Serial+Killer+Questions-Charles+Manson

1. How was Charles Manson the same as the other serial killers that we studied?

Charles Manson was like other serial killers we studied in that he was involved in the murder of multiple people in a series of events. He was also like the other serial killers in that he committed crimes early in his life. He set a school on fire at the age of 9 and had committed armed robbery by age 19. Furthermore, most of his victims fit the same profile. Like the serial killers we studied who mostly killed prostitues or gay men, Charles Manson mostly killed high profile celebrities. Musicians and actors left town for fear of becoming a victim. Lastly, in his televised interview, Manson does not appear to show regret for being involved in killings. Many other serial killers also seem to have a lack of emotional connection to their crimes.

2. How was Charles Manson different from other serial killers?

Charles Manson was different than other serial killers because he never physically killed anyone. Instead, he brainwashed a group of attractive women and men, and got them to do his dirty work. Manson referred to the group as his "family," and the women of the group especially praised him. His cult members began by simply taking drugs like acid at the command of Manson, but the drug use shortly evolved into murder. In August of 1969, he convinced one woman to stab Abigail Foster. Two other of his followers killed people on the lawn and in a car around the same mansion. Manson told his group to "get their hands dirty." Manson was indirectly involved in the murders, and was not initially considered a suspect.

Like Manson's actual involvement in the murders, his early life does differ from other serial killers slightly. He did commit crimes, but unlike others, spent most of his early life in jail even before his killings. He had experience with jail life, and supposedly did not mind it. He saw no consequence to his involvement in murders, because he had already been to prison. When he was finally convicted, he told the police they were only "sending (him) back to where he came from."

3. In terms of the definitions we presented in class, does Charles Manson classify as a serial killer?

In class, we defined a serial killer as a person a person who kills people one by one in a series of incidents. By this definition, Manson does not technically classify as a serial killer. The definition infers that the killer physically kills his victims, which Charles Manson did not. He manipulated others to kill for him. He is a serial killer indirectly. It is arguable whether he could be labeled this way or not even though he caused many deaths.