Helter Skelter
Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry
A book-length account for readers who want more detail.
1969 · Los Angeles, California
Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders
Fame, money & betrayal
Photo credit
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 1968 / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain (U.S.). Cropped/resized.Photographs are cropped to fit. Photo dates and original images are available through the source credits.
In August 1969, followers of Charles Manson murdered Sharon Tate and others at her home, then killed Leno and Rosemary LaBianca the following night. Manson and several followers were convicted. The extensive media coverage often examines how he directed and controlled the group.
EXPLORE THE CASE
The Story
When1969
WhereLos Angeles, California
In this collection47 resources
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Choose a book, screen story or audio episode from this case’s collection.
Helter Skelter: An American Myth
Apple TV
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Crime Time Inc — Charles Manson: The Celebrity Death List
Apple Podcasts
An audio option for exploring this case while listening.
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Where are they now?
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
Nicknames & media names
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Family Tree
The family relationships behind the story, gathered in one place.
Selected relationships only—not a complete genealogy. A family connection does not imply involvement in a crime.
FAMILY SNAPSHOT
Parents
- Paul James Tate
- Doris Gwendolyn Willett
Sharon Tate
This branch is for victim Sharon Tate. The group called the “Manson Family” was not a genealogical family.
About These Family Trees
These original diagrams summarize relationships reported by the linked sources. Community genealogy sites can contain errors and are not proof of identity or parentage. Full trees or record images may require an account. We omit speculative relationships, private contact details and unrelated living descendants.
Sources reviewed September 15, 2026. Suggest a sourced correction.
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Blogs & Essays
Read our articles here and explore outside perspectives, credited to their writers and publications. See this case in the Journal →
From the journal
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
Blogs & essays
1 itemsAbout these sources
Outside essays and reading guides reflect their authors’ perspectives. Compare claims with reported and primary sources.
The Manson Family Blog · Blog / essay
The Manson Family Blog - Tate LaBianca Murders - TLB - True Crime Investigative Research Site
A long-running independent blog about the Tate–LaBianca murders and related Manson-case material. Posts include contributor research and interpretation.
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Books
CONTINUE YOUR READING
Search this case on Amazon · paid linkSearch results may include unrelated titles. Check the author, edition, and case connection before purchasing.
Explore Reading & Streaming Options · Our case guides are free.
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Books
2 itemsVincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry
Helter Skelter
Book-length account or personal perspective. This link provides bibliographic details; compare the author’s account with reporting and records.
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Emma Cline · Loosely Inspired Fiction
The Girls
Cline’s novel uses a Manson-like cult as the setting for a fictional coming-of-age story. Evie and the other characters are inventions, not biographical portraits or a documentary account of the murders.
Fiction / DramatizationTitle & Source Information
Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
View on Amazon · paid linkExplore this book
Paperback · Check current price and availability on Amazon.
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Movies & TV
TV & documentaries
7 itemsAbout these sources
Episodes, documentaries and title listings. Season and episode numbers follow the linked catalog and can differ by service. Air dates are separate from crime dates. Playback availability varies by service and region.
Apple TV
Helter Skelter: An American Myth
Nonfiction screen coverage of this case. The linked page identifies the program or episode; playback, subscriptions, and regional availability vary.
Screen TitleAccess Varies · Check Source
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Search Amazon · paid linkViewing options & episode details
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
IMDb · Screen title
Making Manson (2024)
IMDb title reference connected to the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Listed release: 2024. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
Screen TitleTitle Details · Not Playback
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Search Amazon · paid linkCredits & title details on IMDb
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
Netflix · Scripted Series · Related Portrayal
MINDHUNTER (2017–2019)
The series includes an acted portrayal of Charles Manson within a larger story about FBI profiling. It is not a dedicated biography; interviews and conversations are dramatized.
Fiction / DramatizationOfficial Series Information · Check Viewing Availability
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Investigation Discovery · Season 3, Episode 7 · Listed air date 2009-10-01
Deadly Women — Evil Influence
Includes coverage of Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders. This is one segment in a multi-case episode; other segments may cover cases outside the United States.
Screen TitleAccess Varies · Check Source
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Search Amazon · paid linkEpisode details on TVmaze
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
Episode data: TVmaze · CC BY-SA 4.0
NBC · 2016 catalog, Episode 41 · Listed air date 2016-06-16
Dateline NBC — Manson
Includes coverage of Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders.
Screen TitleAccess Varies · Check Source
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Search Amazon · paid linkEpisode details on TVmaze
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
Episode data: TVmaze · CC BY-SA 4.0
ABC · 2017 catalog, Episode 11 · Listed air date 2017-03-17
20/20 — Truth and Lies: The Family Manson
Includes coverage of Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders.
Screen TitleAccess Varies · Check Source
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Search Amazon · paid linkEpisode details on TVmaze
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
Episode data: TVmaze · CC BY-SA 4.0
Show 1 more tv & documentaries
NBC · 2017 catalog, Episode 33 · Listed air date 2017-08-04
Dateline NBC — The Summer of Manson
Includes coverage of Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders.
Screen TitleAccess Varies · Check Source
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Search Amazon · paid linkEpisode details on TVmaze
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
Episode data: TVmaze · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Audiobooks
Listen to a book connected to this story. Each edition below is matched to its author and audiobook source.
Audiobook
Helter Skelter
Narrated by Scott Brick
Check the current price, edition and membership terms on Amazon.
Edition checked 2026-10-12
Fiction Audiobook
The Girls: A Novel
Unabridged
Cline’s novel uses a Manson-like cult as the setting for a fictional coming-of-age story. Evie and the other characters are inventions, not biographical portraits or a documentary account of the murders.
Audio edition verified at the linked source. The Amazon button is a title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed.
Edition checked 2026-10-12
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon buttons marked “paid link” may earn us a commission. Affiliate disclosure
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Fiction Work
Fiction Work
Browse all →Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
Emma Cline · Loosely Inspired Fiction
The Girls
Cline’s novel uses a Manson-like cult as the setting for a fictional coming-of-age story. Evie and the other characters are inventions, not biographical portraits or a documentary account of the murders.
Fiction / DramatizationTitle & Source Information
Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
View on Amazon · paid linkExplore this book
Paperback · Check current price and availability on Amazon.
Netflix · Scripted Series · Related Portrayal
MINDHUNTER (2017–2019)
The series includes an acted portrayal of Charles Manson within a larger story about FBI profiling. It is not a dedicated biography; interviews and conversations are dramatized.
Fiction / DramatizationOfficial Series Information · Check Viewing Availability
Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
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Podcasts
Podcasts
15 itemsAbout these sources
Audio episodes and oral histories. Personal recollections are attributed perspectives; some services require sign-in.
Apple Podcasts
Crime Time Inc — Charles Manson: The Celebrity Death List
Direct episode page for this case or its screen adaptation. Open it for listening options and the publisher’s episode notes.
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Morbid
Charles Manson Part 1 Ya dig?
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released June 26, 2018. About 57 minutes.
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Morbid
Charles Manson The “Love Bug Sent From Up Above” Part 2
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released July 5, 2018. About 81 minutes.
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Last Podcast On The Left
Episode 147: Charles Manson Part 1: An Incarcerated Life
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released February 17, 2015. About 75 minutes.
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Last Podcast On The Left
Episode 148: Charles Manson Part 2: The Turning of the Worm
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released February 17, 2015. About 79 minutes.
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Last Podcast On The Left
Episode 149: Charles Manson Part 3: The Devil's Work
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released February 17, 2015. About 91 minutes.
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Show 9 more podcasts
Killer Psyche
Charles Manson: His Mind and Motivations
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released January 7, 2025. About 50 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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True Crime with Kendall Rae
The Bizarre Story of Charles Manson
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released April 4, 2023. About 22 minutes.
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Serial Killers: The True Stories
Charles Manson - True Crime Documentary
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released December 16, 2025. About 108 minutes.
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The Conspiracy Files
The CIA Created Serial Killers: Charles Manson & MK Ultra
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released April 8, 2026. About 34 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
MURDEROUS MINDS: Charles Manson & The Manson Family Cult Pt.1
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released March 17, 2025. About 53 minutes.
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Murder, Mystery & Makeup
Fan Favorite & **UPDATE** The Charles Manson Cult Killings
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released April 8, 2025. About 52 minutes.
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UNMARKED: A True Crime Podcast
Did Netflix Get Charles Manson Right? | Case Notes
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released August 16, 2026. About 25 minutes.
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Serial Killers: Real Life Documentaries
Charles Manson - True Crime Documentary
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released December 13, 2025. About 108 minutes.
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Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
MURDEROUS MINDS: Charles Manson & The Manson Family Cult Pt. 2
Podcast coverage of the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Released March 20, 2025. About 52 minutes.
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Social Media
BRING YOUR PERSPECTIVE
Where would you start?
Choose your reading route, then share a question with your community.
Your choice stays on this page. No vote is submitted or counted.
Talk about sources and storytelling with care for the people affected. A documentary, a book and a court record serve different purposes.
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News & Reading
More Reading & Audio
3 sourcesExplore book records, previews, library audiobooks and selected documents. Access labels distinguish free material from library loans and paid subscriptions.
OverDrive · Library Access
Helter Skelter — Ebook
Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry. Related reading for Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders. This library catalog lists the edition. Borrowing depends on membership in that library and current availability.
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Open Library · Catalog / Availability
The family by Ed Sanders
Bibliographic record for related reading. Check the edition page for previews, lending and other access options; full text has not been confirmed.
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Google Books · Catalog / Availability
Helter Skelter
Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry. Related reading for Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders. Book information and any pages made available by Google Books; this is not a promise of full-text access.
View Catalog & Access Options ↗Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
Reading Access Notes
Search reviewed 2026-09-16. Sources searched: Google Books, Internet Archive, Open Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atavist Magazine, Google Books (case/title search), Scribd, Everand, OverDrive and hoopla (combined title search). Search indexing is incomplete; this is not an exhaustive list of the web. Access can change by edition, country and library membership. Library loans may require sign-in or a wait. Everand titles may need a paid subscription; a trial is not permanent free access. Scribd documents are third-party uploads, with uploader details noted where checked. We link to source pages and write our own descriptions rather than reproducing copyrighted books.
A separate Texas Monthly search was blocked by the publisher’s automated-access rules and could not be verified.
News & reporting
2 itemsTIME
Time — Reviewing Helter Skelter: An American Myth
Linked reporting or commentary. Read the source date for its historical context; access may require a subscription.
JournalismAccess Varies · Check Source
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Los Angeles Times
Reporting on Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders
Linked reporting or commentary. Read the source date for its historical context; access may require a subscription.
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Newspaper clippings
2 itemsFeatured newspaper clipping
Read our original summary below. The archive link opens the newspaper’s own clipping viewer.
Daily Independent Journal · 1971-10-23 · Page 53
A critic reviews Ed Sanders’s The Family
The books page evaluates Sanders’s account and questions its handling of fact and speculation.
Book criticism; includes other reviews.
Newspaper ReportingAccess Varies · Check Source
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Read the original at Newspapers.com. Access and subscription requirements are set by the archive.
Open full clipping at Newspapers.comMore from the newspaper archive
Continue with these dated reports on Newspapers.com.
The Times · 1970-12-22 · Page 2
Closing arguments begin in the Manson trial
An Associated Press report describes final arguments and courtroom disruptions.
Pre-verdict reporting; includes unrelated world news.
Read this article on Newspapers.comKeep following the newspaper trail.
Search original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.
Explore more on Newspapers.comNewspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.
Internet Archive
3 itemsAbout these sources
Library records and preserved media. A catalog listing does not guarantee full reading or playback.
Internet Archive · TV News Archive
Dateline : MSNBCW : March 28, 2020 11:00pm-12:00am PDT
The archive indexes this broadcast under Charles Manson. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
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Internet Archive · TV News Archive
Huckabee : FOXNEWS : August 9, 2009 2:00am-3:00am EDT
The archive indexes this broadcast under Charles Manson. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
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Internet Archive · TV News Archive
Lockup Raw : MSNBCW : February 3, 2012 8:00pm-9:00pm PST
The archive indexes this broadcast under Charles Manson. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
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Court & Files
Court records & documents
2 itemsAbout these sources
Documents are labeled by type and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. This collection is not the complete case file.
Court opinionArchive copy
People v. Manson — Tate–LaBianca appeal
The California appellate opinion reviewing the Tate–LaBianca prosecution. The judicial opinion is dated 1976 despite an inconsistent date in the host’s metadata.
- Court / agency
- California Courts of Appeal
- Document date
- August 13, 1976
- Case / citation
- Crim. 22239, 24376
- Hosted by
- Justia
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Court opinionArchive copy
People v. Manson — Hinman and Shea appeal
A separate appellate decision concerning the Gary Hinman and Donald Shea murders. These proceedings are distinct from the Tate–LaBianca trial.
- Court / agency
- California Courts of Appeal
- Document date
- June 23, 1977
- Hosted by
- Justia
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Positive Outcome
Positive Outcome
0 itemsAbout these sources
Documented laws, advocacy and reforms. Listing a change does not claim it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific reform has been verified for this collection yet.
Social Media
10 itemsAbout these sources
Case-specific posts, videos and communities. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting. Platforms may require sign-in.
Real Stories
Was Charles Manson Born To Kill? | True Crime Story | Real Stories
Video from Real Stories covering the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Length: 45:04.
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EXPLORE WITH US
The Disturbing Origins of Charles Manson: True Crime Documentary
Video from EXPLORE WITH US covering the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Length: 36:01.
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Real Crime
Charismatic Cult Leader Charles Manson: Born To Kill | Real Crime
Video from Real Crime covering the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Length: 45:05.
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Crime House
How Charles Manson Turned Followers Into Killers | Crimes Of...
Video from Crime House covering the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Length: 1:16:48.
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Downfall True Crime
The Unbelievable Story of Charles Manson | Full Serial Killer Documentary
Video from Downfall True Crime covering the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Length: 45:29.
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Real Crime
The FBI's Most Wanted Cult Leader: Charles Manson
Video from Real Crime covering the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Length: 44:57.
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Show 4 more social media
Netflix
Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes | Official Trailer | Netflix
Trailer or preview from Netflix covering the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Length: 2:22.
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AfricaOnNetflix
Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes | Official Trailer | Netflix
Trailer or preview from AfricaOnNetflix covering the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Length: 2:22.
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The Casual Criminalist
Charles Manson: America's Most Infamous Cult Leader
Video from The Casual Criminalist covering the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Length: 51:49.
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Investigation Discovery
Crimes of the Century- The Evil Charles Manson
Video from Investigation Discovery covering the Charles Manson & the Tate–LaBianca murders case. Length: 3:19.
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