Squeaky Clean

Mike Love is said to be the biggest asshole on God's green earth, so I'm apt to believe the would-be assassin.  

Best editor's note ever, lest you think "Lynette" is just some mild-mannered housewife upstate.

From HERE.

Gov. Jerry Brown to Decide if Leslie Van Houten, Manson Family Murder, Will Go Free

Wow. Having grown up obsessed with the Tate-LaBianca murders, this one really touches a nerve. Leslie Van Houten was a Charles Manson follower who admitted in court testimony to stabbing one of the victims of the "family" -- Rosemary LaBianca -- 14 times in 1969. Van Houten says she and another woman first held Rosemary down as Charles “Tex” Watson stabbed to death husband Leno LaBianca before turning the knife on Mrs. LaBianca. Watson then handed the knife to Van Houten, whose stabbing frenzy may have occurred post-mortem. 

Van Houten admitted holding a pillow over the head of Rosemary La Bianca, left, while other cult members stabbed her and husband Leno, right, to death

On Thursday, a review board recommended parole for her, which is awaiting a final decision by Gov. Jerry Brown. I have ambivalent feelings about this. While I understand prison is supposed to be a place to rehabilitate criminals -- even though we know it's so dysfunctional it often makes them worse -- and I can imagine a 66-year-old convict with an exemplary prison record poses little threat to the general population, I'm not sure a crime this heinous warrants parole. (Or any crime this violent.) That being said, if she was sentenced with having the chance at parole, what message are we sending by not granting it if someone does everything right after doing something so wrong? Apparently she was originally sentenced to death when she was convicted in 1971 but then had that changed to life with the possibility of parole when the California Supreme Court outlawed the death penalty. (She later was retried twice and eventually was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, hence where we are today.) What I would have liked to have seen is the Manson family members being sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, and save the option for people who have not committed violent offenses. Thoughts?

Leslie Van Houten, 19, is escorted by two deputy sheriffs as she leaves the courtroom in Los Angeles, Dec. 19, 1969

Van Houten, right, along with fellow Manson family members Susan Atkins, left, who died in prison in 2009,.and Patricia Krenwinkel, center, arrive in court in August 1970 

Charles Manson: Yep, I'm Gay

It only took 50 years, but of course they've finally figured out how to pin the Tate-La Bianca murders on the negative influence of the gays.

My pal Jack E. Jett writes:

I just read in the National Globe that Charles Manson has come out as gay. Do you think it will have any effect on his career? OMG, I bet he is the bossiest bottom

Sharon Tate Covers People Magazine

Kudos to People's new top editor, Jess Cagle, for taking a risk and putting Sharon Tate on the cover this week. She and the Manson family are characters in my memoir, but I couldn't have timed this sad anniversary better if I had planned it. Read HERE.

Over Sharon

Dearly Departed Tours is having a special event to mark the 45th anniversary of the Tate/LaBianca murders, but I may have to settle for this tasteful gift pack.

Today's Purchase

Am eager to revisit, haven't read this since I was about 13. #HelterSkelter