Manson Family killer Susan Atkins dies

[SoxFan]

(CNN) -- Susan Denise Atkins, a former member of the Manson family who killed pregnant actress Sharon Tate during a two-day killing spree in 1969, has died, according to a California corrections spokesman. She was 61.

<snip>

By her own admission, Atkins held Tate, who was the eight months' pregnant, down as the 26-year-old actress pleaded for mercy, stabbing her 16 times. In a 1993 parole board hearing, Atkins said Tate "asked me to let her baby live. ... I told her I didn't have any mercy on her."

After stabbing Tate to death, Atkins -- known in the family as Sadie Mae Glutz -- scrawled the word "pig" in blood on the door of the home Tate shared with her husband, director Roman Polanski, according to historical accounts of the murders.

Polanski was not home at the time, but three of Tate's houseguests -- Abigail Folger, Jay Sebring and Voytek Frykowski -- were killed. Also slain was teenager Steven Parent, who was visiting the home's caretaker in his cottage out back.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/25/california.manson.atkins/index.html

[joeybee12]

1. Not sure what I think of this...when they appealed to let her die with

her family, all the victim' families were vehemntly against that...I mean, when does revenge end? The woman was barely coherent at that point, and I really wish the families had let her be released. Yeah, i know, some people are gonna say that means they condeon what she did...no, its about forgiveness...and going above what our emotions dictate.

[SoxFan]

2. Reality check.

Sharon Tate, Paul Polanski, Gary Hinman, Leno LaBianca, Rosemary LaBianca, Gibby Folger, Jay Sebring, Steven Parent, and Wojciech Frykowski would have appreciated some mercy and compassion, too.

[REP]

3. Life means life

If life sentences for unspeakable crimes are to mean anything, they have to be carried out.

Would her execution when she was young, attractive and healthy been better?

[LuvNewcastle]

5. I agree.

She was originally given the death penalty and was lucky to have had the life she did.

[2Design]

4. they originally had death sentence - but it was changed to life when

calif did away with death for awhile - as I read the whole article - I am glad she wasn't released although it would have saved the taxpayers money - she was a very anger, evil person when she did the crimes and even though she supposively changed - the depth of her character - sill probably had the evil inside - not a revenge thing - just not fair to let her out - life in prison was probably harder than the death penalty would have been, but she had to live with that part of her life forever

[noiretextatique]

7. revenge and punishment

it our right as god-fearing americans.

[Shell Beau]

10. It is easy to say when it isn't your forgiveness to give.

[joeybee12]

6. Well, in response to all of you...I just remember Matthew Shepherd's mother

testifying AGAINST the death penalty at the sentencing portion of the trial for the two guys who killed her son. While the families objections to her being released are understandable, there are some people out there who just make you say, "Wow. Fucking Wow."

[LuvNewcastle]

9. I'm not for the death penalty.

I was just pointing out that she was lucky that it was abolished in California, at least for a time. I don't think, however, that some people should ever get out of prison. Manson's one, those guys who killed Matthew Shepard shouldn't either.

[uppityperson]

8. RIP. eom

[geek_sabre]

11. good riddance

shame she had better healthcare than most innocents in this nation

[Stinky The Clown]

12. Noted

[boobooday]

13. Mercy isn't ours to give anyway

She was sentenced for a horrific crime, and she served it. Life means that you die in jail.