This article contains references to murder and graphic violence.
As recounted in Netflix’sChaos: The Manson Murders, Linda Kasabian was a member of the infamous Manson Family gang and played a pivotal role in their eventual convictions for murder. The Manson Family committed some of the most notorious crimes in American history;the Manson crime spree left at least seven people dead, including Hollywood actress Sharon Tate. Adapted from the 2019 book by Tom O’Neill, the newNetflix crime documentaryexplores the life and mindset of Charles Manson and how he managed to manipulate young people into believing everything he told them and convinced them to commit murder.
Born in 1949, Kasabian was married, had a young daughter, and was pregnant with her second child when she was introduced to Charles Manson by fellow gang member, Catherine Share, in 1968. With her marriage deteriorating,Kasabian took her daughter to live with Manson’s gang on Spahn Ranch.Kasabian quickly became indoctrinated into the Manson Family, believing that it would bring better opportunities for herself and her children. But it wasn’t long before Kasabian discovered the dark realities of Manson’s mindset and,as shown inChaos: The Manson Murders, eventually led her to turn against the gang.
Linda Kasabian Testified Against The Manson Family At Their Trial
Kasabian’s Testimony Helped Convict The Manson Family Members Of Murder
Chaos: The Manson Murdersdelves into the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders that took place in Los Angeles, California between August 9 and 10, 1969. Prosecutor Stephen Kay reveals in the documentary that on the night of June 02, 2025, Kasabian accompanied Tex Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Susan Atkins to the house where Sharon Tate and her friends were murdered and was ordered by Watson “to stay outside” the house, whereshe witnessed the murders of Wojciech Frykowski and Abigail Folger.Kasabian admitted that she was horrified at what took place and considered running away but worried about her daughter’s safety (viaBiography).
Manson had Kasabian serve as his getaway driver during the LaBianca murders and later ordered her to murder actor, Saladin Nader, but Kasabian refused. She later left the ranch and fled to her mother’s house (viaAll That’s Interesting). After several gang members were arrested for car theft,Kasabian turned herself into the authorities and gave a full account of the murders.She agreed to testify against the Manson Family. During the trial, Kasabian stated that every member “always wanted to do anything and everything” for Manson and described hearing the Tate murders, saying:
“I don’t have any words to describe how a scream is. I never heard it before” (viaFamous Trials).
Throughout Kasabian’s testimony, Manson and his followers did their best to intimidate her, by continuously interrupting her statements and Atkins accusing her of betraying the Family. Regardless, Kasabian’s strong testimony against Manson and his followers proved essential to the trial’s proceedings and helped convict Manson, Atkins, Krenwinkel, Watson, and Leslie Van Houten of murder, who were all sentenced to death. After the death penalty in California was abolished in 1972, the sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
Linda Kasabian Died In 2023
Kasabian Maintained A Low Profile After The Trial
After the trial, Kasabian moved to New Hampshire to raise her children and found employment as a cook. She returned to Los Angeles in 1971 to testify at the trial of Tex Watson and again, in 1977, at the retrial of Leslie Van Houten. Kasabian was briefly kept under police surveillance after the attempted assassination of Gerald Ford by another Manson member in 1975, but denounced Manson and his teachings after the murders.The few remaining Manson Family members labeled Kasabian as a pariah,for her testimony at the trial (viaTIME).
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Kasabian remained out of the public spotlight for the next several decades, although she did agree to an interview onA Current Affairin 1988. In 2009, Kasabian recounted her story for the Cineflix documentary,Manson, and agreed to an interview onLarry King Live; to protect her identity, she was provided a disguise (viaThe Guardian). Kasabian eventually moved to Tacoma, Washington, where she lived in poverty under the name Linda Chiochios, until she died in 2023 at the age of 73 (viaThe News Tribune). Although only briefly a member, as shown inChaos: The Manson Murders, Linda Kasabian’s actions proved essential.
Sources: Biography, All That’s Interesting, Famous Trials, TIME, The Guardian, The News Tribune
