Manson follower Susan Atkins dead at 61
From Linda Deutch, Associated Press:
LOS ANGELES -- Susan Atkins, a follower of cult leader Charles Manson whose remorseless witness stand confession to killing pregnant actress Sharon Tate in 1969 shocked the world, has died. She was 61 and had been suffering from brain cancer.
Atkins' death comes less than a month after a parole board turned down the terminally ill woman's last chance at freedom on Sept. 2. She was brought to the hearing on a gurney and slept through most of it.
California Department of Corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton said that Atkins died late Thursday night. She had been diagnosed with brain cancer in 2008, had a leg amputated and was given only a few months to live.
She underwent brain surgery, and in her last months was paralyzed and had difficulty speaking. But she managed to speak briefly at the Sept. 2 hearing, reciting religious verse with the help of her husband, attorney James Whitehouse.
She had been transferred to a skilled nursing facility at the California Central Women's Facility at Chowchilla exactly one year before she died.
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
I hope she burns krispy style in hell....
yeah lets hope she gets it all .
At least this is one less murderer whose parole hearings Sharon Tate's sister will have to worry about attending. It's unfortunate that the grief and stress imposed on the families by appeals and hearings becomes a life sentence in many cases.
That's not Susan Atkins on the picture! That's an actress.
Anyways...
"She's gone where the goblins go
below - below - below. Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out."
It's good that we are able to take the home loans and that opens new possibilities.