A Rare Look Into Where Members Of The Infamous Manson Family Are Today

Murder. Deceit. Depravity. These words are never associated with ordinary families. But the infamous Charles Manson wasn't looking for ordinary when he formed his Manson Family cult. In 1969 he had brainwashed his followers so successfully that several of his "family" committed nine horrifying homicides. Five family members — and Manson himself — eventually ended up behind bars... but not all of his followers lived out their days in lockup.

1. Patricia Krenwinkel

Patricia Krenwinkel was one of the perpetrators of the Tate–LaBianca murders. She had a handful of nicknames during her time with Manson. These included Marnie Reeves, Big Patty, Mary Ann Scott, Yellow, and — for whatever reason — Katie. But regardless of her aliases, this woman holds an "interesting" world record.

Record holder

Krenwinkel actually holds the record as the longest-serving female inmate throughout the state of California. It's probably not a record she can boast about to her friends. She was denied parole for the 14th time in 2017 — and again in 2022. As of right now, Krenwinkel is still alive and living behind bars at the California Institution for Women in Chino.

2. Steve "Clem" Grogan

Steve "Clem" Grogan spent 15 years behind bars for the murder of movie stuntman Donald Shea. Police hadn't found Shea's body at the time of Grogan's trial — but the evidence was still strong enough to force a conviction. The jury found Manson, Bruce Davis, and Grogan guilty of murdering the stuntman, with Grogan initially receiving the death penalty.

Fessing up

Grogan's first sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after a judge said Grogan wasn't with it enough to go against Manson's orders. He was given parole in 1985 after the board found him to be a changed man, who'd also eventually told police where to find Shea's body. Today, he's apparently a sometime musician in Northern California. He was the first convicted former member of the Manson Family to be released from prison.