Manson's Prosecutor Looks Back

Vincent Bugliosi is sick of talking about Charles Manson. He’d rather discuss his new book, The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder. But as the man who prosecuted Manson and co-wrote Helter Skelter, that’s what people ask him about to this day. “They’re so interested,” he says near the 40th anniversary of the murders. “The durability of this case is just incredible.”

Why is that? “The murders were probably the most bizarre in American crime,” he theorizes. “The very name ‘Manson’ has become a metaphor for evil.” He’s disappointed Manson wasn’t executed—“That would have been the correct sentence”—but defends his support of cancer-sufferer Susan Atkins’ parole request. “The mercy she was asking for is so minuscule. She’s about to die. It’s not like we’re going to see her at Disneyland.” (More Charles Manson stories.)