Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Sharon Tate Murders Linked to Manson’s Failed Hollywood Ambition
Sharon Tate was a 26-year-old actress who lived in a house in Los Angeles.
She was almost ready to have a baby when she was murdered.
Four friends and a young visitor were also killed that night.
Charles Manson had sent followers to the house, even though the people inside were not the people he was angry with.
Manson had hoped that record producer Terry Melcher would help him become a musician.
Melcher had once lived at the house but had moved away.
Manson’s followers attacked the people they found there and left a threatening message.
The next night, they killed Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in another Los Angeles home.
Investigators eventually connected the crimes to Manson and his followers.
On August 8, 1969, Sharon Tate and four others were killed at 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles.
Tate was eight-and-a-half months pregnant and living at the house with filmmaker Roman Polanski.
Charles Manson had sent four followers to the address, previously occupied by record producer Terry Melcher.
The attackers also killed Steven Parent and wrote “PIG” on the front door using Tate’s blood.
Manson and several followers were convicted in 1971; their death sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment.
- Who
- Actress Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, Abigail Folger and Steven Parent were killed; Charles Manson sent followers to the address.
- What
- Five people were murdered at 10050 Cielo Drive, and Tate’s unborn son also died.
- When
- The killings occurred shortly after midnight on August 9, 1969, following the group’s arrival on August 8; the LaBianca murders followed on August 10.
- Where
- 10050 Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, California.
- Why
- Prosecutors argued that Manson targeted the house because of his resentment toward Terry Melcher and his violent “Helter Skelter” beliefs.
- Primary crime date
- August 8–9, 1969
- Location
- 10050 Cielo Drive, Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles
- Victims at Cielo Drive
- Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, Abigail Folger and Steven Parent
- Tate’s pregnancy
- She was eight-and-a-half months pregnant
- Previous resident
- Record producer Terry Melcher
- Message at the scene
- “PIG” was written on the front door using Tate’s blood
- Convictions
- Charles Manson, Charles “Tex” Watson, Susan Atkins and Patricia Krenwinkel were convicted in 1971; Leslie Van Houten was convicted for the LaBianca killings