Politics | 06/19/2008 11:45 am

Manson Murderess Begs for Mercy

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Susan Atkins in 1969 © AP

In August 1969 she slit the throat of a pregnant woman begging for mercy. Today, she’s hoping she has better luck when asking for the same from the government.

A former member of the Manson family, Susan Atkins, 60, has requested a "compassionate release" from prison on the grounds that she is terminally ill and has less than six months to live, Department of Corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton told wowOwow.

The Golden State’s longest-serving female inmate, Atkins was convicted in 1969 for the murders of actress Sharon Tate (who was eight months pregnant) and four others. Perhaps the most gripping detail from the case file was that, before leaving the crime scene, Atkins wrote "PIG" in blood on Tate’s front door.

Atkins received the death sentence, which later was commuted to life in prison at the California Institution for Women in Corona, CA, where she remained until she was hospitalized in March. She’s listed in serious condition and, while Thornton declined to comment on her illness, it’s been reported that she has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

According to Thornton, the prison did an evaluation of Atkins’s release request and found that she met the two necessary criteria — she is terminally ill with an incurable condition that would cause death in six months AND she has a supportive family with the means to care of her – to be recommended for review by the corrections department. If the corrections department makes a positive recommendation, the decision then goes to the sentencing court, which will do one of three things: deny the request, recall the original sentence and re-sentence to a lower term (which could result in a full discharge) or recall the original sentence and place her under parole supervision.

The Los Angeles Times’s op-ed says that Atkins should not be granted the release. What are your thoughts on this?

Click here to vote: Are you in favor of the death penalty in the United States?

Read more about: Charles Manson, Law, News, Susan Atkins, Terry Thornton

251 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Don’t believe in the death penalty, didn’t at the time of the murders. However life in prison should mean just that- you only leave after death.

By quiltsis one on 06/26/2008 3:11 pm

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As a christian I say her horrific crimes can be forgiven if she is truly repentful… If GOD can forgive her so can we. I would grant her a compassionate release. Susan Atkins has proably though been haunted by what she did for almost 40 years maybe in the afterlife she will have the opportunity to meet Sharon Tate and her child once again and finally be reconciled. The key to anyones healing is forgiveness as we have been forgiven…

By Rainey Goodyear on 07/05/2008 4:20 pm

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America is not ready for forgiveness,too much greed and hypocrisy

By sibelle daubigne on 08/16/2008 11:21 am

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Well, as per usual, after reviewing much of the past issues of wow, I must respond to this one… Susan Atkins was along with the other women out of her mind, on LSD, and God knows what else - she was about 15 years of age - was being brain-washed and influenced by this man, Charles Manson, who was already too far gone to help. Susan Atkins could have been helped, and this could have been prevented if she had anyone in her life who gave a care. Susan Atkins is NOTHING like that young female, now. She looks completely different, and has been trained in a variety of skills, she has had a chance for real change. The person, I knew, in 1988, was definitely NOT the person who was sent to prison. I do not in anyway condone, or accept murder in any form. I only realize it was NOT the person Susan Atkins who did the killings. She was hallucinating on drugs, she was deluded and deranged at the time of the murders. Yes, there is still NO excuse for taking a human life - except “insanity” - I say to you she was definitely INSANE at the time of the murders, and completely under the power and influence of Charles Manson. All the women were. I cannot imagine how she must look today. I do know when I met her, she looked like any professional woman anyone might know. She had educated herself, and became a Christian - which really did make all the difference. Again, I make no excuse for the crimes - but, know the difference in the two personalities. Like, night and day. Susan, did in fact face her crimes, and worked diligently on recovering from what she did, healing, and becoming a NEW person. I believe that took a lot of courage - one can simply live out their days in prison or make clear choices toward healing and wholenss. Susan made the latter choice. I do not yet know if she has died, I do know she has lived in hell. I pray those who are so filled with hatred can come to terms with forgiveness. It is the only real release for all concerned.

By Ro H on 01/04/2009 5:19 pm

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Mostly I am opposed to the death penalty except in cases like this, the Bundy murders and the Birmingham, Alabama church bombings. These vicious animals should have been killed by torture. They killed all of Sharon Tate’s friends in front of her as they tried to run. Being eight months pregnant, she could not run. When Tate begged for her life and the life of her child, Adkins laughed at her and told her she was going to die. Adkins then led them in tying a rope around her neck and hanging her by tying to one of the other victims while they proceeded to stab her repeatedly while she slowly strangled after killing her baby first. Then she drank her blood. And now she is asking for compassion? Let her die in pain like her victims.

By Edward Joell on 06/27/2009 5:57 pm