During this time, the Family reportedly made money by stealing cars, selling drugs, and engaging in prostitution. The group was also prone to violence. In late July 1969 several Family members, notably Bobby Beausoleil and Susan Atkins, tortured and killed Gary Hinman on the orders of Manson, who believed Hinman had inherited money. Before leaving, Beausoleil used Hinman’s blood to write “Political Piggy” on the wall. Beausoleil was caught on August 6 when police found him in Hinman’s car with a bloody knife.

More murders followed days later. On August 8, 1969, Manson ordered his follower Charles “Tex” Watson to go to 10050 Cielo Drive with several other cult members and kill everyone there “as gruesome[ly] as you can.” Manson was familiar with the house because its previous tenant, music producer Terry Melcher, had earlier considered and then decided against giving Manson a recording contract.

Watson drove to the estate with Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian. In the driveway they encountered a car driven by Steven Parent, an 18-year-old who had been visiting the estate’s caretaker in the guest house. Watson fatally shot Parent before he, Atkins, and Krenwinkel broke into the main house, leaving Kasabian to stay at the gate as a lookout. Four people were in the home: actress Sharon Tate; celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring, a close friend of Tate’s; Wojciech Frykowski, a friend of Roman Polanski, Tate’s husband; and Frykowski’s girlfriend, coffee heiress Abigail Folger. Manson’s followers gathered them in the living room, and Tate and Sebring were linked by ropes tied around their necks. Sebring was shot and stabbed to death. Frykowski and Folger managed to flee the house, but they were both chased down and killed. Tate was then fatally stabbed. As they left, Atkins used Tate’s blood to write the word “PIG” on the front door.

On August 10, Manson took Watson, Atkins, Krenwinkel, and Kasabian as well as Leslie Van Houten and Steven “Clem” Grogan in search of more people to murder. Manson selected the Los Angeles home of grocery store executive Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. After Manson and Watson tied the couple up and robbed them, Manson left with Atkins, Kasabian, and Grogan. Watson, Van Houten, and Krenwinkel remained and, acting on orders from Manson, stabbed the couple to death with a bayonet and knife. The word “WAR” was carved into Leno LaBianca’s stomach. Manson’s followers also left words—“Rise” and “Death to Pigs”—written in blood on the walls, and “Healter [sic] Skelter” was on the refrigerator door.

Later in August Manson and other Family members killed Donald (“Shorty”) Shea, a stuntman. Shea was a friend of George Spahn, the owner of Spahn Ranch, and he lived on the property. Tensions increased after Manson became aware that Shea was involved in a plan to kick the Family off the ranch. In addition, Manson was said to be opposed to Shea’s marriage to a Black woman. Acting on Manson’s orders, Grogan and Bruce Davis bludgeoned and stabbed Shea to death; Watson was also believed to be involved in the attack, but he was never charged. Shea’s decomposed body was found in 1977 after Davis provided authorities with a map of the burial site.