# Linda Kasabian died **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 1, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569 "2023-03-01T22:54:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/1 "2023-03-01T22:54:40Z")
Manson acolyte and witness for the prosecution in the trial [died on January 21st](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/us/linda-kasabian-dead.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Obituaries). Not sure why it’s taken so long to hit the news. No cause of death was mentioned. She was 73. I was in Vietnam when that story broke. It was horrifying then and still is. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/2 "2023-03-01T23:36:41Z")
It’s been a long time since I studied the Manson murders but I recall thinking at the time that Kasabian was the the only member of the family – or at least, the ones who participated in the Tate/LaBianca murders – who seemed to have even a tiny shred of human decency. The others gleefully participated in the killings while Kasabian seemed to have been dragged along as a more-or-less unwilling participant. At least, for the Tate murder that was the case. The Murder of Folger et. al may have been different since she was along that night and unquestionably knew what was about to go down. She was a lonely young woman who had as a teenager married a random loser who she had hooked up with simply as a way to escaper her abusive father. By the time she was 20 her marriage was over, she was a single mother, she had some serious daddy issues, and was homeless. It’s rather unsurprising that she fell under Manson’s spell. All in all a very sad person who likely lived a very sad life. Such a waste. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/3 "2023-03-01T23:42:02Z")
I know it’s Wikipedia, but this says in so many words that she changed her name (probably by remarrying) and lived as anonymously as possible in the ensuing years, although she did get Secret Service protection briefly after Squeaky Fromme’s assassination attempt on Gerald Ford. > **[Linda Kasabian | Life after trial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Kasabian#Life_after_trial)** > > The news media coverage of the Manson trial had made Linda Kasabian a well-known figure by the time the sentences had been handed down, with opinions about her ranging from sympathetic to hostile. Kasabian shortly returned to New Hampshire with her husband and her children, seeking to escape the glare of the media, and to raise her children quietly. She lived on a hippie commune for a time and later worked as a cook. Kasabian was called back to Los Angeles County several times after the first Kas... This is one of the few Manson family members for whom I can honestly say “Rest in peace.” ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/4 "2023-03-02T00:13:22Z")
I like the Quintinverse Kasabian… (The video below leaves out the best part; the sound of the car leaving. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oJf0t2b7_0o/maxresdefault.jpg "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - Maya Hawke Scenes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJf0t2b7_0o) ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/5 "2023-03-02T01:29:17Z")
I was wondering recently when they were going to start dying, they’re all in their 70s. Leslie may get out before she dies, who knows? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/6 "2023-03-02T01:54:23Z")
At least Charlie and Susan Atkins are gone, for which we all can be grateful. Squeaky Fromme is still around, as is Patricia Krenwinkel and some others. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/7 "2023-03-02T01:55:38Z")
Charles Watson, and Bobby Beausoleil too. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/8 "2023-03-02T13:07:24Z")
I’ll bet a reunion would be a real hoot. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/9 "2023-03-02T13:15:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Not sure why it’s taken so long to hit the news. I’d say it’s because half a century is a long time, and also because our society seems to be spawning a spectacularly violent crime at least once a week. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/10 "2023-03-02T13:44:15Z")
I mentioned Kasabian’s death at work yesterday, and got a blank stare from my coworker. She had never heard of the Manson murders. And she isn’t some teenager, but in her forties. She seemed amused at my surprise and wondered why I thought she would know about some murders that happened before she was born. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/11 "2023-03-02T14:38:42Z")
Or perhaps her family just didn’t want the publicity. She _did_ use an alias to avoid public scrutiny. In the annals of violent crime, this cult killing was particularly gruesome and violent. It doesn’t surprise me that a lot of people have no idea who these people were; I chalk it up to the shitty education they get in public schools these days, and a notable lack of interest in anything outside of what’s on their cellphone screens. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/12 "2023-03-02T15:01:38Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I chalk it up to the shitty education they get in public schools these days, and a notable lack of interest in anything outside of what’s on their cellphone screens. I chalk it up to the shitty parenting they get these days. I already knew how to read when I walked into first grade. Many of these kids come to us as virtual blank slates. We have a kindergartner named Aaron who couldn’t identify the first letter of his name. Doesn’t even know the damn alphabet, and this kind of thing is the rule, not the exception these days. Add to that the fact that there is virtually no ability to discipline because of the fear of lawsuits, and add to that the fact that parental support is almost non-existent, and you blame us?! Teachers are far better trained and far more accountable than they have ever been before. They are required to take far more professional development than any other profession I can think of, and the state requires them to do it throughout their entire careers even if they have Master Degrees as a requirement needed to renew their teaching licenses. We have online computerized testing with all kinds of data fed back to us so that we can analyze, identify needs, and structure curriculum accordingly. I know this is off topic, but you fired the first salvo, not me, and it got me pretty hot. I couldn’t left it unanswered. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/13 "2023-03-02T15:53:44Z")
I chalk it up to the murders just not being historically or culturally relevant to someone born after the fact. Younger generations are exposed to media reports of greater horrors on a weekly basis. Murderous cults are a dime a dozen and hippies are as archaic as cowboys. Good for them not to have the Manson Family as a pop cultural touchstone. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/14 "2023-03-02T15:56:57Z")
I’m 35. I’ve heard of Manson and have a general idea of what happened thanks to shows like Mindhunter. But I’d be hard pressed to name any of the other people involved. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/15 "2023-03-02T15:59:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I chalk it up to the shitty education they get in public schools these days Why would _any_ school cover the Manson murders? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/16 "2023-03-02T16:04:01Z")
::backs away slowly:: You’re right, of course. I’m blaming lack of coffee for my transgression. I have a sister-in-law who is a teacher, and am aware of the problems you all have. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/17 "2023-03-03T00:49:26Z")
Are you in the U.S.? Might she have been an immigrant? I couldn’t imagine any American of at least average intelligence not knowing about Charles Manson, but stranger things have happened, I guess. Many young people would associate the name “Kasabian” with the band of the same name. I’ll admit to doing a double take the first few times I heard of them, and yes, they did name the band after her. > **[Kasabian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasabian)** > > Kasabian (/kəˈseɪbiən/ kə-SAY-bee-ən) are an English rock band formed in Leicester in 1997 by lead vocalist Tom Meighan, guitarist and occasional vocalist Sergio Pizzorno, guitarist Chris Karloff, and bassist Chris Edwards. Drummer Ian Matthews joined in 2004. Karloff left the band in 2006 and founded a new band called Black Onassis. Jay Mehler joined as touring lead guitarist in 2006, leaving for Liam Gallagher's Beady Eye in 2013, to be replaced by Tim Carter, who later became a full-time b ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/18 "2023-03-03T01:00:42Z")
I was in my late teens and living in the L.A. area when the murders happened. It was HUGE news here, of course, and there was a lot of fear going around. Then, the trials dragged out for a while, so it was all over the place for years. As a result, I know a lot about the murders and the murderers. I’d imagine people elsewhere would have slightly less interest/knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/19 "2023-03-03T01:01:58Z")
Holy crap, she lived in Tacoma. That’s where I work. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569/20 "2023-03-03T01:21:13Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > At least, for the Tate murder that was the case. The Murder of Folger et. al may have been different since she was along that night and unquestionably knew what was about to go down. Did you mean the LaBianca murders? Sharon Tate, Amanda Folger, Jay Sebring, Frykowski (I can’t recall his first name. It started with a W or a V., I think. He was Folger’s SO.) were all murdered the same night at the house on Cielo Drive, along with a kid who was in his car at the gate. Linda Kasabian was along both nights but didn’t enter either house, though she did witness the murder of Frykowski, as that happened on the front lawn, and the killing of the kid in his car. She testified that she went along to the LaBianca house the second night because she was afraid not to. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linda-kasabian-died/980569.md?page=2)