Woman Discovers Notorious Cult Leader Charles Manson Was Her Grandfather

Sophia Maddox learned a shocking truth about her family history: her grandfather was the infamous cult leader Charles Manson. This revelation, confirmed four years ago through a DNA match, is now the focus of the Hulu documentary "My Grandfather Charles Manson." Maddox shared with The Guardian that her father struggled to process the news for two months due to its dark nature. The documentary follows Maddox as she navigates the complex emotions arising from her connection to one of history's most notorious criminals. Initially, her journey appears to be a philosophical exploration into the roots of evil, as she interviews former members of the "Manson Family" to understand her grandfather. However, as the narrative unfolds, the process becomes more akin to a personal, psychoanalytic session. Maddox felt compelled to document this journey, stating, "I grew up lonely, and when you grow up like that, you want to be heard and seen. I think that pushes you to connect with people, to shout out who you are and what your story is." The 26-year-old grew up distant from the heavy shadow cast by Manson and the trials of his followers. She learned about his crimes as a teenager after a random Google search for "Helter Skelter" following a Beatles song. The full impact of his crimes became clearer to her years later after watching Quentin Tarantino's film "Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood." In August 1969, Manson orchestrated the brutal murders of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others at Tate's home while her husband, Roman Polanski, was abroad. The following night, Manson Family members murdered businessman Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. Manson died in prison in 2017 at age 83. The documentary juxtaposes happy family videos of Maddox's father with disturbing footage of Manson, who had a Nazi swastika tattooed on his forehead. The physical resemblance between Maddox's father and Manson is striking, yet Maddox explores other shared elements throughout the film.

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When my dad found out, he couldn't tell me for two whole months, because it was something so dark.