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A Glympse Into the World of a Mad Man On the first page of his book about the Manson Family murders Vincent Bugliosi warns, "the story in which you are about to read will scare the Hell out of you" (Bugliosi 1). This statement could not be more true. There have been many mass murders and serial killers throughout history, none however, have been as sick and twisted as Charles Manson. From 1969 until 1971 his was the story that captivated the nation. Manson and his followers committed a spree of murders which shocked the world and left everyone asking "why?" Charles Manson was born November 12, 1934 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Manson never knew his father and never had a real father figure; he was the illegitimate child of a promiscuous sixteen year-old, Kathleen Maddox. Maddox would leave for days and weeks at a time, leaving young Charlie with his grandparents and aunt. Once she even sold him for a pitcher of beer. Charlie and his mother were eating at a cafe one afternoon when their waitress jokingly offered to buy Charlie. His mother replied, "a pitcher of beer and he's yours." The waitress brought the beer and Manson was left behind in the cafe. Charlie's uncle found him several days later and brought him