Four decades ago, Manson cult member Susan Atkins helped murder actress Sharon Tate and eight others in one of most infamous crimes in U.S. history.
This week the California parole board unanimously denied a request that Atkins, who is dying of brain cancer, be granted compassionate release so that she can spend her final days surrounded by family at home.
Should the board have shown compassion to Atkins? I don’t think so. She certainly didn’t show compassion to Tate, who begged for her life and that of her unborn baby before Atkins viciously stabbed her to death and wrote the words “Pig” on a door with Tate’s blood.
It was years before Atkins expressed remorse for the nightmarish killings. And the family of Tate and other victims remain adamantly opposed to Atkins’ release.
In some circumstances, it might be appropriate for the state to show compassion to a prisoner at the end of life. It depends on the case. On some level, perhaps Atkins deserves a sense of Christian forgiveness and release. But I think a sense of justice calls for her to die in prison for her horrendous crimes.
What do you think, bloggers?
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69 Comments
I’m guessing she is not understanding what ‘life in prison without the possibility of parole’ means.
I tend toward letting her die in jail. However, there are those who believe in redemption. However i would say she can take that up with her maker.
Does Manson follower deserve compassion?
Nope.
Justice.
Isn’t necessarily fair. Isn’t necessarily possible.
Justice is when everyone gets what they deserve.
Atkins deserved to be executed long ago.
Several years ago, I became apprised of the extent of the damage which Sharon’s brutal murder wrought upon her grieving family. Debbie Tate, Sharon’s sister, is now the only surviving member of Sharon’s immediate family. The loss of a much-loved and cherished older sister devastated Debbie, her parents and her youngest sister, the late Pattie Tate. The wrenching grief and unspeakable pain left their marks on both Debbie and Pattie, who not only dealt with their own agony but the agony of their parents.
If Debbie were to say, “I want ‘Sadie’ to be granted this medical leave, I would concur. In my view, the family’s wishes must be paramount. Debbie has stated that she is not in favor of this mercy – a mercy denied to the nine-months-pregnant Sharon.
Therefore, I’m not in favor of it, either.
“…perhaps Atkins deserves a sense of Christian forgiveness and release.”
She can have half of that.
Why should she be allowed mercy? She didn’t show any for her victim so therefor she should rot in jail.
“I’m guessing she is not understanding what ‘life in prison without the possibility of parole’ means.”
Duh. She was sentenced to death, then the SCOTUS overturned the Death Penalty in 1972, giving her and many others a life sentence. She has been eligible for parole twelve times, denied each time. She has never been sentenced to “life without the possibility of parole.”
Damn, get yer facts straight.
Who cares Clark about being right on her sentencing?
The answer: No one does, but you.
She does not deserve to be released.
And of course, the schmuck that you are, you failed to give your opinion on the topic, but took time out to attack another poster.
Typical Clark, the ultimate in double-speaking, hypocritical progressive liberal.
“And of course, the schmuck that you are, you failed to give your opinion on the topic, but took time out to attack another poster.”
Nope, dumbass, I corrected your error – something that has to be done on a fairly “regular” basis.
And, of course, you attack any poster that disagrees with you on a daily basis, so just STFU.
Loser.
By the way, McCluer, when is that “meeting” with the Eagle editors?
So Clark, instead of making a comment on the topic and the vile person who is a murderer, you choose to be your typical arrogant self.
Everyone knows what you are, you prove it daily.
“Regular” reveals –
“Who cares Clark about being right…?”
Not you, obviously.
Ever.
I don’t remember specifically which Manson Girl Atkins was; don’t recall exactly the nature of her personal crimes. One of ‘em stayed in the car why the LaBianca murders took place. I don’t remember and I don’t care.
The woman’s gonna die soon. Fine. Where she dies is no concern of mine. Sharon Tate’s gonna be just as dead whether Atkins dies in prison or while watching the sunset beside the seashore. Atkins won’t be any deader if she dies in a prison hospital.
What an incredible non-issue to get worked up about.
But it’s quite revealing that the resident troll would admit,
“Who cares about being right?”
Reg–another way of looking at it, since she was initially convicted and sentenced to death, that would certainly qualify as life without possibility of parole..the end result is the same, she dies in prison. The only difference is when and whether or not it is state administered. So..in essence, her original sentence is the same as life without parole.
I read Buglosi’s book…and the horrifying nature of the crime scene means she needs to die in prison, one way (natural causes) or another. As long as she never takes another breath of freedom, then justice is served.
As Raptor pointed out, the point about being absolutely correct about sentencing is by intent, irrelevant to the topic or the question asked by the topic presenter.
By the way, McCluer, when is that “meeting” with the Eagle editors?
She’s alright where she’s at.
Yeah, right, “Regular” –
Let’s consider the “Obama thinks there are 56 states” meme you CONs have wet dreams over.
Fact is, there were fifty-six primaries and caucuses — the 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, et al — and the Obama campaign was active in every venue.
Care to apply your “…being absolutely correct is irrelevant…” squirm to that verbal slip?
Didn’t think so.
You’re a partisan hack and a troll, “Regular.”
Admit it.
Own it.
What would Jesus do?
Monkeyhawk is right on target here. It’n not, “Who cares about being right”? It’s, “Who cares”? I wonder why Schofield wasted time, energy and web space on this issue. As if what anyone thought made a difference, or this issue would change any of our lives. A parole board in California made it’s decision and that is that. It’s just ‘bad news’ revisited. Frankly, my mind and heart would be slightly more at peace had I never read about Manson, Atkins or any of the ‘family’ ever again. Let the whole matter die with Atkins. Sometimes I think the editors at the Eagle just throw just anything out there to watch the bicker-bloggers go at each other simply for amusement.
“What would Jesus do?”
He’d say, “Could you put me up for the night”?
Helter Skelter …
In the days after the Tate-LaBianca murders there was a lot of speculation and fear in the Brentwood-Westwood area of Los Angeles. I remember people being advised to double-lock doors and not to go out. Especially due to some speculation about black gangs being involved. It had been Manson’s desire to trigger a race war.
Thankfully they got caught fairly quickly before they could commit even more carnage.
The fact that she wrote “pig” on the door of the victim’s home, with the victim’s blood, is the main reason she deserves to die in prison. This shows how evil and cold-hearted she is.
You do the crime, you do the time. She was originally given the death sentence so she has had compassion enough.
Monkey for the truth deniers on Obama’s coattail I will furnish the link where he very clearly say ’states’ not territories or any other such nonsense.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/05/new-patriotic-o.html
————
You can’t make up your own facts even if you are a liberal. Amazing how the MSM know how to spell potato but they don’t know how many states we have.
I’m divided. I don’t like the whole compassionate release program because its all about sending sick people out so that the state doesn’t have to pay for their end of life care.
There were a whole lot of people who were under Manson’s spell, he took the ones who were most vunerable and turned them into killers. Look at how long it took them to be released from his wrath even after they were separated from him.
I have little doubt that if Warren Jeffs told his followers to go start murdering that many of them would. Look at those Heaven’s Gate cult members who all killed themselves.
The mind can be a fragile thing, and I don’t believe it is fair to punish someone for diseases or disorders of the brain. She’s done her time. She is no threat. Let her go home to die.
Americans can be such venial people. 40 years in prison is a lifetime. Let the old dying woman out so taxpayers don’t have to foot the bill for her end of life treatment.
America holds more people in prison than any other country on earth including China and Russia. Let the old woman go. You won’t miss her.
Back to the subject.
She should stay where she is at. That is a logical consequence for the heinous murder(s) she committed.
“Let’s consider the ‘Obama thinks there are 56 states’ meme you CONs have wet dreams over.
“Fact is, there were fifty-six primaries and caucuses — the 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, et al — and the Obama campaign was active in every venue.”
More likely, it was a slip of the tongue. Language is like that.
Heheheh.
WWJD?
Kill ‘er. No doubt!
“I have little doubt that if Warren Jeffs told his followers to go start murdering that many of them would.”
Funny, I think the same thing about terry, joe and fred…
I find it interesting the Christians of this blog seem to want the death penalty rather than life. Isn’t “Vengeance is mine”, sayeth the Lord?
Keep her in for life, she deserves nothing more; but killing her is plain vengeance, and nothing less. There’s a big difference between vengeance and justice, and the death penalty is vengeance.
Hee hee hee. That oughta piss off gmc!
Seems the state would be assured that if released, she won’t return to a life of crime, in fact she’ll barely return to a life period. One leg is gone, the other paralyzed, brain cancer, etc. She’ll be dead in a couple months anyway.
But unfortunately, those compassionate christians won’t let her out until she’s drained of every last bit of life. Gotta get all the revenge they can possibly extract in the name of Jesus!
Looks like JMWalker is hooked on that fairy tale.
Let the b itch die
Maybe it’s just justice…her victims never had a second chance, why does she deserve one? Let the punishment fit the crime.
The murderer of my two friends has been paroled three different times since he committed that crime, and he’s walking the streets as a free man as I write this…I guess it’s only in the high profile cases that justice is served.
Why just Christian compassion and release? Why not Jewish compassion and release? Or Bhuddhist compassion and release? Or Hindu, or, well, you get the idea.
Bhuddhist compassion
That’s redundant!
every cherry blossom is perfect
Seriously justice is served for this woman. She’s dying a very slow and agonizing death. Remember when I make arguments against the death penalty- this is what I’m talking about- sometimes life is worse than death.
Sure her victim’s death was horrifying, but it was quick and she didn’t suffer long.
She has spent all of her life in prison. She has paid. Let her go.
“The mind can be a fragile thing, and I don’t believe it is fair to punish someone for diseases or disorders of the brain. She’s done her time. She is no threat. Let her go home to die.”
You’re kidding. Right?
She’s done her time??? Even for you, PMom, this is beyond liberal.
What she deserves, is to die in prison. What she deserves is the PUNISHMENT that fits the crime. She was sentenced to die. And she will. In prison. Just like Charlie, Tex, Krenwinkel, and Van Houten.
Squeeky, too.
1. In her condition, she is not a threat to herself or others.
2. She has already spent her entire adult life largely separated from her family.
3. Her death in a prison cell will not bring back Sharon Tate.
I say compassion. I say release her to her family.
I say slit her throat and let her bleed out, but I am compassionate when it comes to killers.
ksfarmgrrl
Posted July 17, 2008 at 8:45 pm | Permalink
Bhuddhist compassion
That’s redundant!
every cherry blossom is perfect
**********
If the Bhuddists are correct, the reincarnation of Susan Atkins, may be Nathan Price’s first born child. It would be hard to consider a more perfect justice.
But since the universe is imperfect, we may have to wait for a better expression of the Gods’ humor.
For me, I do not know what would be best for Susan. It is not my place to make a judgement.
“I say slit her throat and let her bleed out, but I am compassionate”
Well, Anti, the State of California called to take you up on your offer – but you have to do the slitting – are you up for slitting the throat of a one legged, partially paralyzed sixty year old woman?
Well, tough guy, are you up for it?
She deserves it.
She deserved to be caged with Charles, and forced to listen to his unending rants and delusions.
What number did they dial from?
“She deserved to be caged with Charles, and forced to listen to his unending rants and delusions.”
—
Actually, that may be worse than slitting her throat…I have reconsidered and choose this option
“She deserved to be caged with Charles, and forced to listen to his unending rants and delusions.”
…and his singing.
My my these Christians they are such a loving, forgiving people!
“What number did they dial from?”
The Governator himself called – he wants you to do the slitting, Anti.
“Well, tough guy”
—-
Yes WSC, I am one astoundingly tough sum bitch. I am tougher than herpes to knock out…I’ll bet you know how tough that is, sweet cheeks. :)
“The Governator himself called – he wants you to do the slitting, Anti.”
—–
Cool, maybe he can pick me up in his daily commuter, you know the G5. That may not be the model, but you understand.
As they say in Cali, “I am charpening my knife es we speak, essay”
Another “slippery slope.” We (myself included) aren’t too keen on the death penalty, for reasons of the Sanctity of Life. So we favor life without parole.
Well guess what? ALL of these types that don’t die of unnatural causes in prison will at some time become aged, ill, and dying.
Did we mean what we said about “life without parole?” Or did we really mean, “until you get too expensive to keep?”
“Did we mean what we said about “life without parole?”
She has been up for parole twelve times – she was not sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
“I’ll bet you know how tough that is, sweet cheeks”
Wouldn’t have a clue, Anti, I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.
“I am one astoundingly tough sum bitch”
Ya’ got half that right and it ain’t the tough part, either, Anti.
[gasp]
DA is engaging in (yet another) series of personal attacks.
*shock*
“I’ll bet you know how tough that is, sweet cheeks”
Wouldn’t have a clue, Anti, I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.
—-
I would take your ex-wife’s word.
She’s pretty….when she has her teeth in.
She also told me that she really liked your ribs….when she could see them.
Ahh, I’m just pulling your chain WSC, just for S&G’s, don’t take it personally.
“I’m guessing she is not understanding what ‘life in prison without the possibility of parole’ means.” That sums it up perfectly. Funny how Susan Atkins thinks she has the right to ask for any kind of compassion. Shes property of the California D.O.C, if she wanted to be able to just go home and die because of an ailment, well maybe she should have considered not going along with murder. Justice, is just that … JUSTICE! simple as that. Maybe the families of the victims cand throw her a consulation prize and mail her a nice comfy pillow, or a painting to hang in her cell so she’ll feel more at home.
From Wikipedia: With one exception, (Leslie) Van Houten has had an uneventful prison record. In 1981, she married an ex-convict, who was subsequently found to be in possession of a uniform used by pregnant prison employees. Van Houten quickly divorced him and ended the association, stating that she had known nothing about any plans he might have had to break her out of prison.
In 2002, Van Houten filed an appeal of her 2000 parole rejection, which received a hearing in Superior Court. Superior Court Judge Bob Krug ordered a new parole hearing. He noted that Van Houten’s continued incarceration involved serious legal considerations, and stated she “has proven to be a model prisoner in the 30 years since her incarceration for the brutal murder, completing all available prison programs and assisting other inmates with these programs. She has earned two college degrees and has maintained a clean disciplinary record in prison [and] she is effectively serving a life sentence without parole, a sentence unauthorized by law. [...] Other than the finding as to the gravity of the offense, there is a complete lack of any evidence to support the decision of the board. The board failed to make a finding that [Van Houten's] institutional behavior was a factor tending to show her suitability for parole. To fail to do so is an arbitrary and capricious consideration.” Krug pointed out that, at the 1977 retrial, Van Houten was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, but having served eight years in prison, she was already eligible for parole by 1978. Krug’s ruling for Van Houten was overturned on appeal in 2004.
She was denied parole again in 2006;[4] at this hearing, she was informed that she could apply again in one year instead of the usual two years, but was denied parole on August 30, 2007 for the 18th time. She was given a two year denial, meaning that she will be eligible to apply for parole again in 2009.
Yes.
“Does Manson follower deserve compassion?”
If a person deserves compassion, is it compassionate to give it? After all, they are only getting what they deserve.
So my answer is no. But we should be compassionate.
Skeptic while you paint a pretty picture for her release I am more swayed by the testimony of the two remaining sisters of Sharon Tate. They were given a life sentence also. They are still serving it. Their life was never normal again according to them. Their parents were never the same and death has now taken them. Their memories of this murderer stabbing their sister and her unborn but viable baby to death while the sister cried for mercy haunts their memories.
Some make the argument that a Christian should be compassionate. The bible says to hate the sin but love the sinner. It also says a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye. She took someones life and in return owes her life.
I say no.
HLP:
Justice.
Isn’t necessarily fair. Isn’t necessarily possible.
Justice is when everyone gets what they deserve.
Atkins deserved to be executed long ago.
“We all have it coming, Kid”… William Munny
A life for a life..it’s only fair. What’s the purpose of letting her go? She has nothing positive to contribute to society and she certainly showed no compassion to a pregnant woman and her unborn baby, so why should she expect any compassion? Let her be an example of how justice SHOULD be served. So many violent criminals get too many chances to screw up over and over and over again.
It’s a moot point anyway, she’s going to die in prison. What a waste of a life.
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