LA Police's Negligence Almost Allowed Charles Manson to Evade Capture for Multiple Murders
The 1969 Tate Murders, which marked the climax of Charles Manson's killing spree and the end of the 1960s, could have been mishandled by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The LAPD made numerous mistakes during their investigation, compromising the crime scene and overlooking evident clues.
The lack of cooperation among different law enforcement teams in the city also hindered the investigation and nearly resulted in Charles Manson escaping justice.
On August 8, 1969, five people were brutally killed at 10500 Cielo Drive, along with the ideals and spirit of the sixties.
The story of Charles Manson has been widely covered in movies and TV shows, but not everyone is aware of how close the LAPD came to botching the case.
In July and August of 1969, Manson's “family” killed a total of nine people.
The Tate murders were particularly gruesome, with Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Voytek Frykowski, and Steven Parent being shot and stabbed to death.
Before leaving, one of Manson's followers, Susan Atkins, wrote the word “PIG” in Tate's blood on the front door of the house.
The book “Helter Skelter” by Manson prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi and writer Curt Gentry provides detailed accounts of the murders and subsequent trials, shedding light on the LAPD's misconduct that almost allowed Manson to escape.
The LAPD was ill-prepared to handle such heinous crimes.
The murder of Sharon Tate marked the end of an era characterized by flower power, civil unrest, and assassinations.
It was a time of progress and cultural revolution, but the 1960s abruptly came to a close.
When LAPD officer Jerry Joe DeRosa arrived at the crime scene, he made a crucial mistake.
While escorting a suspect down the driveway, he inadvertently pressed the gate button, contaminating potential evidence.
When questioned about this blunder, DeRosa simply said he needed to leave.
The mishandling of the crime scene continued as more officers arrived, causing further contamination.
Glasses that were initially considered important evidence were moved, and wooden pieces of a gun grip were accidentally kicked under a chair.
Officers also tracked the victims' blood from inside to outside, obscuring valuable footprints left by the killers.
Additionally, an unidentified officer shared erroneous information with reporters, leading to sensational headlines.
Forensic science was still in its early stages in 1969, and the LAPD's reliance on blood and fingerprint analysis proved to be problematic.
Joe Granado, a forensic chemist, only collected samples from one area and failed to run subtypes on many of them.
This error caused significant issues throughout the investigation and trial.
Another critical oversight occurred when the LAPD failed to connect a similar murder case to the Tate murders.
The discovery of Gary Hinman's body, with the words “POLITICAL PIGGY” written in blood on the wall, should have raised alarm bells.
However, the information was never relayed to the detectives working on the Tate homicides.
The LAPD's fixation on a drug-related motive for the Tate murders blinded them to the connection with Manson's cult.
The victims' association with drugs led the police to believe it was a drug deal gone wrong.
Detailed confessions from Manson family member Susan Atkins were initially dismissed as outlandish.
Furthermore, there was a lack of collaboration between the different detective teams and the sheriff's department.
A rivalry between the “old guard” and the “young upstarts” hindered the investigation.
The Tate and LaBianca detectives failed to work together effectively, resulting in a lengthy progress report with no real advancements.
Eventually, Vincent Bugliosi joined the investigation and noticed the discord between the teams.
He also observed the difference in competence, with the LaBianca detectives providing detailed reports on Manson's activities without much guidance.
The LAPD's negligence and rivalry almost allowed Manson to escape justice.
However, despite their shortcomings, the relentless determination of the Manson Family ultimately led to their downfall, and Manson was eventually convicted.
This case highlights how investigation methods have evolved over time.
The LAPD's errors were a product of their era, but they managed to solve a baffling and bizarre mystery.
