Charles "Tex" Watson
| Tex Watson | |
|---|---|
Watson in a California prison mugshot in 1971.
|
|
| Born |
Charles Denton Watson December 2, 1945 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Other names | Tex; Charles Montgomery; Texas Charlie |
| Criminal penalty | Death penalty (commuted to life in prison) |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Allegiance | Manson Family |
| Conviction(s) | Murder |
|
Date apprehended
|
November 30, 1969 |
Charles Denton "Tex" Watson (born December 2, 1945) is an American murderer who was a central member of the "Manson family" led by Charles Manson. On August 9, 1969, Watson and other Manson followers murdered pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four other people at a house in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles. The next night, Watson traveled to Los Feliz, Los Angeles, and participated in the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, as part of Manson's "Helter Skelter" vision. Watson was found guilty of murder and imprisoned in 1971.
Watson was born in Farmersville, Texas, on December 2, 1945, and grew up in Copeville, Texas. He was the youngest of three children. Tex grew up apparently attending the Copeville Methodist Church. In high school he was an honor student and athlete, and worked as the editor on the school paper. In September 1964, Watson moved to Denton, Texas, to attend North Texas State University, where he joined a fraternity.
In January 1967 he began working at Braniff Airlines as a baggage handler. He used free airline tickets to travel and visited a frat brother in Los Angeles; there he became interested in the psychedelic lifestyle of the late 1960s.
On August 8, 1969 Watson went with Susan Atkins, Linda Kasabian, and Patricia Krenwinkel, to a house occupied by movie actress Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, and Abigail Folger.
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