Why Susan Atkins Should Be Released

Manson family member Susan Atkins is near death and already resides outside prison walls near the women's prison where she has spent the last thirty seven years. Doctors give her six more months of life. She is seeking a release based on compassion allowed by Calfornia state law. The facts in her case her not in dispute. Murder along with Tex Watson and other manson family members included actress Sharon Tate and Abagil Folger the folger coffee heiress. Yet Atkins led the life of a prostitute and drug addict. Even Manson abused her and gave her the name "Sadie Mae Glutz." Atkins as well as the other family members were also the victims of Charles Manson's evil intents. None of the members would ever have engaged in such animalistic behavior without the driving force of Manson's bizzare world view which itself was the result of childhood abuse. Manson had a mother who was a hooker and spent many years in prison herself. The hard upbringing led Manson to form a worldview based on the tough life near the borders of West VIrginia and Kentucky, not an easy life even for those lads better able to combat life. The Manson family members escaped the death penalty when the Supreme Court outlawed capital punishment in the seventies and the members escaped the death chamber to a life in the horror of stone and steel walls. Atkins has long been an active Christian and led a life behind bars that has its merits as have the other family members. All regret their folly with Manson and openly have said so for years. Only their well known crimes have kept them behind bars all these years. The parole board is probably a little fearful of granting parole or any kind of mercy, especially to one so low on the social scale. Without money, friends in high places, and saddled with grumesome crimes, Atkins faces an uphill fight even in the face of her own impending death. If nothing else, the state can save itself a few dollars by pawning off on what remains of her family and into their care rather than paying what have to be massive medical bills.

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Official recommends Manson follower stay in prison

Associated Press

Fri Jun 20

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