The murder of Sharon Tate remains one of the most horrifying and senseless crimes in Hollywood history.
It has been more than 56 years since Hollywood witnessed one of its most heart-rending tragedies. The brutal murder of Sharon Tate remains one of the most horrifying crimes in the history of Tinseltown. One of the most promising newcomers in the 1960s, Tate was hailed for her breathtaking beauty and subtle resemblance to the ultimate 'It' girl, Marilyn Monroe. No one could have imagined the bloodstained fate that awaited her.
Sharon Tate was eight and a half months pregnant, newly married, and at the height of her career when the "family" of Charles Manson, an infamous cult leader, invaded her Los Angeles home and turned it into a slaughterhouse, killing the actress and four others.
The crime shocked the world and forever changed the way fame was viewed. With Tate's name returning to the headlines once again, we break down the truth behind the Hollywood starlet's horrifying murder.
In the early hours of August 9, 1969, just after the clock struck midnight, members of Charles Manson's "family" (his followers) broke into the home Sharon Tate and her husband, director Roman Polanski, had rented at 10050 Cielo Drive in the Benedict Canyon neighbourhood of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. Polanski was out of town, while Tate was home with her friends, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, and Steven Parent.
Four members of Manson's cult, reportedly led by Charles Watson, aka 'Tex', invaded the property and brutally attacked Sharon and her companions. The first victim was 18-year-old Steven Parent, who had been visiting the caretaker in the guesthouse and was shot shortly after encountering the group. The attackers then moved into the main house.
Tate and Sebring were reportedly bound together by rope around their necks. Sebring was then shot and stabbed to death. The other two, Frykowski and Folger, managed to flee the house but were chased down and killed outside. Tate, more than eight months pregnant at the time, was attacked last. She had begged for mercy, even offering herself as a hostage so she could give birth. When the police arrived at the scene hours later, they found three bodies outside the house, while Sharon and Jay were discovered inside.
Examination revealed that Sharon Tate was stabbed 16 times. It was a woman named Susan Atkins who slew the actress and used her blood to write "P*g" on the door. Atkins later bragged to her prison mates about how the late actress begged for the life of her unborn child, a son who was named Paul Richard Polanski. The actress was buried with her unborn child in a family plot in Culver City.
The motive behind the trail of murders was rather senseless and bizarre. At trial, prosecutors argued that the brain behind the crime, Charles Manson, orchestrated the string of murders through L.A. to spark a race war he called "Helter Skelter", inspired by his twisted interpretation of a popular Beatles song, as mentioned in the book Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders.
Several other theories emerged later. While some believe Manson wanted revenge against Hollywood figures who rejected him, others say he had no idea Sharon Tate lived in the house. Another popular theory states that the killings were designed as copycat murders to free Bobby Beausoleil, a fellow "Manson family" member.
Former cult members later claimed they wanted attention by orchestrating a crime so shocking that the world couldn't ignore it. While Manson didn't physically participate in the Tate murders, he was convicted of masterminding them.
After months of investigation, in late 1969, Manson and his followers responsible for nine murders, were arrested. Their trial in 1970 drew widespread national attention. In 1971, Manson was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, along with key members of his so-called “Family,” including Charles “Tex” Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten.
All were initially sentenced to death. When California temporarily abolished the death penalty in 1972, those sentences were reduced to life in prison. Over the decades, Manson became a notorious figure for his disturbing courtroom behaviour and unwavering lack of remorse. He died in prison in 2017 at age 83. Most of his followers received life sentences, with only a few later granted parole.
Sharon Tate was born in Dallas, Texas, on January 24, 1943, to Paul James Tate and Doris Tate. As a teenager, she gained early attention through beauty pageants, winning several titles that helped her transition into modelling and public life. After her family relocated to Verona, Italy, she appeared as an extra in local films, sparking her interest in acting. Her soft features, hazel eyes, and gentle voice soon made her a rising star in Hollywood.
Beginning with small roles in The Beverly Hillbillies, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and Eye of the Devil, she got her big break in 1967 with the film Don’t Make Waves. She is known for her memorable roles in The Wrecking Crew, Valley of the Dolls, and The Fearless Vampire Killers. It was during the filming of Eye of the Devil that she met the director of The Pianist, Roman Polanski, and they married in 1968. At the time of her death, Sharon was only 26 years old, pregnant with her and Roman's son, Paul.
Though her life was violently cut short at 26, Tate’s legacy endures through her films, portrayals in pop culture, and the victims’ rights work championed by her mother, Doris Tate.
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