Charles Manson’s death certificate reveals that the cult leader died from acute cardiac arrest, respiratory failure and colon cancer.
According to the Kern County coroner, acute cardiac arrest was the main factor in Manson’s November 19 death.
But the death certificate, as seen by TMZ reveals Manson was battling colon cancer in the months leading up to his death at the age of 83.
Cult leader Charles Manson (pictured left in August 2017 and right in October 2014) died aged 83 in November. A death certificate revealed he died from acute cardiac arrest, respiratory failure and colon cancer
At the time of Manson’s death the California Department of Corrections said that he had died from natural causes.
Manson, who orchestrated a number of murders by his followers in the late 1960s, was hospitalized twice in the months before his death – once in January and again in November – but little information about his health was released to the public.
In November, Manson was transferred from Corcoran State Prison, where he was serving a life sentence, to a Bakersfield, California hospital as his condition worsened behind bars.
Manson has still not been buried as relatives and longtime associates battle over his estate including music, paintings and two guitars, along with the image over his trademark which could be used in authorized films or documentaries.
At least three parties have come forward to claim ownership of the Manson estate including one man who claims to be Manson’s grandson.
Charles Manson being escorted to his arraignment in 1969 and remained behind bars until his death. The 83-year-old, who orchestrated a number of murders by his followers in the late 1960s, died from acute cardiac arrest and complication of a battle with colon cancer
Manson and three of his followers, Susan Atkins (left), Patricia Krenwinkle (center) and Leslie Van Houten (right) killed seven people: pregnant actress Sharon Tate, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, Steven Parent and Jay Sebring
Victims: (top row left to right) Voytech Frykowski, Sharon Tate, Stephen Parent, (middle row left to right) Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Gary Hinman, (bottom row left to right) Leno LaBianca, Rosemary LaBianca, Donald Shea.
Manson’s followers killed actress Sharon Tate and six others in 1969.
The killings occurred on successive August nights and terrorized the city of Los Angeles.
The cult leader continued his life of crime behind bars after being locked up, with more than 100 infractions during his time in prison, for charges including assault, making voodoo dolls and hiding a hot air balloon order catalog in his cell.
The repeated infractions are likely the reason behind the high security levels that were in place around Manson.
Speaking to People, retired Los Angeles County prosecutor Stephen Kay, who helped convict Manson of the 1969 murders, said: ‘He threw hot coffee on a guard and spit on a guard’s face. He had a saw blade in the sole of a shoe.
‘He was making little dolls, but they were like voodoo dolls of people and he would stick needles in them, hoping to injure the live person the doll was fashioned after.
‘He said his main activity was making those dolls.’
1970: Charles Manson arrives for court with a shaven head, an open shirt, and a swastika carved in his forehead. The cult leader continued his life of crime behind bars after being locked up, with more than 100 infractions during his time in prison, for charges including assault, making voodoo dolls and hiding a hot air balloon order catalog in his cell
Manson was also targeted by other prisoners – on one occasion a Hare Krishna poured lighter fluid on him and set him on fire.
And prior to being moved to Corcoran in 1989, prison guards at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville found a hacksaw blade, marijuana and LSD in Manson’s cells according to a report in the LA Times.
The California Department of Corrections said he had spent the past 27 years incarcerated in the Protective Housing Unit at Corcoran, which houses inmates whose safety would be endangered by general population housing.