Evidence: Drugs
Drugs were a big part of the Manson Family household. The crimes were influenced by LSD and Charles Manson himself. The defendants in the Charles Manson case were Susan Atkins (aka Sadie Mae Glutz), Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel ("Katie"), Charles Manson, and Charles “Tex” Watson. Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houten, and Charles “Tex” Watson were high on LSD during the Tate-Labianca Murders. The defendants were not caught during the murders, so the police and investigators could not analyze the suspects. If they had been able to test the subjects, a standard blood test of hair test could be used to reveal the presence of LSD in the system. However, because they were under oath when admitting to being under the influence of LSD, this was used as evidence and was brought to court. This provided yet another factor against the defendants in the trial, due to LSD being illegal.
Charles “Tex” Watson was already into drugs before he joined the cult. During his trial he tried to get out of being charged with murder by stating that he was insane (on drugs) at the time of the murders, which did not work and was charged with first degree murder. Patricia Krenwinkel did not state if she was high during the murders but admitted she was influenced to join the cult for the drugs and sex.
The use of drugs is a factor because, while being high, your decisions and actions are influenced by the drug and are not completely controlled by you. LSD is a type of hallucinogen. Hallucinogens alter the user’s perceptions, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions. The effects of LSD on the user: extreme changes in mood which can lead to intense terror, inability to tell which sensations are controlled by the drug and which ones are reality, desire to take more of the drug, severely terrifying thoughts and feelings, fear of losing control, fear of insanity and death, and despair while using LSD (inability to stop “bad trips” which can go on for twelve hours). The delusions and visual hallucinations can be frightening and cause panic, and the ability to make sensible judgments and see common dangers is impaired (this is tried in court with Charles Watson).
Drugs were a big part of the Manson Family household. The crimes were influenced by LSD and Charles Manson himself. The defendants in the Charles Manson case were Susan Atkins (aka Sadie Mae Glutz), Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel ("Katie"), Charles Manson, and Charles “Tex” Watson. Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houten, and Charles “Tex” Watson were high on LSD during the Tate-Labianca Murders. The defendants were not caught during the murders, so the police and investigators could not analyze the suspects. If they had been able to test the subjects, a standard blood test of hair test could be used to reveal the presence of LSD in the system. However, because they were under oath when admitting to being under the influence of LSD, this was used as evidence and was brought to court. This provided yet another factor against the defendants in the trial, due to LSD being illegal.
Charles “Tex” Watson was already into drugs before he joined the cult. During his trial he tried to get out of being charged with murder by stating that he was insane (on drugs) at the time of the murders, which did not work and was charged with first degree murder. Patricia Krenwinkel did not state if she was high during the murders but admitted she was influenced to join the cult for the drugs and sex.
The use of drugs is a factor because, while being high, your decisions and actions are influenced by the drug and are not completely controlled by you. LSD is a type of hallucinogen. Hallucinogens alter the user’s perceptions, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions. The effects of LSD on the user: extreme changes in mood which can lead to intense terror, inability to tell which sensations are controlled by the drug and which ones are reality, desire to take more of the drug, severely terrifying thoughts and feelings, fear of losing control, fear of insanity and death, and despair while using LSD (inability to stop “bad trips” which can go on for twelve hours). The delusions and visual hallucinations can be frightening and cause panic, and the ability to make sensible judgments and see common dangers is impaired (this is tried in court with Charles Watson).