Final Days and Health Decline

Charles Manson, the infamous cult leader behind the brutal Manson Family murders, passed away on November 19, 2017, at the age of 83. The official death certificate revealed that the immediate cause of death was acute cardiac arrest, with colon cancer contributing to his decline in health.

In the months leading up to his death, Manson experienced significant health problems, including gastrointestinal issues that culminated in gastrointestinal bleeding. He had been hospitalized on multiple occasions, notably for these complications, which rendered him too weak for surgery less than a year before he died.

Medical Reports and Hospitalization

According to reports, Manson suffered from intestinal bleeding as early as January 2017. His condition necessitated hospitalization in Bakersfield, California, where he was described as looking pale and frail when he arrived by gurney. A press release from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed that Manson died from natural causes in a Kern County hospital at 8:13 p.m.

Criminal Legacy and Convictions

Manson’s notorious legacy stems from his orchestration of a series of murders, including the high-profile killing of actress Sharon Tate in 1969. He was convicted on multiple counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy, which resulted in a death sentence that was later commuted following a legal decision that vacated all capital sentences in California.

Manson’s parole requests were consistently denied over the years; he was turned down 12 times while incarcerated. He spent most of his imprisonment in protective housing units designed for inmates whose safety might be jeopardized in the general population.

Ongoing Interest and Documentary Coverage

Posthumously, Manson remained a figure of intrigue, particularly highlighted by a Netflix documentary released in March 2025. This program reignited discussions surrounding his life and the severe impact of his criminal activities, reminding the public of the infamous Manson Family murders that shocked the nation in the late 1960s.