Silke Jasso
Linda Kasabian, whose testimony during the trial was instrumental in the conviction of Charles Manson and some of his followers for life imprisonment, has passed away. The cause of her death has yet to be disclosed, but she died on January 21.
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According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, Kasabian changed her last name to “Chiochios” to protect her identity and conceal her former association with the cult.
In 1969, Kasabian participated in the infamous killing spree in Los Angeles, which resulted in the deaths of seven people, including famous actress Sharon Tate, the pregnant wife of director Roman Polanski. During the trial, Kasabian provided the court with detailed accounts of how Charles “Tex” Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Susan Atkins carried out the killings.
In exchange for her testimony, Kasabian was granted immunity from prosecution.
Linda Kasabian Dead at 73
In Milford, New Hampshire, Kasabian expressed her condolences for Manson and his followers upon hearing the verdict, saying, “I’m not surprised, but my heart really grieves for them.” She maintained that although she was present during the killings and drove the getaway car, she did not physically harm anyone.
Kasabian’s testimony played a crucial role in securing the murder convictions of Manson and his co-defendants, who received life sentences.
Manson passed away in 2017 at the age of 83 while in prison after he suffered from colon cancer and went into cardiac arrest. Kasabian had reportedly been living in Tacoma with her daughter since the late 1980s.
In a 2009 interview with Larry King, Kasabian shared that she had been focused on healing and rehabilitation and expressed remorse for her involvement in the killings.
This was big news when I was a kid. I felt remorse for the killing of Sharon Tate. I’m glad Linda got immunity. I saw this story in Life magazine.
Please get the facts right. Manson, Atkins, Watson, krenwinkle, and Van Houten were all convicted and sentenced to death. Their sentences were commuted to life with the possibility of parole when the State of California declared the death penalty unconstitutional. Save for that ruling, they would have died in the California Gas Chamber, which is appropriate for the savagery of the murders.