The dead included Polanski's 8-month pregnant wife, Sharon Tate. Another similar attack happened two days later.

The killers scrawled messages in blood on the walls in both attacks. Charles Manson was quickly identified as the leader of the group when one of the members of the cult was heard bragging about the murders.

Manson was a charismatic leader who told his followers that a war between blacks and whites was on the way. He claimed that his cult would be the leaders of the resulting new world order. Manson claimed that the Beatle's White Album included encoded messages which backed him up, especially the track "Helter Skelter".

Manson was convicted and sentenced to death, but this was commuted to life in prison.