Charles Manson, the murderous cult leader who inspired many novels and movies, died on November 19, in Bakersfield, California. He had been hospitalized earlier this year for intestinal bleeding and perished due to natural causes.  Doctors considered surgery, but it was deemed to be too risky. Manson had no next of kin, so it is unknown how his body will be dealt with. Manson had been in prison at the Corcoran State Prison in California since 1971 and had been denied parole for the twelfth time in 2012.

 Charles Manson was an American criminal who headed the Manson Family cult. He led his followers to commit 35 or more murders. While Charles Manson did not kill them himself, he was still convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder of seven people. His cult consisted of approximately 100 followers who believed in communal living, the use of hallucinogenic drugs, underage marriage, and other criminal activities. Among his followers, there was a core unit of young, persuadable women who believed that Manson was the second coming of Jesus and his prophecies of a race war were true. The most notable of all his murders occurred on August 9, 1969, when Sharon Tate and four other Hollywood residents were killed by four of Manson’s most loyal followers.

 Charles Manson was placed on death row in 1971. However, in 1972, his sentence was changed to life in prison. Manson died at the age of 83 with most of his followers remaining in jail.