greta: the growing family also included 19-year-old susan atkins from san jose, california.son had a penchant for nicknames and christened atkins -- >> susan atkins had a more troubled past than most of them. susan had a father who was an alcoholic and her mother who she adored died very young of cancer. >> she didn't get along with her father. she gravitated to san francisco and became a topless dancer and met manson at the haight. >> also patricia crenwinkle from los angeles and nicknamed katie and once wanted to become a nun. >> she was not a very attractive young woman. and designee said that he focused on her. and took her in another room and told her to take off all her clothes and look in the mirror. and see how beautiful she was. talk about telling people what they wanted to hear about themselves. she left her car there with her paycheck in the glove compartment and never came back. greta: the bus carrying manson and his minions and what they call their magical mystery tour arrived in los angeles for an extended stay in early 1968. manson began hanging out on the sun

greta: the growing family also included 19-year-old susan atkins from san jose, california.son had a penchant for nicknames and christened atkins -- >> susan atkins had a more troubled past than most of them. susan had a father who was an alcoholic and her mother who she adored died very young of cancer. >> she didn't get along with her father. she gravitated to san francisco and became a topless dancer and met manson at the haight. >> also patricia crenwinkle from los angeles and nicknamed katie and once wanted to become a nun. >> she was not a very attractive young woman. and designee said that he focused on her. and took her in another room and told her to take off all her clothes and look in the mirror. and see how beautiful she was. talk about telling people what they wanted to hear about themselves. she left her car there with her paycheck in the glove compartment and never came back. greta: the bus carrying manson and his minions and what they call their magical mystery tour arrived in los angeles for an extended stay in early 1968. manson began hanging out on the sun

greta: the growing family also included 19-year-old susan atkins from san jose, california.son had a penchant for nicknames and christened atkins -- >> susan atkins had a more troubled past than most of them. susan had a father who was an alcoholic and her mother who she adored died very young of cancer. >> she didn't get along with her father. she gravitated to san francisco and became a topless dancer and met manson at the haight. >> also patricia crenwinkle from los angeles and nicknamed katie and once wanted to become a nun. >> she was not a very attractive young woman. and designee said that he focused on her. and took her in another room and told her to take off all her clothes and look in the mirror. and see how beautiful she was. talk about telling people what they wanted to hear about themselves. she left her car there with her paycheck in the glove compartment and never came back. greta: the bus carrying manson and his minions and what they call their magical mystery tour arrived in los angeles for an extended stay in early 1968. manson began hanging out on the sun

b susan atkins used sharon tate's blood to scrawl the word pig on the front door.i lived at 10090 ciello drive. >> greta: then 15 years old,en jim was warming up the family car when the horrified made came running down the street. >> just screaming when she first came down to make the phone call down to west l.a. station.at >> it was almost unbelievable because it was more like aauoue slaughterhouse.t h >> greta: in a 190 interview, wa the lieutenant recalled the search for a mot1ive. >> we started turning up smalld antidings of narcotics, maybe cocaine so immediately you connection.nnec >> 16-year-old debra kate was in the shower that morning when her mother rushed into the bathroom. >> mother flung the shower door open and said sharon's dead. i was fighting for the showerde door back and what are you talking a bout and she collapsed. >> greta: that morning the police took into custodyollapse only survivo survivor on the po the care taker, 19-year-old william garrettson. >> he was the chief suspect. >> he wasn't really the chiefh suspect. chief there wassent no bl

susan atkins has terminal brain cancer. her request for compassionate release was de denied. she's scheduled for a parole hearing next month. kren wrinkle and watson not expected to have a hearing until 2010. all four claim they're remor remorseful. the family of sharon tate don't believe any of them deserve the mercy that sharon and their unborn child never saw. ted rowlands, cnn, los angeles. >>> 40 years later both the fascination and fear remain. tonight we hear from the prosecutor who put the manson family behind bars. mr. evans? this is janice from onstar. i have received an automatic signal you've been in a front-end crash. do you need help? yeah. i'll contact emergency services and stay with you. you okay? yeah. onstar. standard for one year on 14 chevy models. (pouring rain) i had a great time. me too. you know, i just got out of a bad relatio... it's okay. thanks. goodnight. goodnight. (door crashes in, alarm sounds) get out! (phone rings) hello? this is rick with broadview security. is everything all right? no, m

now susan atkins has a hearing set for september 2nd.er husband argues her release will save the state $10,000 a day in hospital charges. >>> ten prisons across southern california are on lockdown following a major weekend riot. a fire broke out during the disturbance at the prison in chino, california. it seriously damaged a dornl-style barracks. tension between latino and african-american inmates sparked the violence which involved about 1,300 men. over 250 were injured. >>> the family of eunice shriver gathered at her bedside in massachusetts. among the visitors yesterday were her daughter maria, the first lady of california and her family. shriver the 88-year-old sister of john f. kennedy is in critical condition after several years of declining health. she's best known for her work with the special olympics. >>> researchers have found some unlikely cancer cases among law enforcement officers who responded to the 9/11 attacks. they say eight people who helped out at ground zero developed multiple myeloma. about average but four were

not for what they did, no, never. >> susan atkins husband will also argue releasing his wife to die atome will save the state money in hospital charges. we look back in depth at our itc website, abcnews.com. >>> as you head back to work tomorrow, why it just might be okay to tell your boss you need a nap. [ rooster crow ] it affects your entire day. to get a good night's sleep, try 2-layer ambien cr. the first layer dissolves quickly... to help you fall asleep. and unlike other sleep aids, a second dissolves slowly to help you stay asleep. when taking ambien cr, don't drive or operate machinery. sleepwalking, and eating or driving... while not fully awake with memory loss for the event... as well as abnormal behaviors... such as being more outgoing or aggressive than normal, confusion, agitation and hallucinations may occur. don't take it with alcohol... as it may increase these behaviors. allergic reactions such as shortness of breath, swelling of your tongue or throat may occur... and in rare cases may be fatal. side effects may include next-day drowsiness, dizziness, and headache. i

tex watson, leslie van houten, patricia krenwinkel and susan atkins, disciples of a madman.atson and krenwinkle took part in all seven murders, five at the home of actress sharon tate in beverly hills and the next day they came to this house with van houten about ten miles away where they tortured and killed leno and rosemary labianca. >> i stood in the hallway and i looked into a blank room that was like a den. i stood there until tex turned me around and handed me a knife and he said, do something. i went back in the bedroom and mrs. labianca was laying on the floor on her stomach and i stabbed her numerous times in the back. >> reporter: atkins was with watson and krenwinkel holding down 8 1/2 month pregnant sharon tate as she pea pleaded for her and her child's life. >> she asked me for mercy. i told her i didn't have mercy. >> reporter: how manson convinced his flock to kill and torture without remorse baffled the world. manson family members said it was a combination of charisma, drugs and manson's knack for recruiting the right group of vulnerable followers. >> we wer

it's susan atkins today. still in prison. but gravely ill from brain cancer. and asking for mercy she did not give her victims. 40 years ago, she was a member of charles manson's family and took part in one of the most evil crimes in history. it was atkins who held down pregnant actress sharon tate, as she was stabbed 16 times, that she described in a blood-curdling detail at a parole hearing years ago. >> she asked me to spare her. >> what did you say to her? >> i told her i didn't have any mercy for her. >> reporter: but today, atkins is so ill, her family says she can no longer pose a threat to society. and they argue with the california budget meltdown, atkins should be released. saving, they contend, $10,000 a day when hospitalized. last year alone, she spent six months in icu at state expense. the total cost, $165,000. >> she can nod her head. and look left and right. she has limited use of her left arm. >> reporter: now virtually alone, and dependent on her husband, james whitehouse, who drives 1,000 miles a week to see her, atkins is asking that her li

susan atkins has terminal brain cancer. last year her compassionate plea for release was denied.end of the year. van houten is not expected to have a hearing until 2010. 40 years later all four claim they are remorseful. the family of sharon tate doesn't believe any of them deserve the mercy that sharon and her unborn child never saw. ted rowlands, cnn, los angeles. >> not only the family of sharon tate speaking out. john waters believes leslie van houten should be released. alice labianca. the ex-wife of leno labianca. she read a letter at the 1998 parole hearing. she said leslie van houten chose her own path, to follow the instructions of charles manson, drug crazed killers as her family. what about my family? when do we get our parole? when does leno get his parole? sympathy thr these killers and especially this one is misplaced. >>> new and frankly chilling detaili detailing are emerged from a health club shooting. five are dead, 15 are wounded. wtae says a man with a duffel bag walked into an exercise room and turned off the lights before opening fire. police described the s

susan atkins who has terminal cancer is locking for freedom.ie van haugton said this in 2004 -- >> i was raised to be a decent human being. i turned into a monster. i have spent these years going back to a decent human being and i don't know what else to say. >> amazing. tomorrow the manson killers. the woman who followed his orders to murder. 40 years later. they say they have changed. you heard them asking for forgiveness. they want their freedom. should they get it? we'll let you decide tomorrow. for a full timeline and to see crime scene photos and more background log on to ac360.com. >>> just ahead, 70% of children in america are in need of an important vitamin. what is it and what can parent dos? lucky for you we have the answer. >>> demolition disaster. find out where this implosion went terribly wrong. >>> just ahead, tonight's "shot." a building demolition didn't go as planned. first gary tuchman with a "360" bulletin. >> bank of america has agreed to pay a $33 million fine to settle governme government. they played year end bonuses. >

. >> anderson: there is this woman susan atkins, 61 years old, she has a terminal brain tumor. tried to get out -- >> she's 61. how old was sharon tate when she was murdered and her unborn child who never had a chance. she's 61. so what? >> anderson: so you don't think the brain tumor should play into it? >> no, absolutely not. i don't think any of them should be par roled. it was mass murder. are they going to parole them? probably. do i think they should? no. >> anderson: what is it about charles manson that fascinates people so long? >> the mystique created a cult-like following and he had the gaggle of beautiful young women that surrounded him and loved him. they were all in love with him. >> anderson: i wasn't really cognizant when he was committing these crimes. i have only seen tapes of him later. it's hard to believe anybody would follow this guy. >> agree. but at the time, it's kind of epitomized what many people believed was going on in the '60s. not to me. i consider him the run of the mill mass killer. i don't think he's special and i don't think he should be parole

susan atkins has terminal brain cancer.t year her request for compassionate release was denied but she's scheduled for a parole hearing next month. van hauten is not expected to have a hearing until 2010. 40 years later, all claim they're remorseful, but the family of sharon tate doesn't believe any of them deserve the mercy that sharon and her unborn child never saw. >> leslie van hauten was 19 years old when she and other followers of charles manson wept on their killing spree. 40 years later, she remains in prison and has been denied parole more than a dozen time bus continues to plea for her release. >> i was raised a decent person and turned into a monster. i've spent these years going back to a decent human being and i don't know what to say. >> reporter: john waters discusses his friendship in his upcoming book "role models" out next year. you can actually read the first chapter right now in "the huffington post." a lot of people may be surprised to learn you two have become friends. but you were inspired in your ear

susan atkins, who has terminal cancer, was denied parole last year, but is up again for parole next monthleslie van houten is also longing for freedom. this is what she said in 2004. >> i was raised to be a decent human being. i turned into a monster, and i have spent these years going back to a decent human being. and i just don't know what else to say. >> reporter: ted rowlands, cnn, los angeles. >> amazing. tomorrow, the manson killers. the woman who followed his orders to murder 40 years later. they say they've changed. you heard them asking for forgiveness. and they also want their freedom. should they get it? we'll let you decide tomorrow. >>> for a full timeline of the manson murders and to see crime scene photos and more background, logon to our website, ac360.com. >>> just ahead -- 70% of children in america are in need of an important vitamin. what is it and what can parents do? we'll have the answer next. >> plus, demolition disaster. find out where this implosion -- keep watching -- went terribly wrong. >>> just ahead, tonight's shot. a building demolition didn't exactly go as

. >> there's a woman, susan atkins, she has terminal brain tumor. >> she's 61. let's see, how old was sharon tate when she was murdered and her unborn child who never had a chance? i'm not impressed. she's 61. so what. >> she has a brain tumor, you think nothing -- >> no, absolutely not. i don't think any of them should be paroleed. it was mass murder. are they going to parole them? probably. do i think they should? >> no. >> what do you think it is about charles manson that fascinated people for so long? >> i think the mystique surrounding him is highly unusual and it created a cult-like following. he had this gaggle of beautiful young women that surrounded him and loved him. >> i was wasn't really cognizant when he was, i guess, you know, committing these crimes. i've only seen the tapes of later in prison giving rambling interviews. it's lard to believe anybody would follow this guy. >> i agree. looking back. it kind of epitomized what many people believed was going on in the '60s. i consider him your run of the mill mass killer. i don't think he's special. >

approaches, there are fresh calls from family and friends for the release of two of manson's followers, susan atkins leslie van hutton. >> she asked me to let her baby live. >> what did you say to her? >> i told her i didn't have any mercy for her. >> she has cancer and is asking to be released so she can die in hospice. >> the next night she was stabbing rose marie. she -- >> i took away all that life. >> this man is arguing for van how then's release. >> she went in a complete lunatic and came out, if she ever does, an incredibly mature woman. >> reporter: but a retired prosecutor whose job it was to argue against the murderers' release at 60 parole hearings once again made that same argument to us. >> do they deserve to be outside in normal society? not for what they did, no. never. >> it was such a news filled summer in '69. you had the lunar landing, the manson murder, the weekend after that the woodstock festival. that brought an end to that hippie era of peace and love. >> so many things come from that, the words helter skelter in the victims' blood. i still get chills with i see those words

susan atkins has terminal brain cancer.t year, her request for compassionate release was denied, but she's scheduled for a parole hearing next month. krenwinkle and watson have parole hearings in before the end of the year, not expected to have a hearing until 2010. 40 years later, all four claim they're remorseful, but the family of sharon tate doesn't believe any of them deserve the mercy that sharon and her unborn child never saw. ted row land, cnn, los angeles. >>> a u.s. soldier points his weapon and looks out over a remote landscape. for these troops, miles away from the nearest field hospital, getting sick simply isn't an option. >> most of us have had the flu at one time or another and no matter how old or young you are it can knock you for a loop. so, we don't want to have people going into battle that are not going to be performing optimally. they put themselves at risk and they put the rest of the troops at risk. >> reporter: keeping soldiers disease free and combat ready, well, that's a job of duke researcher je

susan atkins, who has terminal cancer was denied parole last year.vanhouten was denied freedom. >> i was raced to be a decent human being. i turned into a monster and i have spent these years going back to a decent human being and i don't know what else to say. >> reporter: ted rowlands, cnc leaks los angeles. >>> michigan can't seem to get a break. how bad are things there? detroit school system is staring down the barrel of bankruptcy, $259 million in the hole, sinking enrollment, less money from the state and an outbreak of corruption, all conspireing to bleed the system i.d. they are flirting with chapter 9 bankruptcy, letting them toss out labor agreements and helps them deal with creditors. let's bring in poppy harlow. she spent some time in detroit and saw the problems up close. what is the city doing to try to turn things snarnd can they? >> the question of whether they can, that is still up in the air. they are being very proactive. they are hired an emergency manager, he used to work in the d.c. school system. he is now in detroit. since ma

susan atkins was denied parole last year but is up again next month.e is also vowing for freedom. this is what she said in 2004. >> i was raised to be a decent human being and i turn under to a monster and i spent these years going back to a decent human being and i just don't know what else to say. >> reporter: ted rowlands, cnn, los angeles. >> be sure to tune in to "anderson cooper 360" tonight. comes your way tonight at 10:00 p.m. eastern. >>> health care reform, insurance companies have become the villain in much of the debate. we'll introduce you to one employee who went out of her way to save one family from disaster. )d)d)d)d)d)d)d)d)d)d)dd >>> the debate over health care reform. a lot of bashing of insurance companies and how they respond when you need them most. we wanted to share one family's story and an insurance company employee who became their guardian. >> my oldest son, christopher, was in a car accident on september 6th, 2007. he was driving his car and lost control and suffered a traumatic brain injury with several broken bones. it w

susan atkins has terminal brain cancer.r request for compassionate release was denied. krenwinkle and watson are not expected to have a hearing until 2010. 40 years later, all four claim they are remorseful. the family of sharon tait don't believe any of them deserve the mercy that sharon and her unborn child never saw. >>> if presidential visits boost local economies, elkhart, indiana should be on easy street. president obama just paid his fourth visit there in 16 months. he came twice and carried the state. no democrat had done that since 1964. after taking office, he made elkhart his first visit outside the capital. he came back today. the president said more than $2 billion in stimulus money will help fuel electric vehicle projects in 25 states including indiana. >> the battle for america's future will be fought and won in places like elkhart, detroit, goshen, pittsburgh, south bend, in cities and towns across indiana and across the midwest and the country that have been the backbone of america. it will be won by making

susan atkins has terminal brain cancer.ed, but she's scheduled for a parole hearing next month. krenwinkal and watson have parole hearings before the end of the year and not expected to have a hearing before 2010. all claim they're remorseful but the family of sharon tate do not believe they deserve the mercy that sharen and her unborn child never saw. >> be sure to tune in to "anderson cooper 360" tonight for part two on the manson murders 40 years later. introducing olay professional pro-x wrinkle protocol. as effective as the leading prescription wrinkle brand. challenge pro-x yourself, we guarantee the results. when i was told i had diabetes, i felt amazingly boxed in. (announcer) joe uses the contour meter from bayer. (joe) my meter absolutely adapts to me and my lifestyle. i'm joe james, and being outside of the box is my simple win. (announcer) now available in five vibrant colors. >>> take you back over to the severe weather center where rob marciano is standing by. more storms out there today. >> they just got hamm

susan atkins patricia krenwin kel and leslie van how then wanting us. atkins has brain cancer.be with her family. governor arnold schwarzenegger oppose her release. isaiah timothy is the newest edition to the hasselbeck family. congratulations to the co-host of the viewvment elisabeth hasselbeck and husband tim on third child. isaiah was born 7 pounds 7 ounces. proud father tim says momma and baby doing great. those are your evidence lines this morning. steve: talk about the story that has cap vacated america. that is now that the senators and congressman are at home, and we know they are really working hard reading that thousand page health care bill, whatever it's going to look like, they are going to get an earful. we have been showing you pictures over the last week or so. you know, they have been very noisy. now, they have not only noisy, but, in some cases violent. watch this. >> that's right. >> punk. >> says is he pawnk. -- a punk. nazi. >> who is the angry mob? >> you are. [sirens] >> you attacked him. you weren't anywhere near. shut up. you came running. i saw where y

susan atkins, perhaps the most infamous after manson himself, stabbed then-pregnant actress sharon tate6 times as she was pleading for mercy. well, now she has been denied parole 17 times and she is terminally ill with brain cancer. charles "tex" watson stabbed the actress, stabbed another and shot two others. s he's been in prison converting to christianity and became an ordained minister. and squeaky fromme is up after her arrest for pointing a gun at president ford. she was sentenced to life in prison but is actually set to be released on parole on the 16th of august. you can check out the gallery, learn more about their fascinating lives. many of them really as some would say model prisoners. that's on cnn.com. >> what's the latest with manson himself? >> 74 years of age right now. he has another parole hearing coming up in 2010, and he is still locked away, according to a prison spokesperson, in protective custody. you can read more about his past, read more about how he's still very popular because so many people have been fascinated by the horrific events from 40 years ago. there