The Manson Family Tate Murders of 1969
The Night of August 8, 1969, on Cielo Drive and The Murders That Scared Everyone
There are several different stories that have come out in regard to that hot August night. There have been different people saying that they were supposed to be at the house that night. There were reports that there was a party at the house and that there was a lot of drugs, alcohol, and sex going on. Those are just rumors and speculation that have never been confirmed. What I am about to tell you is the closest to the truth in regard to the happenings of that night.
It has been confirmed that and we all know that Sharon Tate flew back from London early to get ready to give birth. Her husband remained in London to finish the movie “The Day of The Dolphin”. He was set to return for the birth of their child when that time came. The party that included Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, and Voytek Frykowski ate dinner at the El Coyote Mexican restaurant earlier in the evening before heading back to the residence on Cielo Drive. Sharons sister also requested to be able to come to the house to float in the pool because of the intense heat but was turned down because Sharon wasn’t in the mood to have company at the time.
The Victims
Steven Parent (Above Center)
Steven Parent wasn’t an acquaintance of either Sharon Tate, the other victims, or the Manson Family. He had the ultimate case of wrong place at the wrong time. On the evening of August 8th, he was at the residence because he was visiting the caretaker of the property William Garretson. Garretson lived in the guest house back behind the main house on the property. He was visiting with Garretson trying to sell him a radio. While trying to leave he was confronted by Tex Watson while at the gate. Steven Parent was shot three times and one incised wound on his left hand. Two of the gunshots were considered fatal, perforating his left lung, trachea and aorta, and left two hemothorax’s. If he tried to leave just a few minutes earlier, his life probably would’ve been spared.
Voytek Frykowski (Far Left)
The boyfriend of coffee heiress Abigail Folger. He was asleep on the couch and awakened by Tex Watson shortly after they entered the house. He was then kicked in the head by Watson and asked him who he was and what he was doing there. The response was eerie and something we have heard in movies through the years. The response was “I’m the devil, and I’m here to do the devils business”. During the commotion of the night, he did manage to get free and try to make a run for it but to no avail. He was shot twice while trying to escape and also sustained 51 stab wounds with 7 of them being considered fatal. He suffered 13 lacerations across the top of his head from blunt force with the revolvers butt. The fatal wound was concluded to be a one inch cut to the upper chest that penetrated his left lung. He also had multiple defensive wounds to his arms and hands.
Abigail Folger (Far Right)
Abigail Folger was the heiress to the Folger Coffee company. She also managed to break free and make a run for it, but it also was to no avail. She suffered a total of 28 stab wounds. This included 4 to her face, 5 to her neck, 4 to her anterior chest and 8 throughout the rest of her body. Cause of death was determined to be and listed as a stab wound to the aorta.
Jay Sebring (4th From Left)
When the Family members entered the house, he was sitting on the end of the bed having a conversation with Sharon Tate. He was brought out to the living room when they were all gathered together and didn’t not get loose like Folger and Frykowski. In total he suffered 7 stab wounds, 1 gunshot wound and had blunt force injuries to his face. Three of the stab wounds could be considered fatal and one defensive wound. All of which were penetrating wound with none being slash or surface wounds. Four of the stab wounds were from the front and 3 of them being from the back. One of those wounds to the back being considered fatal with it penetrating the left lung. He also had a rope tied around his neck at the scene which was cut for transport with the other end attached to the neck of Sharon Tate.
Sharon Tate (2nd From Left)
Sadly, both Sharon Tate and her unborn child were lost during the attacks. She was over 8 months pregnant at the time and the baby was old enough to be viable outside of the body. She was fatally stabbed 16 times and also had 2 incised stab wounds on her left forearm. She had begged for them to let her live until she could have her baby and then they could kill her. She was found with the other end of the rope tied around her neck. With the other end attached to the neck of Jay Sebring.
Closing
I must also state that that caretaker of the property William Garretson survived the night in the guest house in the back of the property. He was alleged to be up all-night listening to music and didn’t know that anything had happened. I can’t fathom how but I will say that he was very lucky on that occasion.
There were many more events that happened that night and other quotes to discuss. I get into all of that in more detail in the episode of the show which is linked below. This is also the first of multiple episode and articles that will be released in regard to the Manson Family murders. Make sure to check out the episode, subscribe to all platforms including this one, and share all of this out for me. Let me know your comments and thoughts below.
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