Manson Family Member Gets Parole

Bruce Davis today

Bruce Davis at the time of his arrest

While researching another story for T & T, I tripped over some Manson family news. The Department of Corrections news release says it all:

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Board of Parole Hearings today issued a grant of parole for convicted killer and former Charles Manson associate Bruce Davis during a parole consideration hearing at California Men’s Colony. Davis was sent to state prison on April 21, 1972 with a life sentence from Los Angeles County for two counts of first-degree murder. Today’s decision was the result of Davis' 26th parole suitability hearing.

Davis, 67, appeared before the panel today. The suitability finding is subject to a 120-day decision review period. If the grant is finalized at the conclusion of decision review, the Governor may conduct an independent review of the decision. Under California law, the Governor may reverse, modify, affirm or decline to review the Board’s decision.

Davis was convicted for the July 25, 1969 murder of Gary Hinman and the murder of Donald Shea sometime between August 16 and September 1, 1969.

He is currently incarcerated at California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo. Davis has remained disciplinary-free since 1980 and has participated in all available education, vocation and self-help programs.

Remember how Gary Hinman died: Multiple stab wounds to the head and chest. Perforation of heart. Massive thoracic hemorrhage.

Remember how Shorty Shea died: Hit on the head by a pipe by Steve (aka Clem) Grogan (Grogan has been out for years). Stabbed by Tex Watson. Tortured by Grogan and Watson; Davis admits he was present. Davis’ palm print was found on a footlocker belonging to Shea. Shorty was buried so well his body was not found until Clem gave up the location in exchange for his release from prison in the late 1970s.

Maybe someone higher up will intervene … Governor Schwarzenegger I’m looking at you.

Parole Granted for Former Manson Family Member Bruce Davis

Gary Hinman autopsy (gruesome, read with care)

Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, Gary Hilton and Charles Manson Family

Maria Lauterbach's charred remains and those of her fetus were found January 12, buried in a backyard fire pit of fellow-Marine Cesar Laurean.

Laurean, the main suspect has been on the run and is believed to be in Mexico.

Initial reports stated Lauterbach died from blunt-force trauma to the head, however the final autopsy report issued this week, appears to refute Lauren’s version of how Lauterbach died.

CNN reports: A gaping 4-inch wound was found on the left side of Lauterbach’s neck, according to autopsy results released by the office of the chief medical examiner in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The wound is "incised," meaning it is a clean cut such as that made by a sharp instrument. However, the wound itself would not have been fatal, as there was only minimal damage to the underlying muscle, the results said.

"The autopsy confirms that there was a superficial incision to the neck that appears to have been made post-mortem," said a statement from Merle Wilberding and Chris Conard, attorneys representing Lauterbach's mother, Mary Lauterbach. "If so, that incision may have been made to have the body conform to Cesar Laurean's story that she had 'killed herself by slitting her throat.' "

"It looks like that incision was done to try to conform with the story he tried to present through his note and through his wife," Wilberding said. "The autopsy would support the criminal investigation conclusion that Laurean's story is not supported by the evidence."

Gary Hilton shocker!
A bizarre twist in the murder of Meredith Emerson, the 24-year-old Georgia hiker; Gary Hilton, who confessed to killing Emerson may have gotten the plan from a 1995 murder movie that he helped write and produce!

CNN says: When attorney-turned-movie producer Samuel Rael decided he wanted to make a film about a serial killer in 1995, it was former legal client Gary Michael Hilton who he says came up with the plot.

Rael claims Hilton thought it would be a good idea to have the killer be out in the woods.

"Go ahead and let some beautiful women out in the woods, and then they could be hunted down like prey," Rael says Hilton told him.

Rael was shocked when he discovered that Hilton had been arrested and had confessed to Emerson's murder. Quickly, investigators hinted that Hilton might be a serial killer, linking him to three murders in two other states. In all three, the bodies were dumped in the woods.

It’s been almost 4 decades since Helter Skelter held our fascination, but were additional murders committed by the Charles Manson Family?

Forensic investigators have been searching Barker Ranch, Death Valley National Park, CA for possible graves.

Spahn Ranch is where Charles Manson and his “family” were living during the Tate and LaBianca’s murder sprees. After a raid at the Spahn ranch, Manson moved to Barker Ranch, where he was eventually captured.

The search team includes researchers using instruments that detect chemical markers of decomposing bodies. A cadaver dog has also made a positive hit.

What led to this search after so much time?

FoxNews.com reports: The same jailhouse confessions that helped investigators initially connect the band of misfits living in the Panamint Mountains to the gruesome killings that terrorized Los Angeles hinted at other deaths. Manson follower Susan Atkins boasted to her cell mate on November 1, 1969, that there were "three people out in the desert that they done in." Other stories surfaced. In the absence of bodies, they were forgotten.

"We prosecuted Manson and the family for all the murders we could prove. But you know, could he have killed someone else? Possibly. Could another member of the family have killed someone? Sure," said Steve Kay, a former deputy district attorney.

Busy weekend in the news!