Charles 'Tex' Watson: No Parole 42 Years After Manson 'Family' Killings

Charles "Tex" Watson, the former disciple of Charles Manson who once referred to himself as the cult leader's "lieutenant for killing," has been denied parole again.

A two-member panel of the California Board of Parole Hearings refused Watson's bid for parole Wednesday, during a routine annual hearing at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, 50 miles southeast of Sacramento. The rejection marks hearing 16 ordering the former member of the Manson "family" to remain in prison.

Watson, 65, is serving a life sentence at Mule Creek for his part in the Sharon Tate-LaBianca killings 42 years ago. In 1969, Watson was convicted by a Los Angeles County court on seven counts of murder -- crimes masterminded by one-time cult leader Charles Manson.

"There's no question these were some of the most horrific crimes in California history in terms of the brutality, the multiple stab wounds, the gunshots, the large number of victims over a two-day period," Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Patrick Sequeira told the Associated Press.

Watson, who fathered four children behind bars with his ex-wife via conjugal visits, did not attend his last parole hearing in 2006. He received a maximum five-year denial.

According to Watson's website, aboundinglove.org, he converted to Christianity in 1975 and became an ordained minister in 1983. In 2009, Watson graduated from California Coast University with a B.S. in business management.

"His distant past is a tragedy from any point of view, but for the previous three decades, his life has testified to the awesome grace of God," reads a statement on Watson's website.

Anthony DiMaria, a nephew of victim Jay Sebring, remains unconvinced.

"They've often been portrayed as these victims of Manson, and they are killers. They're mass murderers," DiMaria told the AP.

Manson, now 77, refused to appear at his most recent parole hearing in May 2007. He will be eligible to re-apply for parole in 2012.

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Comments

[Angelo N Aimee Angerome]

10:37 AM on 05/11/2012

He fathered 4 kids via conjugal visits?! So disgusted

[LOVE4SALE]

06:11 PM on 04/18/2012

Isn't it wonderful that this sack of human garbage managed to find Jesus now that its convenient for him to do so. Too bad Sharon Tate and her unborn baby never got that chance.

[Kambriel2]

10:28 PM on 04/17/2012

Tex, give it up. You're there for the rest of your days.

[keinott]

07:57 AM on 04/13/2012

He is suppose to be dead because of his original death penalty. In that regard alone he has already been given a bigger break than he'll ever deserve. I don't believe therefore anyone will ever have a legitimate complaint about someone like him never ever getting parole . When you stop to consider that he was allowed to go on and make something of his life with a college degree, marriage, conjugal visits, his own children, and any friends he's met and made along the way, he has been given way more than any of his victims were given . The victims have never had their "deaths" overturned like Watson had his death sentence overturned ,

[arrow7]

05:10 PM on 04/11/2012

It is so hard to comprehend that he was GIVEN conjugal visits in prison!!!!! Plus a college degree.
Regardless if he has turned to Christianaty or not.....Why are taxpayers paying for this killer to breed and get a college education.......Totally wrong.......

[Wyvern Wycliffe]

05:16 PM on 04/17/2012

It is all part of Charlie's continued influence on you (yes YOU). If you even acknowledge his or Atkins' discovery of Christ, or their supposed confessions (where they continue to supplicate Charlie and continue to protect Family members who are at large and continue to obfuscate their true motives, or their attempts at showing "remorse" when they cannot even demonstrate that they understand what remorse is, and cannot even understand the magnitude of their own crimes, it's all part of the same sickness that got them where they are in the first place... and "the first place" begins long before Tex Watson and Charles Manson ever crossed paths. Watson is a psychopath with or without Manson.

[Frank Blackstone]

02:22 PM on 04/11/2012

Too Bad the Vengance and Parole boards can not look behind them and see the change and let the past somehow slip into history , The relatives showing up demanding Life and seeking there Vengance is not the way Parole was suposed to be , The Parole board is suposed to be for seeing change and having regret and giving a second chance at a life . I find it shamefull they can not see the person before them and not the views of the past stories told them .....Frank Blackstone

[sandiegoconservative]

10:29 AM on 04/12/2012

I am sure you will welcome convicted murderers into your home and life then? When can we assume you will be at your local prison to offer the next murderer a chance to live with you?

[lpatches2000]

01:10 AM on 04/17/2012

@ Frank Blackstone,
These individuals were given a second chance at a life; their death penalty was changed to life in prison! Did their victims get a second chance at a life?

[jmmgausa]

11:17 PM on 04/03/2012

The book that Susan Atkins never finished is posted on http://freesusanatkins.net. According to her these murders were committed for money for drugs. The Helter Skelter thing was how Manson got them to do his bidding but he was really just trying to get money. It's an interesting read.

[Wyvern Wycliffe]

05:26 PM on 04/17/2012

"According to her." She went to her grave with you still convinced that any word out of her mouth is the truth. She pretended to confess, while continuing to withhold anything and everything that could either contribute to our understanding of the case or her role in it, and her pretense at remorse is especially hard to take because it is abundantly clear that she never understood the concept of remorse, so failed to actually experience it, ever. She went to hell and left, at best, half-truths behind. She protected Charlie and the rest of the Family to her dying breath. The confession in her book? Where she tells "truth" it's just far enough to draw you in. That's how Charlie does it, and Tex, and the rest of them. And you buy it, and you don't think you're being manipulated.

[jmmgausa]

10:32 PM on 04/25/2012

Well I just stated facts about her unfinished book. I know what those people did.

[jadeaic]

10:17 AM on 03/21/2012

They should have gotten the death penalty - instead they got life in prison, which is exactly what it says. LIFE. Anyone, brainwashed, drugged up or not, who can brutally kill people like he did should never be able to be amongst society again. EVER.

[kelliwalters4u]

01:35 AM on 03/08/2012

What woman would want to have a child with him?????

[baileywick]

06:38 PM on 02/28/2012

Look at his photo on Wikipedia. Same look in his eyes.

[ww5022]

05:42 AM on 02/15/2012

Sorry Tex, There's no place like Ione. I'm sure Jesus will welcome you into the next life and all will be forgiven. For now, let's just keep you locked up.

[iLdoRight]

04:27 AM on 04/05/2012

Your read on the Bible is not the same as mine, I have listened to it many times all the way through and I don't think his outcome will be as you think.

[JudKast]

04:23 PM on 02/13/2012

Fascination abounds for these individuals that are mass serial killers. Each case is unique with some inter-twining elements that preclude all other people in society. I have always believed that these serial killers should not be released. It is better for them to be structured and in a confining, mundane environment to prevent their "acting out" again to occur. It is important to continue to study these individuals when they are willing to cooperate while confined to possibly help in eliminating some of the causes for them to continue to do this. Research study is important but eradication of their symtomology and perversive acts will never be witnessed. They are just too complex and determined to continue in their heinous crimes. By the power of God can they only be helped.

[ww5022]

05:51 AM on 02/15/2012

More mass killers than serial. The only manson family member who might get out is Leslie Van Houton and that won't be until she's in her 70's. Oddly enough she was only present at the Labianca murders and only stabbed Mrs Labianca after Watson and Susan Krenwinkel had already killed her. She had poor legal representation. She actually could have walked due to a techicallity during the trail. Her court appointed lawyer didn't see it and he blew it. She was granted a new trial and should have pleaeded to a lesser charge but again had poor representation. She was actually out on bail during her second trial. Imagine.

[sandiegoconservative]

10:31 AM on 04/12/2012

Squeaky Fromme (sp?) already got out. Last I heard, she was living in upstate NY somewhere?

[carman9157]

02:58 PM on 01/24/2012

ALL of these people should die in prison just as Susan Atkins did. I was a young girl in 1969 to 1972, growing up in Los Angeles and make no mistake, EVERYONE was scared during the murders and trial. My parents were scared as well and that is not a pretty site to remember growing up. The neighbor hood was scared too. The toll it took on everyone was terrible. Even people I have found on Facebook still remember this time too!

[C Sparkman]

11:00 PM on 04/10/2012

Yup, it's a waste of money to even consider letting people like this out. It's horrible actually. Seems like a coalition of people and politicians could get it together and put away violent people forever.

[peacechants]

09:23 PM on 01/04/2012

Watson still has a crazed look on his face. Taking lives while under the influence of LSD must surely burn its effects permanently into someone's conciousness. Notoriety aside, the remaining members of the Tate family will never let Watson or any of the other convicted Manson cult members get out of prison, nor will they let the memory of Sharon Tate and the other victims fade. Squeaky Fromm was released from Federal prison after the passing of President Ford, but it will never happen to those connected with the Tate/Labianca slayings.

[sejs105]

05:56 PM on 12/15/2011

Hello Friends I read the first page of the comments on the refusal of parole for Mr. Watson. Many of us are still outraged about the events of August 9, 1969. If you care to do so, read www.susanatkins.com She outlines with the aid of her husband the events that led up to that night. Not only were there those killing there were others. Should we then continue to viilify William Calley and his men for the killings at My Lai? Or the people responsible for the massacre at Bien Hoa? Or the Khmer Rouge for the killings in Cambodia? No The past is the past. That is what happened. Is that what is happening now is what we should be concentrating on.

[Ariel Bonzai]

07:38 AM on 01/02/2012

No site. It was there awhile back because I used it for research on an essay I wrote about Atkins following her death. I did not read the explication of events that tragic night though.