How did Charles Manson control his family?

Answer 1

Charles Manson started attracting followers that were transfixed or mesmerized by his teachings of freedom and having an open society. These followers were mostly women who were searching for affection and meaning during the age of flower power.

Manson was able to manipulate his followers to believe he was of a higher power and groomed his hair and beard to resemble God. Manson would control his family by subjecting them to drugs such as LSD and having them participate in orgies so they could release there sexual inhibitions. The family included the following:

Leslie Van Houten, Mary Brunner, Lynette Fromme, Susan Atkins, Linda Kasabian

Patricia Krenwinkel, Bobby Beausoliel, Steve "Clem" Grogan and Charles "Tex" Cobb. Over the next two years, Manson continued with his teaching of forming a free society. During this time, Manson started to exert his power on members of the family by having them participate in sexual acts in front of all the family members, to display their loyalty to him. One request Manson had made to Bobby Beasoliel a family member that Mason befriended in prison, was to kill one of Manson's friends, a musician that he suspected of having a large sum of money at his home. Mason instructed two other family members Brunner and Atkins to accompany Beasoliel and help carry out this request. After killing the musician, the family under Manson's instruction tried to make the killing resemble that of the Black Panthers.

Answer 2

The Manson family, if nothing else, was diverse and creative in their quest for money. Stealing cars, selling drugs, shoplifting, burglary, petty theft and murder were the most common ways to bring in money.