Battle erupts over Charles Manson’s estate

A battle has erupted over the control of Charles Manson’s estate after the infamous cult leader left it to a pen pal and disinherited his family and friends. 

On Friday, two unverified wills surfaced with each naming a different person to inherit the killer’s estate. 

Ben Gurecki, a friend of Manson, told the New York Daily News that he obtained a January 2017 will from Manson and gave it to Manson’s self-proclaimed son Matthew Roberts. 

According to Gurecki, Roberts was named as the main beneficiary.

But TMZ reported Friday that the convicted murderer left his entire estate to a pen pal he began communicating with just 20 years ago.

‘I can assure you Matthew will be handling this,’ Gurecki told the Daily News. 

 

 A battle has erupted over the control of Charles Manson’s (pictured in 1969) estate after the infamous cult leader left it to a pen pal and disinherited his family and friends

Legal document: The individual did not want to be identified and said that he began writing to Manson in the 90s, sending close to 50 letters before he responded in 1997 (will above)

Legal document: The individual did not want to be identified and said that he began writing to Manson in the 90s, sending close to 50 letters before he responded in 1997 (will above)

One final goodbye: The pair last spoke on the phone back on October 21 the individual said

One final goodbye: The pair last spoke on the phone back on October 21 the individual said

‘Matthew and I will be there next week in person,’ he claimed. ‘Charlie will be given a headstone, a proper burial where people will be able to grieve, or deface it as they see fit.’

The pen pal, who did not want to be named, said that he began writing Manson in the 90s and finally got a letter back in 1997 from the cult leader.

Fives years later he finally visited the man in prison, and that meeting went over so well it seems that Manson drafted the will, which is dated 2002 and remains largely unchanged since that date. 

It was sent to the warden at California State Prison Corcoran on Valentine’s Day of that year.  

Manson, who died last Sunday at the age of 83, also stated in the will that he disinherited his two known children, grandchildren, friends, other family and the state of California. 

Manson wrote in the will that his wishes for his death had been stated to the pen pal, though six days after he passed away his body is still with the state of California.

If it is not claimed after 10 days he will be cremated by the state. Later in the will, Manson noted: ‘I’m not in the best spot to rest in peace.’

Manson was making money of his likeness while in prison, with a New York Times article revealing back in 1993 that the man who convinced his followers to embark on a two-night murder spree that left Sharon Tate and others dead was getting 10 cents for every $17 shirt one surf shop was selling in California.

The shirts showed Manson’s face on the front and said ‘Charlie don’t surf’ on the back. 

Manson also owned the rights to his music, though it is unclear if that ‘exclusive catalogue’ includes the Beach Boys song ‘Never Learn Not to Love,’ on which he was an uncredited writer.

Manson, who died last Sunday at the age of 83, also stated in the will that he disinherited his two known children, grandchildren, friends, other family and the state of California. Manson during his 1970 trial on murder charges (above)

Manson, who died last Sunday at the age of 83, also stated in the will that he disinherited his two known children, grandchildren, friends, other family and the state of California. Manson during his 1970 trial on murder charges (above)

Matthew Roberts

Jason Freeman

Family: Matthew Roberts (left) claims to be the cult leader’s son and Jason Freeman (right) claims to be his grandson

He wrote in the will that there are over 100 songs total he owns the rights to, though he did not name any of them in the document.

Manson identified himself as a ‘single man’ with two known children, sons Michael Brunner and Charles Manson Jr.

Brunner, who was named Valentine Michael Manson at birth, is still alive and has no association with his father, having been raised by his grandparents after his mother Mary was arrested along with other members of the Manson family.

Mary served a brief sentence for credit card theft and forgery before moving back to Wisconsin and changing her name.

She was present the night that Gary Allen Hinman was murdered, but played no role in the actual killing of any individuals.

Charles Manson Jr committed suicide in 1993 at the age of 37, with the cause of death a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Charles Manson Jr. (pictured) committed suicide in 1993 

Charles Manson Jr. (pictured) committed suicide in 1993 

His mother, Manson’s ex-wife Rosalie Jean Willis, changed his name to Jay White after she divorced the cult leader. 

His son, Jason Freeman, is still alive, but never had the chance to visit his grandfather in prison. 

Charles Luther Manson, though not named in the will, was the second-born child of the cult leader.

His mother was Manson’s second wife Leona Stevens, who in 1963 divorced her husband and later changed their child’s name.

It is not known if he is still alive or his whereabouts. 

A fourth man, Matthew Roberts, claims he too was Manson’s son, with the adopted child stating that his birth mother told him Manson raped her and she became pregnant.

Despite that fact, Roberts reached out to Manson and two became close in his final years. 

The will was witnessed and signed by Roger Dale Smith, a fellow inmate who earned the nickname ‘pincushion’ because he was stabbed so many times while in the custody of the California prison system. 

It is not confirmed, but according to some he was stabbed more times than any other prisoner held behind bars in the state. 

Smith was also once called ‘the most dangerous, most psychopathic inmate housed at San Quentin.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk