This article from CNN.com today focuses on the current state of the “Manson Family” — the group of murdering murderers famous for slaying seven people in California in August, 1969. We all know that the family’s patriarch was one Charles Manson, once a feared cult leader, now just an old dude in prison with a fading swastika on his forehead. It seems that a recent prison photo of Charlie at 75 years old has sparked renewed interest in the case.

The article gives updates on the current state of the other imprisoned family members. Susan Atkins is terminally ill with brain cancer, “Tex” Watson is a minister, Patricia Krenwinkel helps in a prison program to train puppies as service dogs and Leslie Van Houten is a model inmate in the same prison as Krenwinkel. They are all in their 60s, except for Van Houten, who is 59.

They’ve all been turned down for parole many times and they’re beginning to wonder if they’ll ever be able to taste freedom again. It seems that they are rehabilitated, but the high profile nature of the case makes it unlikely that they’ll ever be released. Some crimes are so famous and so heinous that it would be tough to let the perpetrator out, rehabilitated or not.

I don’t have any strong opinions on the subject, I just find it interesting to look back on this case 40 years later and see the kind of emotions it still stirs up. The families of the victims seem no less upset about the case now than they did in 1969, and who can blame them really?

What do you folks think?

To enlighten your mind:
How Cults Work
What was the Prison Project?
Who was America’s first murderer?