History of Charles Manson in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 12, 2026

Charles Manson was an American criminal and cult leader who led the 'Manson Family,' a quasi-commune that emerged in California in the late 1960s. Manson manipulated his followers, primarily disaffected young people, into committing a series of brutal murders in the Los Angeles area in 1969, most infamously the killing of actress Sharon Tate and six others. Manson’s motive was reportedly rooted in his delusional belief in an impending apocalyptic race war, which he termed 'Helter Skelter,' a concept he derived from his obsession with The Beatles. Although Manson did not physically commit the murders himself, he was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He remained a notorious figure in American culture until his death in prison in 2017. His life and crimes became a lasting symbol of the dark side of the 1960s counterculture movement, frequently appearing in media and psychological studies regarding cult dynamics and indoctrination.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1909: Birth of William Eugene Manson

William Eugene Manson, a laborer at a dry cleaning business and husband to Kathleen Maddox, was born in 1909.

1916: Birth of Lewis Woodson Cavender Jr.

Lewis Woodson Cavender Jr., an alcoholic who would eventually marry Charles Manson's mother, was born in 1916.

1916: Birth of Luther Elbert Maddox

Luther Elbert Maddox, the brother of Kathleen Maddox, was born in 1916.

August 1934: Maddox Marries William Eugene Manson

In August 1934, Kathleen Maddox entered into a marriage with William Eugene Manson, a laborer who worked for a dry cleaning company.

November 12, 1934: Birth of Charles Manson

On November 12, 1934, Charles Milles Manson, originally named Maddox, was born, marking the beginning of the life of the future criminal and cult leader.

April 30, 1937: Divorce of Kathleen Maddox and William Eugene Manson

On April 30, 1937, Kathleen Maddox and William Eugene Manson were officially divorced following allegations of gross neglect of duty; Charles retained his father's surname thereafter.

1937: Paternity Suit Judgment against Colonel Walker Henderson Scott Sr.

In 1937, a paternity suit filed by Ada Kathleen Maddox against Colonel Walker Henderson Scott Sr. concluded with an agreed judgment. This legal action was taken regarding the parentage of Charles Manson, who was born to Maddox in 1934.

January 28, 1939: Birth of Rosalie Jean Willis

Rosalie "Rosie" Jean Willis, who would later marry Charles Manson, was born on January 28, 1939.

August 1, 1939: Arrest and Imprisonment of Kathleen and Luther

On August 1, 1939, Kathleen Maddox and her brother Luther Elbert Maddox were arrested for charges of assault and robbery, leading to prison sentences of five and ten years, respectively.

1942: Parole of Kathleen Maddox

In 1942, Charles Manson's mother was released on parole, leading to a brief period that Manson later recalled as the happiest time of his childhood.

August 1943: Marriage of Kathleen Maddox to Lewis Woodson Cavender Jr.

In August 1943, after moving to Indianapolis, Charles Manson's mother, Kathleen Maddox, married Lewis Woodson Cavender Jr., whom she had met through Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

1947: Christmas at Aunt and Uncle's House

During the 1947 Christmas season, Charles Manson fled his home to stay with his mother before relocating to his aunt and uncle's residence in West Virginia.

1947: Placement in Gibault School for Boys

In 1947, at the age of 13, Charles Manson was placed in the Gibault School for Boys in Terre Haute, Indiana, due to a shortage of available foster home placements. The institution, which was a facility for male delinquents operated by Catholic priests, utilized harsh physical punishments such as beatings with wooden paddles and leather straps, eventually leading Manson to escape and live as a runaway in 1947.

1948: First Documented Criminal Act

In 1948, after running away to Indianapolis, Manson committed his first documented crime by robbing a grocery store to secure food, eventually using the stolen money to rent a room and purchase supplies.

1949: Manson's Incarceration and Criminal Escalation

In 1949, a judge sentenced Charles Manson to the Boys Town juvenile facility in Omaha, Nebraska, following a string of thefts. Manson escaped after only four days, joined by Blackie Nielson; together, they stole a car, committed two armed robberies, and were eventually apprenticed by a professional thief in Peoria, Illinois. Later in 1949, Manson was arrested during a store raid and subsequently sent to the Indiana Boys School reformatory.

1950: Death of Luther Elbert Maddox

Luther Elbert Maddox, who had a history of drinking sprees with his sister Kathleen, died in 1950.

February 1951: Escape from the Indiana Boys School

In February 1951, Charles Manson successfully escaped from the Indiana Boys School alongside two other boys after multiple previous attempts. During their flight, the group committed a series of robberies at filling stations and stole vehicles to travel toward California. They were ultimately apprehended by authorities in Utah, leading to Manson's transfer to the National Training School for Boys in Washington, D.C. for transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines.

October 1951: Transfer to Natural Bridge Honor Camp

In October 1951, following the recommendation of a psychiatrist, Charles Manson was relocated to the Natural Bridge Honor Camp, a minimum security facility located in Virginia.

February 1952: Scheduled Parole Hearing

In February 1952, Charles Manson had a parole hearing scheduled, though his previous conduct in January 1952, which involved a violent criminal act, had already led to his transfer to the Federal Reformatory in Petersburg, Virginia.

May 1954: Early Release from Reformatory

Due to demonstrated good behavior, Charles Manson was granted an early release from the reformatory in May 1954, allowing him to move in with his aunt and uncle in West Virginia.

January 1955: Marriage to Rosalie Jean Willis

In January 1955, Charles Manson married Rosalie "Rosie" Jean Willis, a hospital waitress.

November 1955: Original Release Date

By November 1955, Charles Manson would have reached his 21st birthday, which was the original date set for his expected release from the maximum security reformatory in Chillicothe, Ohio.

March 1956: Arrest in Indianapolis

Following his failure to attend a court hearing in Los Angeles regarding interstate transport of a stolen vehicle, Charles Manson was arrested in Indianapolis in March 1956, leading to the revocation of his probation and a three-year prison sentence.

April 10, 1956: Birth of Charles Manson Jr.

On April 10, 1956, Rosalie gave birth to Charles Manson Jr. while Charles Manson was serving time in prison.

March 1957: End of Marital Visits

In March 1957, Charles Manson was informed by his mother that his wife, Rosalie, had stopped visiting him and was living with another man.

September 1958: Parole and Divorce

In September 1958, Charles Manson was granted five years of parole, coinciding with the legal finalization of his divorce from his wife, Rosalie.

September 1959: Guilty Plea and Suspended Sentence

In September 1959, Manson pleaded guilty to attempting to cash a forged U.S. Treasury check he had stolen from a mailbox. Following a plea for his release by Leona Rae "Candy" Stevens, he was granted a ten-year suspended sentence and probation.

April 1960: Indictment for violation of the Mann Act

In April 1960, Charles Manson was formally indicted for violating the Mann Act after previously fleeing from probation and becoming the subject of an outstanding bench warrant related to his illegal transport of women for prostitution.

July 1961: Transfer to McNeil Island Penitentiary

In July 1961, Charles Manson was transferred from the Los Angeles County Jail to the United States Penitentiary located on McNeil Island, Washington. During his incarceration there, he received guitar instruction from criminal Alvin "Creepy" Karpis, engaged in hypnosis sessions with fellow inmate Danny Trejo, and connected with record producer Phil Kaufman through another prisoner, while his mother relocated to the area to work as a waitress.

September 1961: Annual Review Observation

In September 1961, Charles Manson's annual review noted that he possessed a significant drive to seek attention for himself.

1961: Death of William Eugene Manson

William Eugene Manson, the man whose surname Charles Manson kept after the divorce, passed away in 1961.

1963: Divorce and Paternity Allegation

In 1963, Leona was officially granted a divorce from Manson, during which she alleged that they had a child together named Charles Luther Manson.

September 1964: Repeated Behavioral Assessment

During an annual review in September 1964, officials reiterated the 1961 observation regarding Manson's intense need to call attention to himself.

1965: Refutation of Monkees Audition Legend

In late 1965, claims that Manson auditioned for the band the Monkees were proven to be an urban legend, as he was incarcerated at McNeil Island during that period.

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1968: Influence of the White Album

In 1968, Charles Manson became fixated on the eponymous 1968 album by The Beatles, interpreting their lyrics as cryptic messages that prophesied a coming race war he dubbed "Helter Skelter."

1968: The Beach Boys record Cease to Exist

In 1968, the rock band The Beach Boys recorded Charles Manson's composition "Cease to Exist," subsequently renaming it "Never Learn Not to Love" and releasing it as a B-side single, though Manson did not receive formal credit for his work.

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1969: The Tate–LaBianca Murders

During 1969, Manson's followers committed the infamous Tate–LaBianca murders in Los Angeles, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals under Manson's orders.

1979: Death of Lewis Woodson Cavender Jr.

Lewis Woodson Cavender Jr., the man who married Charles Manson's mother in 1943, passed away in 1979.

June 29, 1993: Death of Charles Manson Jr.

Charles Manson Jr., the son of Charles Manson and Rosalie, passed away on June 29, 1993.

August 21, 2009: Death of Rosalie Jean Willis

Rosalie "Rosie" Jean Willis passed away on August 21, 2009.

November 19, 2017: Death of Charles Manson

Charles Manson, the founder of the Manson Family, passed away on November 19, 2017.

2017: Death of Charles Manson

After serving a lengthy prison sentence for his involvement in various crimes, Charles Manson passed away in 2017 due to health complications arising from colon cancer.