Research Paper On Leslie Van Houten

For the past 46 years, Leslie Van Houten has been in jail for the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. However, she was not in it alone. She was a part of the “Manson Family” that was controlled by Charles Manson. The Manson Family committed a handful of murders, but the LaBianca’s were the only people Leslie Van Houten murdered directly. Now, 46 years later, and after 19 parole denials, she has been granted parole suitability. However, Governor Jerry Brown has 120 days to make the final decision. Due to the truth behind Van Houten’s murders, her conduct in prison, and her life before prison, she should be granted parole and not forced to spend her entire life in prison. Leslie Van Houten was born into an average, middle class family in the late 1940s. She attended a school in Altadena, California where “she was outgoing and athletic in her youth,” and was the homecoming princess (“Leslie Van Houten Biography”). With her background, it is hard to understand why and how she became a murderer. However, she grew up in the 60s when being a hippie, joining a cult, and rebelling were very popular. She met Charles Manson in 1968 after some of her friends began telling her about his God-like ways. At 19 years old, she was officially the youngest member of the infamous Manson Family.

The some other members who eventually received life sentences as well were Squeaky Fromme, Susan Atkins, Charles Watson and Patricia Krenwinkel. The family spent their days singing Beatles songs, doing drugs, and helping with work around the ranch. Charles Manson was the obvious leader of the Manson family and he was attempting to brainwash the women. He would give them LSD while he would talk about how great he was and the things he wanted to accomplish. He also taught his followers to crack under peer pressure, which is what eventually happened to Leslie Van