Arson and Paul Watkins
Paul Watkins was a member of Manson’s family. However, he left in the summer of 1969 upon meeting an old miner in Death Valley named Paul Crocket. In an effort to bring him back into the family, members bragged of the crimes they had committed. At first, he could not believe the Family had done such horrible crimes as these. After learning more about what happened, he and Crocket decided to go to the authorities. Soon after, Watkins was almost killed in a trailer fire. He, along with many others believes that is was set by Family members who were upset with him turning on Manson, their leader. The trailer itself was destroyed. Watkins was in the trailer when it happened, but was not significantly harmed. The allegations of arson were neither proved nor disproved by investigators.
***This information is provided in order to provide insight as to how the Family worked and the extent they went to after the crimes were committed to keep members involved in the cult.
***This information is provided in order to provide insight as to how the Family worked and the extent they went to after the crimes were committed to keep members involved in the cult.