The Last Victim_ A True-Life Journey Into the Mind of the Serial Killer - Jason Moss [45]
My research revealed that Charles Manson was the leader of a drug-crazed gang of male and female hippies who were known as “the family.” They were convicted of nine murders, all without apparent motive. Included in their killing spree was Hollywood film star Sharon Tate, who, while pregnant, was slowly tortured and stabbed dozens of times. Also murdered were four friends and a servant. One particularly chilling aspect of this crime was the way the killers scribbled the words “helter skelter” on the wall in the victims’ blood.
Manson and seven members of his gang were sentenced to death in 1972. These sentences were commuted to life imprisonment a year later when the California Supreme Court voted to abolish the death penalty. Since his conviction, Manson has been a permanent resident of the California prison system, making news every time he comes up for parole.
Even with Manson locked away, his reign of terror continued for some time afterward. Several members of his “family” were ordered executed after his conviction. His own defense attorney was found murdered after the guilty verdict came in. Most notably, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, one of Manson’s followers, attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford, but her pistol misfired.
Manson fascinated me for a number of reasons. First, he represented the ultimate in what people fear the most: a violent, angry, unpredictable man who’ll not only kill on the slightest whim but can convince others to kill for him as well. Also part of the profile: a certain randomness or irrationality to victim selection. Anyone can be a target, though in Manson’s case it helped if he perceived you to be an annoyance or part of “the establishment.”
When I watched Manson on television, he came across as a crazy extremist. He seemed incoherent at times—often, he just didn’t make much sense. I couldn’t help wondering how much of this was real and how much an act. There was a part of him that seemed very calm, very calculating. And at one point in his life, he’d been persuasive enough to get a group of young people to do anything he asked. On balance, there seemed more there than met the eye.
I surmised that the best way to get Manson to look my way was to show that I respected him—that I was, in a sense, a “colleague” interested in furthering his mission. I would present myself as his ideal follower in the same way I presented myself to Gacy as his ideal victim. I assumed Manson still wanted people on the outside continuing his “work.”
In my first letter to the famous cult leader, I constructed a carefully worded request to join his family:
Dear Charles,
I decided to write you this letter because I was told that we have very similar philosophies on life and society by a mutual friend, John Solders, who lives in NY. He told me that you were a very powerful man, and that together we could solve a common goal, fixing all the fucking problems with society.
Ya know, I am now starting to understand why the white man is starting to fall. There is a big powerful hole in society which needs to be filled. The scum are out there, and there is nothing we can do about it; at least there is nothing that I can do about it. You are the one with a plan. You have the vision that could save us all. I would really appreciate you teaching me the way to save the man. I want to save the children and the women, and I want to save you.
You have done so much for the cause, and I can continue where you left off. Let me know if you need anything, because I am here for you. Please help me get started in seeing the vision as you saw it so many years before. I don’t got much money or a car, but I got my bitch and we will do what you need. I am not into fuckin’ around. We can help each other. You can write me at: Jason Moss, 1234 My Place, Henderson, NV 89014.