Panel recommends parole for Manson follower

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. To join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address. Once you do, your comments will post automatically. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

October 5, 2012

Panel recommends parole for Manson follower

By Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton Los Angeles Times The Eagle Tribune Fri Oct 05, 2012, 12:35 AM EDT

LOS ANGELES—A California prisons panel yesterday granted parole to a notorious killer described as a “right-hand man” to Charles Manson during a murder spree four decades ago.

It marks a rare time in recent years that the parole board has recommended freedom for a member of the Manson family.

But whether Bruce Davis, 69, walks out of California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo after spending more than four decades behind bars will turn on Gov. Jerry Brown, who has 120 days to review the case.

Saying he “would pose an unreasonable risk of danger to society,” then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger blocked a 2010 recommendation to parole Davis. Brown had no immediate comment Thursday.

But Manson family prosecutor Stephen Kay said he was alarmed at the prospect of Davis’ release.

“Would you want to wake up and find Bruce Davis next door?” Kay said. “I think not.” Kay said Davis should die in prison.

In a news release, state prison officials said the panel agreed to parole Davis because of his “positive adjustment, record of no recent disciplinary problems, and for successfully completing academic and vocational education and self-help programs.”

Davis did not participate in the 1969 Manson family murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others.

He was convicted in the slayings of Gary Hinman, an aspiring musician, and Donald “Shorty” Shea, a stuntman and a ranch hand at the Chatsworth ranch where Manson and his followers lived.

Police found a Black Panther symbol at the Hinman murder scene, which prosecutors later said was an attempt to incite a race war, which the Manson family called “Helter Skelter.”

Michael Beckman, an attorney for Davis, told the Associated Press that he was “pleased and relieved” by the parole board’s decision. He added that he hopes “Bruce’s ordeal will be over.”

During his 40 years in prison, Davis became an ordained minister and earned master’s degrees in philosophy and religion via a correspondence program.

Most of the key players in the Manson murders — including Charles “Tex” Watson, Leslie Van Houten, and Patrcia Krenwinkle — continue to serve life sentences with possibility of parole. Most, including Manson, have been denied repeated requests for parole.

In 2009, Manson follower Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme was released from prison.

Manson follower Susan Atkins, who stabbed actress Sharon Tate to death more than 40 years ago, was denied parole even when she was terminally ill. She died in September 2009.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

World/National News

Search Results

Discussion

Panel recommends parole for Manson follower

Site Map

Contact Us