| 1969, January |
The Family moved to 20910 Gresham Street in
Canoga Park near Spahn Ranch because Death Valley is cold in the winter.
Manson named the house "The Yellow Submarine". Manson
started talking about Helter Skelter and planning escape routes to the
desert. |
| 1969, February |
Manson told Brooks Poston (at the
Gresham Street house) that blacks would go from ghettos to the rich sections
of Los Angeles and commit horrible murders and write "pigs" on the wall in
blood. |
| 1969, February 12 |
Sharon and Roman signed lease for 10050 Cielo Drive for $1200 per month. |
| 1969, February 15 |
Sharon and Roman moved to 10050 Cielo Drive. |
| 1969, February 18 |
Mt. Whitney plane crash
(near Lone Pine, CA). 35 aboard and all
died. Crashed at 11,800 feet. |
| 1969, Late February |
Manson sent Brooks Poston and
Juanita Wildebush to Barker Ranch. The remainder of the Family moved
back to Spahn Ranch. |
| 1969, February or March |
Charles Watson returned to the
Family. |
| 1969, March |
William Garretson had originally
planned to return to Ohio but a drug arrest changed plans.
Garretson moved into Cielo guest house.
Garretson saw Frykowski making a home movie of a nude woman in Cielo
swimming pool. Abigail and about two other men were present. |
| 1969, March (est) |
Garretson heard prowlers at Cielo. |
| 1969, Mid-March |
Polanskis gave party at 10050 Cielo. 100 guests. Fight with
crashers. One had previously threatened to kill Voytek. |
| 1969, March 21 |
The gun used in the Tate murders
was stolen from the Archery Headquarters in El Monte, CA. Randy Starr
got it from someone named Ron. Eventually traded it to Manson.
(.22 caliber Longhorn, serial number 1902708) |
| 1969, March 23 |
Manson went to visit Rudi Altobelli and
stopped at the Tate house and saw Sharon and her photographer,
Sharok Hatami (spelled in books as Shahrokh). He was sent to the guest house but left shortly.
He returned that evening and spoke to Altobelli. Sharon, Abigail, Jay and
Wojtek
were at the main house during the second visit. This was possibly just
one visit, though. |
| 1969, March 24 |
Tate and Altobelli flew to Rome, Italy
together. |
| 1969, March |
Danny DeCarlo met Manson shortly after separating from his wife. |
| 1969, Late March or Early April |
Charles Watson returned to the
Family. |
| 1969, April |
Bruce Davis quit working at
Scientology headquarters in London. |
| 1969, April 1 |
Barbara Hoyt joined the Family.
Started living with them on and off. Family lived on Gresham St. at
the time. |
| 1969, April 9 |
Dale Butler (Butler's
Buggy Shop) learned that he had purchased a stolen VW from a friend of
Manson (Patricia Joan Baldwin). The VW had been stolen from Butler's
own rear storage yard. He reported the incident to police. |
| 1969, Spring |
Paul Crockett was prospecting in Death Valley
and met Manson's advance party. |
| 1969, April 5 |
Clem Grogan arrested for grand theft money and
prowling |
| 1969, April |
Charles Melton visited Paul
Watkins at Spahn Ranch. He met Watson who told him "Maybe Charlie will
let me grow a beard someday." |
| 1969, April 23 |
Charles Watson was arrested in Van Nuys,
California for drugs (belladonna). |
| 1969, April 25 |
Bruce Davis left
England and returned to United States. |
| 1969, Early May |
Bruce Davis arrived at
Spahn Movie Ranch. |
| 1969, May |
Jay opened a shop in San Francisco (in addition to his existing salon). |
| 1969, May 18 |
Melcher visited Manson at Spahn Ranch. |
| 1969, May 20 |
Clem Grogan arrested for grand theft auto. |
| 1969, May 27 |
Darwin Scott (Manson's uncle) was
murdered in Ashland, Kentucky. |
| 1969, Late May |
Darrell Kistler moved into Cielo guest house (Garretson was already living
there). Kistler and two girl visitors talked to someone at main house
that was using mescaline. |
| 1969, Late May or Early June |
Manson told Watkins that the
blacks could only do what the whites had taught them and that he was going
to have to show them how to start the race war. A few days later,
Watkins went to Barker Ranch. |
| 1969, June-August |
According to Diane Lake, Manson
told the Family several times that they had to be willing to kill pigs in
order to help the blacks start Helter Skelter. This was in June, July
and August. |
| 1969, June 3 |
Terry Melcher, Gregg Jakobson and Mike Deasy
visited Manson at Spahn Ranch. Melcher and Manson argued. A
"starlet" named Shara or Sharon was with Melcher. |
| 1969, June 4 |
Manson was booked on a
rape charge for a rape that occurred at Spahn Movie Ranch. |
| 1969, June 4 |
Edward "Sunshine" Pierce left Spahn Ranch and
flew home to Texas due to Manson talking about wanting to kill someone
(probably Melcher). |
| 1969, June 11 |
Clem Grogan arrested for child molesting and
indecent exposure |
| 1969, Late June |
Bob Kasabian called Linda in New
Hampshire and suggested a reconciliation. He was living with Charles
Melton who had recently inherited $20,000. Linda and Tanya, her
daughter, flew to Los Angeles but the reconciliation failed. |
| 1969, Late June |
Garretson kicked Darrell Kistler,
Debbie Tidwell and Patty Montgomery out of guest house. |
| 1969, June or July |
Manson bought rope at Jack Frost in Santa Monica similar to Tate murder
rope |
| 1969, Early July (est) |
Lake says Manson told the Family
"I'm going to have to start the revolution." |
| 1969, July 1 |
Manson shot Bernard "Lotsapoppa" Crowe.
T.J. the Terrible was with Manson. |
| 1969, July 4 |
Catherine Share visited Melton and
met Linda Kasabian. Told her about Manson. Linda and Tanya moved
to Spahn Ranch that same day. Kasabian had sex with Watson and she
told him about Melton's inheritance. Watson suggested they steal it. |
| 1969, July 5 |
Kasabian stole $5000 from Melton
and gave it to Watson or Van Houten. Had already given her own
possessions. Kasabian had sex with Manson. |
| 1969, July 15 |
VW reported stolen
from Dick Joyce Volkswagen Agency In Van Nuys. Spotted in ditch at
Spahn Movie Ranch about August 1, 1969 during aerial flyover by Officer Ted
Leigh. |
| 1969, July 18 |
Mark Walts was murdered in Santa Monica.
Some believe he was a Manson Family victim. |
| 1969, July 19 |
Clem Grogan escaped from Camarillo |
| 1969, July 21 |
Police visited Spahn
Movie Ranch while investigating murder of Mark Walts. Among the police
was Officer Leigh. |
| 1969, July 24 |
Flat bed truck with 2
or 3 VW engines was spotted at Spahn Movie Ranch by fire department who
reported it to police on August 9, 1969. |
| 1969, July 25 to 27 |
Gary Hinman torture/murder. |
| 1969, July 28 |
2:30 A.M. police found
two stolen vehicles at Spahn Movie Ranch. Police encountered a man
named Summers, who was probably actually Manson. Search of ranch found
rifles. |
| 1969, July 28 |
Deputies ran license check on Hinman's Fiat at Spahn Ranch |
| 1969, July 29 |
On or about this
date, Officer Leigh received ammunition which fell from a dune buggy on the
highway. Leigh was contacted by Manson who said they were his. |
| 1969, July 30 |
Fire Department
spotted several rifles at Spahn Movie Ranch. Reported to police on
August 9, 1969. |
| 1969, July 30 |
Call to Esalen Institute placed
from Tate house. 3:07 PM. |
| 1969, July 31 |
Gary Hinman's body was discovered. |
| 1969, Late July |
Manson told DeCarlo that
establishment pigs should have their throats cut and be hung by their feet. |
| |
|
| 1969, August 1 |
Police flew over Spahn
Movie Ranch and observed VW parts. |
| 1969, August 1 |
Barry Hanlin reported
to police seeing two men with rifles walking along highway near Spahn Movie
Ranch. Reported having heard automatic weapons being fired during
evening hours, recently. |
| 1969, August 1 (est) |
Manson told Family that he was
going to Big Sur to seek new members. Did not leave until August 3. |
| 1969, Early August |
Kasabian and Good were picked up
by an actor, Saladin Nader, whom Kasabian had sex with, in Venice, CA. Returned
to his apartment building on night of LaBianca murders. Note that
Nader lived extremely close to Mark Ross. |
| 1969, August 1 or 2 |
Possible visit to Esalen Institute by Tate or Folger. |
| 1969, August 3 |
Manson left Los Angeles headed for Big Sur.
Bought gas in Canoga Park. May have gone to Esalen Institute in Big Sur
that day (per Sanders). |
| 1969, August 4 |
Manson picked up Stephanie Schram, probably in
Gorda, CA. Had sex that night. |
| 1969, August 4 |
Manson bought gas in Lucia, CA. |
| 1969, August 5 |
Winifred Chapman cleaned Tate
bedroom door where Krenwinkel's fingerprint would later be found. |
| 1969, August 5 |
Manson went to Esalen Institute in Big Sur,
at night (per Bugliosi).
Apparently, he auditioned for several people and was turned down. |
| 1969, August 6 |
Manson returned to Schram whom
he'd left in van overnight. Later, he struck her. Left Big Sur.
Bought gas in San Luis Obispo and Chatsworth. Returned to Spahn Ranch
with Schram and spent the night. |
| 1969, August 6 |
Bobby Beausoleil arrested for Hinman
murder. |
| 1969, August 7 |
Manson and Schram left Spahn Ranch and went to
her sister's house in San Diego to get her clothes. Received traffic
citation near Oceanside, CA. Drove 1952 cream colored Ford bakery van
with license K70683. Manson told Schram's sister that blacks were getting ready to
overthrow the whites. Spent night in San Diego. |
| 1969, August 7 |
Last time Garretson had beer (four
cans) before arrest. Tom, the gardener, used guest house to make out
with his girlfriend, Karen. Tom gave him the beer. Tom and Karen
returned to guest house for two hours that night around 10:30 or 11:00.
Garretson smoked pot with them and took a
dexedrine (or something else). Garretson got sick. This was
possibly on August 6. |
| 1969, August 8 |
Chapman washed Tate's front door
around noon. Watson's fingerprint would later be found on this door. |
| 1969, August 8 |
Manson and Schram returned to
Spahn Ranch around 2:00 PM. |
| 1969, August 8 |
Manson learned Beausoleil had been arrested
for Hinman murder. |
| 1969, August 8 |
In the afternoon, Manson gave
Brunner and Good a stolen credit card to purchase items for him. The
two girls were arrested in San Fernando at 4:00PM. They were driving a 1952 Ford
van with license K70683. |
| 1969, August 8 |
Manson told Family about Esalen
visit. According to Kasabian, Manson then told
the Family "Now is the time for Helter Skelter." |
| 1969, August 8 |
Garretson was home all day.
Saw cars around 7:00. Received phone call from Altobelli that night.
He said Tate and others returned to Cielo around 8:30 or 9:00pm.
Garretson went to Sunset Strip and Turner's Drug Store. Returned to
guest house about 10:00pm. Watched TV and cooked TV dinner.
Parent arrived "about quarter of twelve." Parent asked about "the two
girls" in the main house. Parent called someone and then drank a beer
that Garretson gave him. Parent left and Garretson ate. Started
writing a letter to Darrell Kistler to ask him to visit. Heard dog
barking during night. Tried to call for time shortly before dawn but
phone was dead. Stayed up until daylight and then went to sleep. |
| 1969, August 9 |
Tate murders at 10050 Cielo Drive,
shortly after midnight. |
| 1969, August 9 |
Fire department
reported to police that they had seen VW engines on July 24 and several
rifles on July 30 at Sphan Movie Ranch. |
| 1969, August 10 |
Informant told police
he spent at least ten days at Spahn Movie Ranch since beginning of July and
had seen many weapons and had been threatened by Manson. |
| 1969, August 10 |
LaBianca murders at 3301 Waverly Drive. LaBiancas had been at Lake Isabella earlier that
day. |
| 1969, August 10 |
Kasabian told Manson she was
pregnant (after the murders) |
| 1969, August 11 or 12 |
Al Springer's first visit to Spahn Ranch. Manson demonstrated
sword throwing. |
| 1969, August 11 |
Manson sent Kasabian to stay at
waterfall area. |
| 1969, August 12 |
Dave Hannum started working at
Spahn Ranch. |
| 1969, August 12 |
Manson sent Kasabian to try to
visit Brunner, Good and Beausoleil. Borrowed Hannum's car. She
was unsuccessful in visiting. |
| 1969, August 13 |
Kasabian left Spahn Ranch.
Left her daughter, Tanya, behind. Went to Albuquerque, NM where her
husband was living. Car barrowed from Dave Hannum broke down.
Located husband at a commune in Lorien, NM. Told him about Tate-LaBianca
murders and leaving Tanya behind. Also, told a couple of others about
the murders. Eventually, she returned to Los Angeles to win her
daughter back from a foster family. Traveled to Miami, FL and then to
Concord, NH. |
| 1969, August |
After the Tate murders, Dennis
Wilson turned down Manson's demand for $1500 and Manson threatened Wilson's
child. The money was for a move to the desert. |
| 1969, August 14 |
Charles Watson and Dianne Lake
went to Olancha for about a week. |
| 1969, August 15 |
Al Springer's third and final visit to Spahn Ranch. |
| 1969, August 15 |
Straight Satans visited Spahn Ranch and broke sword because it had been
used in a crime. |
| 1969, August 16 |
Raid on Spahn Ranch. |
| 1969, August 12 |
Roman's original planned return date from London. |
| 1969, August 17 |
Charles Watson told Dianne Lake
about Tate murders. |
| 1969, August 25 or 26 |
Shorty Shea was murdered. |
| 1969, Late August or Early
September |
Manson gave Jakobson a bullet
and told him, "Tell Dennis there are more where this came from." |
| 1969, Late August or Early
September |
Van Houten told Lake that she had stabbed
someone near Griffith Park, near Los Feliz. |
| |
|
| 1969 |
Juanita eloped with Bob Berry (Paul Crockett's
partner). |
| 1969 |
Paul Crockett "deprogrammed" Brooks Poston and
Paul Watkins. |
| |
|
| 1969, September 1 |
Steven Weiss found Tate murder gun. |
| 1969, Early September |
Hoyt overheard Manson talking about killing
Shea. |
| 1969, September |
Manson and about eight others went to Barker
Ranch. Manson's first visit. Manson met Paul Crockett for first
time. More Family members arrived the next week. |
| 1969, September 9 |
Death Valley National Park rangers found burnt
Michigan loader. |
| 1969, September 11 |
Family stole a dune buggy from La
Paz Buggy Builders in Los Angeles. |
| 1969, September 16 |
Sandy Good's son was born in Los
Angeles. |
| 1969, September 22 |
Phone records show that someone at
Spahn Ranch called Dennis Wilson's private phone number. The following
day, Wilson had the phone disconnected. |
| 1969, September 23 |
Mary Brunner was freed
from jail on probation for credit card forgery at Sears. |
| 1969, Late September |
Watson told Brunner about killing Shea. |
| 1969, Late September |
Brunner went to
Wisconsin. |
| |
|
| 1969, October |
Charles Watson returned to Texas. |
| 1969, October 1 |
Fillipo Tennerelli was murdered.
Possible Manson Family victim. |
| 1969, October 3 |
Deputy Sheriff Don Ward interviewed Paul
Crockett and Brooks Poston about hippies in Golar Wash. |
| 1969, October 10 |
Schram and Lutesinger fled Barker
Ranch. |
| 1969, October 10 and 12 |
Barker Ranch raids. |
| 1969, October 27 |
Joel Pugh checked into Talgarth Hotel in
London with a female. He had been there since at
least April 25, 1969. |
| |
|
| 1969, Early November |
Charles Watson contacted
California attorneys about how to contact him if anything happened to him. |
| 1969, November 5 |
John Philip Haught (Zero) supposedly committed suicide at 28 Clubhouse Avenue, Venice,
California. |
| 1969, November |
Charles Watson moved from California to Texas. |
| 1969, November |
Charles Watson spent time with
Jeanne Denise Mallett in Texas. |
| 1969, November 6 |
Atkins tells Virginia Graham
everything. |
| 1969, November 17 |
Danny DeCarlo was interviewed by police. |
| 1969, November 18 |
Vincent Bugliosi was given Tate-LaBianca case. |
| 1969, November 19 |
Bugliosi visited Spahn Ranch.
Found .22 caliber bullets and shell casings. |
| 1969, November 21 |
James Sharp and Doreen Gaul were murdered in
LA. Some believe they were Manson Family victims. |
| 1969, November 25 |
Police took a door from Spahn
Ranch with the phrase "Helter Skelter is coming down fast" written on it. |
| 1969, November |
Bruce Davis went to England. |
| 1969, November |
Bugliosi asked the LAPD to
infiltrate the Family. He repeatedly requested this in the future but
it was never done. |
| 1969, Late November |
Joel Pugh's female roommate left him
after three weeks in hotel. |
| 1969, November 26 |
Bobby Beausoleil's first trial for the Hinman
murder ended in a hung jury. |
| 1969, November 29 |
Police found out Watson's true last name (had
been looking for "Montgomery"). |
| 1969, November 30 |
Police matched Watson's fingerprint to Tate
crime scene. |
| 1969, November 30 |
Watson was taken into custody in
McKinney, Texas. |
| |
|
| 1969, December |
Bruce Davis returned to California
from England. |
| 1969, December |
Ruth Ann Moorehouse
testified before grand jury and then went to live with her divorced mother
in Minnesota. Also began attending high school. |
| 1969, December 1 |
Joel Pugh was found dead in the Talgarth Hotel
in London, England. Later ruled suicide. |
| 1969, December 1 |
Pat Krenwinkel was arrested in Mobile,
Alabama. Initially gave last name as Montgomery. |
| 1969, December 1 |
LAPD Chief Davis gave press conference
announcing the solving of the Tate-LaBianca murders. |
| 1969, December 2 |
Linda Kasabian was arrested in Concord, New
Hampshire. Flown to LA the next day. |
| 1969, December 2 (est) |
Mary Brunner agreed to help police. |
| 1969, December 3 |
Schram told deputies about the
"murder school" at Barker Ranch. |
| 1969, December 4 |
Susan Atkins made deal to testify to grand
jury in order not to receive the death penalty. |
| 1969, December 4 |
Police matched Krenwinkel's fingerprint to
Tate crime scene. |
| 1969, December 4 |
Dennis Wilson received an
anonymous death threat. |
| 1969, December 5 |
Atkins testified to grand jury about
murders. |
| 1969, December 6 |
Police detected blood in John Swartz' 1959
Ford that was used for murders. Unable to determine if it was human. |
| 1969, December 8 |
Grand jury indicted Manson, Watson, Atkins,
Krenwinkel, Kasabian and Van Houten for Tate-LaBianca murders. |
| 1969, December 9 |
Manson was charged with Tate-LaBianca murders. |
| 1969, December 9 |
Police found Shorty Shea's 1962 Mercury in
Canoga Park. Prints were later matched to Bruce Davis. |
| 1969, December 9 |
Attorney arranged sell of Atkin's story. |
| 1969, December 10 |
Rosemary LaBianca's wallet was found in a
Sylmar, CA service station toilet tank. |
| 1969, December 10 |
Charles Watson court hearing. |
| 1969, December 11 |
Paul Fitzgerald was appointed as Manson's
lawyer. Bugliosi's watch stopped running. |
| 1969, December 12 |
Subpoena issued for Watson's
papers. Application for writ of habeas corpus. |
| 1969, December 14 |
Atkins' story appeared in Los Angeles Times. |
| 1969, December 15 |
KACB-TV found clothes of killers based on
Atkins' story in LA Times. |
| 1969, December 16 |
Atkins pleaded not guility. |
| 1969, December 16 |
After great pressure from citizen Bernard
Weiss, police "discover" they already have Tate murder gun. |
| 1969, December 17 |
Manson asks to be allowed to represent himself. |
| 1969, December 19 |
Van Houten changed attorneys from Barnett to
Part. |
| 1969, December 19 |
Manson appeared on cover of "Life" magazine. |
| 1969, December 24 |
Manson allowed to represent himself. |
| 1969, December 26 |
Police found house where Tate killers cleaned
up with water hose. Owner, Rudolf Weber, remembered license plate number. |
|
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