apply for parole in 2009. Kelsey Grammer had planned to attend the parole hearing but his plane was delayed in New York. The Parole Board did hear a written statement from him that called Glenn a murderer and a monster. He was turned down and can next apply for parole in July 2014. He is currently serving out his sentence at the Buena Vista Correctional Complex in Buena Vista, Colorado. Michael Corbett became eligible to apply for parole in 1996. He has been denied parole four times, the latest being in 2010. He can apply again in June 2015. Corbett is serving out his sentence at the Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center in Denver, Colorado.