Nights with Charlie's Girls and Other Prison Stories
by
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I worked days for the first two weeks to acquaint myself with all the procedures and daily routines. Due to their notoriety and previous attempted escape it was strange being alone with the women. Patricia Krenwinkle and Leslie Van Houton were housed in cells next to each other on the left side of the hallway across the Susan Atkins who was celled on the right. I quickly realized that the other two disliked Susan. She was considered to be the grandstander that spoke too openly about the Spahn Ranch. Their feelings ran so deep that they never spoke to Susan unless it was necessary. Since susan was alone and didn’t speak with the other two, she became friendly with staff and always looked for a chance to get into a conversation. She was a late sleeper and stayed up as late as midnight and would ask me on occasion if I would pull up a chair into the hallway and talk with her. We had many conversations speaking quietly so as not to disturb the two. I noticed quickly that Susan emphasized the sensationalism she experienced with the Mason family. She was always ready to entertain me with stories about family life at the Spahn Ranch. I listened and was astonished at what she had to say. My first week working nights alone on death row was difficult, as it was quite as well as disturbing. The Inmates Central files were kept in a locked cabinet in the office and I had to access them. These Central files had all the information about the women from the time of their crime to their incarceration. There were times I would finish early in the shift with my duties and it would be boring. I decided to read the Central files. I read all the files of the gruesome murders. There was a storm at the time with rain, thunder and lightning which added a macabre setting as I read. Then one of the girls, in her sleep, screamed a gruesome scream that ran chills up and down my spine. I must admit I was scared for the rest of the night. I had thoughts of being stabbed with long spears as I did my security checks. I stopped reading files Central files as I realized it was making me fearful and paranoid. As time progressed and I began to know the women better and I was more comfortable around them realizing they just wanted to make the best if a very bad situation. Although they were facing the death penalty for their crimes, they never spoke about it or let staff feel that they were burdened by it. Susan overheard a conversation the staff was having about the dangers of smoking. She then yelled out from her cell, “Can you believe my defense attorney told me to stop smoking as it was bad for my health, while I was facing the death penalty in court, like it really mattered?.” She then laughed.
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About the Book
The counterculture of the late sixties and early seventies by the draft dodgers and those who opposed the Vietnam War started a movement of protesters against what they termed a materialistic society. The civil disobedience led to marches and demonstrations against the draft, the government, and the conservative culture of the time. The nonviolent demonstrations became unlawful disturbances with police brutality and mass arrests by law enforcement officials. The movement took on a name, where hippies and their use of drugs, society’s dropout mentality, and the belief that our government was committing murder of its citizens by fighting in an undeclared war created an atmosphere of social unrest. It was in this environment that Charlie Manson, a self-proclaimed guru with a desire to dominate and control runaway teenagers from dysfunctional homes, gathered his family. He then used them to commit his atrocities and devious plan for a future apocalypse. The results were horrendous and left many lost souls and murdered victims in its wake. The Manson women, as they were referred to, were some of Manson’s family members. The incarceration of the Manson women at the California Institution for Women in Fontera, where I later became a Correctional officer, brought me face-to-face with the notorious women. Being the only officer between them and their execution gave me a sense of anxiety and responsibility. A previous escape attempt had failed. Would they try again?
About the Author
Ben desires to express himself through his literary talents resulted in many short stories and books. His major in Behavioral Science with a minor in English Literature served him well in pursing his passion. This book being his fifth, covers his interesting and exciting career of twenty years with the Department of Corrections at five Southern California prisons. His background working in secured facilities also included an additional five years with the Orange County Juvenile Department as a Deputy Probation Officer and ten years working with children and young adults from ages 9-18 years in a special needs school. This has given Ben much experience working with people of varied ages in prisons, institutions and work camps.