Bruce Davis, described as Charles Manson's "right-hand man," died at age 83 in a California prison hospital after being denied parole eight times since 2010. Davis was serving life for murdering Gary Hinman and Donald Shea based on Manson’s instructions. Governor Gavin Newsom rejected his release due to lack of remorse, despite Davis claiming a religious awakening and earning a doctoral degree while incarcerated.
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Charles Manson's 'right-hand man' has died in a California prison hospital at 83 years old after being denied parole eight times.
asserted
man → see → parole
Bruce Davis was confirmed to have passed away by a nurse at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville on Friday just after 11pm, a state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation rep told the Los Angeles Times.
asserted
rep → confirm → Times
A cause of death remains unclear.
uncertain
cause → remain → death
Davis was serving a life sentence behind bars after his 1972 conviction for the murders of aspiring musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald 'Shorty' Shea.
asserted
Davis → serve → Hinman
He was denied parole eight times during his incarceration since 2010.
asserted
He → deny → 2010
Davis argued for his release by citing his religious awakening behind bars and the doctoral degree in philosophy he earned in custody.
However, despite his being recommended for release in 2021 by the parole board, Governor Gavin Newsom repeatedly rejected any of Manson's followers be released.
asserted
any → argue → followers
The governor said that Davis continued to minimize his crimes, the role he played and showed little empathy for his victims.
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he → say → victims
Bruce Davis, seen in 2014 left and 1970 right, was confirmed to have passed away by a nurse at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville on Friday just after 11pm
Manson, who died of natural causes in 2017 also at age 83, was convicted of the murders of nine LA residents in 1971 and sentenced to life in prison
Davis was serving a life sentence behind bars after his 1972 conviction for the murders of aspiring musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald 'Shorty' Shea
Davis 'does not understand that it was his agreement to participate in Mr. Manson’s plans that resulted in the torture and murder of his victims, regardless of whether he ultimately inflicted the fatal blows,' Newsom wrote.
asserted
Newsom → see → blows
Newsom's blocks followed in the footsteps of former governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown.
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blocks → follow → governors
Davis' last parole hearing in 2024 saw the convicted killer questioned over his aspirations to write a memoir upon his release, speak publicly and his decision to appear on a podcast called 'The Lighter Side of Serial Killers,' the Times reported.
asserted
Times → see → Killers
Hinman fell victim to Davis and Manson after being hailed as a potential aid in the cult's move from LA to the desert, according to parole records obtained by the Times.
uncertain
Hinman → fall → Times
After Hinman refused to take part, however, he was held at gunpoint by Davis while Manson cut him from his ear to his chin.
asserted
Manson → refuse → chin
Davis was also convicted of attacking Shea with a knife after Manson accused the stuntman of being a police informant attempting to kick them off of the Spahn Ranch in Chatsworth - where the 'Family' made their home, the outlet reported.
asserted
outlet → convict → home
Manson's followers then used Hinman's blood and wrote 'political piggy' on the wall of his home.
asserted
followers → use → home
'I wanted to be Charlie's favorite guy,' Davis said in a 2014 parole hearing, according to the Times.
uncertain
Davis → want → Times
Manson, seen left in 2017 and right in 1969, built a religious cult known as the Manson 'Family,' controlling many of his followers by encouraging the use of hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD
Members of the Manson Family stabbed, beat and shot young actress Sharon Tate (pictured), who was heavily pregnant, to death at her Hollywood Hills home on August 8 1969
Bruce Davis, left, and Steve Grogan, leaving court after a hearing in Los Angeles in 1970
Manson, who died of natural causes in 2017 also at age 83, was convicted of the murders in 1971.
The cult leader had grown up frequently committing a slew of crimes, including petty larceny, armed robbery and burglary, before he began moving around the country mostly stealing cars.
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he → see → cars
Manson eventually relocated to San Francisco after he spent years in prison and gained a small group of followers, many being women, and created a 'family.'
From there, the famed criminal would build a religious cult, controlling many of his followers by encouraging the use of hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, and preach of a devastating and inevitable apocalyptic race war in America.
asserted
criminal → relocate → America
Manson and his 'Family' became connected to a slew of murders, including Sharon Tate, the eight-month-pregnant wife of film director Roman Polanski on August 8, 1969.
asserted
Manson → become → August
They also killed her friends, celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, aspiring screenwriter Wojciech Frykowski and teenager Steven Parent, who had been visiting an acquaintance at the estate’s guesthouse.
asserted
who → kill → guesthouse
The next night Manson and some of his followers struck again, this time murdering wealthy grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary at their home.
asserted
Manson → strike → home
Seven members of the group were eventually convicted, with many receiving death sentences which were later invalidated as part of a sweep by the California Supreme Court, People reported.
asserted
People → convict → Court
Of those charged who are still alive, Patricia Krenwinkel, Charles 'Tex' Watson and Bobby Beausoleil remain behind bars.
asserted
Krenwinkel → charge → bars
The Aporia
