The Gun That Triggered an Investigation | The Charles Manson Story Episode 13

In Episode 13 of 'The Charles Manson Story,' Alex recounts the moment when ten-year-old Steven Weiss found a .22 caliber revolver in his backyard, leading to a significant but initially overlooked police investigation. The episode delves into the LAPD's response, the relocation of the Manson Family to Death Valley, and the control tactics employed by Charles Manson to maintain his hold over his followers. The narrative also covers the cult's desperate attempts to find a mythical 'bottomless pit,' their increasing internal strife, and the ominous preparations for an anticipated attack. This episode provides crucial insights into the unraveling of the Manson Family's activities, including key eyewitness accounts and law enforcement's gradual tightening of the net around them.

00:00 Introduction to Episode 13

00:49 Discovery of the Gun

01:44 LAPD's Response

03:47 The Manson Family's Relocation

05:02 Life at Barker Ranch

05:51 The Mythical Bottomless Pit

06:49 Control Through Fear

08:01 Ruth Ann's Enthusiasm for Violence

08:44 Defections and Dilemmas

19:06 Barbara Hoyt's Escape

21:44 The Press Conference and Manson's Paranoia

23:19 The Search for the Bottomless Pit Continues

24:26 Park Rangers Close In

29:07 The Joint Raid Plan

30:16 Tex's Desperate Escape

31:12 Dissension in Manson's Ranks

31:35 Kitty and Stephanie's Escape Attempt

32:26 Unfolding the Manson Case

32:56 Crime Experts' Analysis

36:03 The Psychology of Confession

37:23 Charlie's Paranoia and Control

39:45 The Significance of the Found Firearm

46:08 Cults and Stupid Decisions

46:56 Building to the Raid

Tom Wood is a former murder squad detective and Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police in Scotland. Tom worked on many high profile murder cases including Robert Black, Peter Tobin and was part of the team investigating The World’s End Murders from day one until 37 years later when the culprit, Angus Sinclair was finally convicted. Tom was latterly the detective in overall charge of The World’s End murder investigation. 

Tom is now retired from the Police and is a successful author.

Tom Wood's Books

 Ruxton: The First Modern Murder https://amzn.eu/d/25k8KqG

The World's End Murders: The Inside Story https://amzn.eu/d/5U9nLoP

Simon is a retired Police Officer and the best selling author of The Ten Percent, https://amzn.eu/d/5trz6bs a memoir consisting of

stories from the first part of his career as a police officer. From joining in 1978,

being posted in Campbeltown in Argylll, becoming a detective on the Isle of

Bute, Scotland, through to the Serious Crime Squad and working in the busy Glasgow

station in Govan.

#CharlesManson,

#MansonMurders,

#truecrimepodcast,

#helterskelter,

#CrimeHistory,

Further reading on the Charles Manson which helped influence this podcast:

Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry

Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties by Tom O'Neill

About Crime Time Inc.

Crime Time Inc. is hosted by Tom and Simon—two ex-cops with decades of frontline experience and zero tolerance for fluff. Tom, a by-the-book former Deputy Chief Constable from Edinburgh, and Simon, a rule-bending ex-undercover cop from Glasgow, bring sharp insight, dark humour, and plenty of East vs. West banter to every episode.

Whether they’re revisiting cases they worked on, grilling fellow former officers, or picking apart narrated true crime stories, Tom and Simon don’t just talk about crime—they’ve lived it. Real cases. Real cops. Real talk.

Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/

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