Who was Gary Hinman and why was he murdered by Manson Family members?

Gary Hinman was a musician and an associate of the Manson Family, a cult led by Charles Manson. In late July 1969, Hinman was tortured and murdered by Family members, including Bobby Beausoleil and Susan Atkins, acting under Manson’s orders.12

The motive for the murder is attributed to Manson’s belief that Hinman had inherited money, though other accounts suggest the violence stemmed from a botched drug deal. Following the killing, Beausoleil wrote "Political Piggy" on the wall in Hinman’s blood. When Beausoleil was subsequently arrested in possession of Hinman’s car and a bloody knife, Manson reportedly orchestrated later murders—such as those at the Tate and LaBianca homes—to stage copycat crimes. The goal was to mislead authorities into believing that Hinman’s true killer remained at large, potentially to help secure Beausoleil's release.13