Thursday, February 07, 2008

Alice LaBianca


Okay it was the EX wife looking for attention. And sure, it came from Nellie. But ten years ago, that murderous lying bitch Leslie Van Houten, first had to face the family of her victims. Here, courtesy of Nellie, is the first letter ever sent by a family member to the Van Houten Parole Board.

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Manson and his minions thrust our family name into public focus when they murdered Sharon Tate and her house guest one night, then they killed my former husband and his wife in a most brutal manner the next night. Their shocking criminal actions became known as the TATE-LABIANCA MURDERS. We lost our privacy and our obscurity.

My family never became vocal, we did not become activist, we relied on the justice system to seek and find the justice that was due us. We have never been asked by the District Attorney’s Office to participate in opposing the release of any of the killers. After all, they all received the death penalty, and that was all our family could expect.

But we can no longer remain silent. Let me preface my remarks by this statement:

We do not desire to become activist. We do not desire to be bombarded by the media and have our privacy destroyed. Yet, we must make a statement about the parole hearing for convicted murderer , Leslie Van Houten.

She entered the home of Leno, father of my children, that August 10th, 1969. She participated in the deaths in that home. I know, she says she only stabbed Rosemary after she was already dead from the relentless stabbing of Tex Watson. I know she denies having stabbed Leno. I even understand she has been a model prisoner for all these years. It doesn’t matter!

Leslie Van Houten has been fed, given medical care, clothed and housed for nearly thirty years. I understand she even completed a college degree and a Masters degree. My children had no such gifts. They, like other law-abiding citizens growing up, have had to face the realities of life without the help of their father. It has not been easy for them. I know Ms. Van Houten has a web site with Susan Atkins. I know she has a lot of friends who work for her freedom. That is unfortunate.

Leslie Van Houten chose her own path. She chose to follow the instructions of Charles Manson. She chose drug crazed killers as her family and she became one of them. But what about my family? When do we get our parole? When does Leno get his parole?

Sympathy for these killers, and especially this one is misplaced. Sympathy, understanding, and compassion should be given to the victims of murder and not the killers. In all these years, not one of those killers have expressed remorse to our family, -- not even Leslie Van Houten who says she did the least in the murders. If she is really ready for parole then amends to the family should have already been done.

Page Two - Alice LaBianca

The Manson murders…Breaking our silence

When Leslie’s father appeared on Larry King Live, my family was denied speaking on air by the producers to answer Mr. Van Houten’s accusations that the LaBianca’s didn’t care!! Not one of us was allowed on the show.

Make no mistake about it, the entire LaBianca family has suffered untold deprivation, frustration, anxiety and financial ruin because of these murders. Leno’s mother died of a broken heart just six years after her son’s murder, losing the business to merciless creditors – the family business that Leno was managing and she and Leno’s father had founded in the late 1920’s.

We emphatically oppose the release of any of the Manson menage. When the death penalty was repealed after their convictions, their sentences were converted to Life with possibility of parole. Even the California State Legislature found that unacceptable! They voted to make the entire Manson family an exception! The California voters also took action so we now have "Life without parole" as it should be!

It’s a sacrilege to Leno’s memory that the family has to be confronted with parole hearings for these individuals every few years. We are glad for her maturity and her model prisoner status, but that does not equate to freedom.

We also want to say that Suzanne LaBerge, daughter of Rosemary, the murdered wife of Leno at the time, does not represent the LaBianca family. She certainly did not represent us at that May 4, 1990 parole hearing for Tex Watson, when she made that pathetic appeal for his release because she "forgave" him.

As Ms. Van Houten continues her incarceration, let her continue to remember that what she did that fateful night was forever. The Manson family mark on this society is deep. As deep as the stab wounds to their helpless victims.

Alice LaBianca, author of NO MORE TOMORROWS through her friend, Bill Nelson, author of MANSON BEHIND THE SCENES, and a leading Manson family expert. www.mansonmurders.com

It was the encouragement from Nelson, that our family is speaking out. Please do not believe our silence has been uncaring.

17 comments:

Jean Harlow said...

Thank you Colonel.

Was the ex-wife looking for attention or was she simply standing up for her children whose father had been murdered and had to endure the things she described in the letter.

I guess she could have made money off the book possibly but in reality how much could that have been considering most of the people involved were making money off the whole thing.

Did anyone ever apologize to the LaBiancas?

deadwoodhbo said...

Awesome Col!!!! has always.Nice to see you jean.

Brian Davis said...

Thanks Col ! Good post !

Now, tell us how you really feel about Leslie Van Houten. LOL !

Seriously, I read so many contradictions sometimes I don't know what to believe.

According to Tex's book at the least, Leslie stabbed Mrs. LaBianca post-mortem. And never even participated in Mr. LaBianca's death.

Van Houten had nothing to do with the Tate murders.

She knew nothing of the plan prior, so, you cant really pin "conspiracy" on her as you can Charles.

Ok, IF these are the facts, then I know of a lot of people that have been and continue to be paroled for far worse than Van Houten actually did.

Please don't confuse me with the nutcase "JIM NY". I am NOT saying I personally feel Van Houten should be paroled. Just sayin, objectively, if the facts are true then she may have a case.

And with all due respect Col, it seems hypocritical to me that you are so against Van Houten and company but not so much that way towards Bobby B. Hell, Bobby B is actually guilty.

Also, why weren't any of the other family memebers arrested for these murders as accessories after the fact ? I KNOW it was talked about afterwards by some in the Family.

For example, Is anyone going to try and tell me that Brenda-Nancy did'nt know for weeks what had happened and who was involved ?

Thanks Col !

Respectfully,

Brian Davis said...

Also, Catscradle, if your're out there, I hope all is well and we miss you here and there !

FrankM said...

Well, Col, as you once again refer with your characteristic objectivity to LVH as a “murderous lying bitch” I guess your position is as clear as it always has been. Others, including some in the legal profession, are less harsh.

Alice La Bianca says:

we relied on the justice system to seek and find the justice that was due us.

Then, Alice, you should accept their ruling, whether you like it or not.

Leslie Van Houten has been fed, given medical care, clothed and housed for nearly thirty years

And you would prefer that she not be fed, not given medical treatment, not clothed, not kept inside … ?

I understand she even completed a college degree and a Masters degree

Many people resent this – perhaps understandably - but is it not an obligatory part of the parole process – in order to show rehabilitation, that you become a better person by your diligence and application?

Leslie Van Houten chose her own path. She chose to follow the instructions of Charles Manson. She chose drug crazed killers as her family and she became one of them.

I think this is disingenuous. Sure, in principle Leslie had the opportunity to walk, but I really don’t think it was quite that easy. The drugs, the peer pressure, the need for self esteem, these are easy to write off with hindsight but I think it might have been hard to get off that train once it started to roll .. I don’t exonerate her, but I’m not sure murder was a career choice for her.

But what about my family? When do we get our parole? When does Leno get his parole?

This is a non-starter as an argument. Suppose the La Biancas had been killed when their central heating had exploded – would she be demanding the continued incarcelation of the utilities company?

When Leslie’s father appeared on Larry King Live, my family was denied speaking on air by the producers to answer Mr. Van Houten’s accusations that the LaBianca’s didn’t care!! Not one of us was allowed on the show.

And this is another reason to keep Leslie in Prison? Go complain to Larry King.

When the death penalty was repealed after their convictions, their sentences were converted to Life with possibility of parole. Even the California State Legislature found that unacceptable! They voted to make the entire Manson family an exception! The California voters also took action so we now have "Life without parole" as it should be!

First time I heard this .. anyone know if this is/was the case?

It’s a sacrilege to Leno’s memory that the family has to be confronted with parole hearings for these individuals every few years.

Sorry, honey, but that seems to be the law, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to go outside the law.

Now let me, Frank, speak.

Parole systems are deeply flawed, and one of the worst aspects of them is that they allow victims and relatives of victims and friends of relatives of victims and sometimes people who are not even victims or relatives of victims or friends of relatives of victims to babble on about things which patently have nothing to do with the case. The gargantuan Hoyt and the devious Debra are cases in point. If you are sentenced for a crime it is for the crime you have committed. If your sentence is commuted, so be it. But you should serve your sentence. If parole is set out, it must be considered.

And if parole is set then it should be set out how the terms of that parole can be met, and matters should not rest on the emotional baggage of victims and relatives of victims etc. Or on our Arnie and his desire to stay in office.

If Hoyt (again as an example – I don’t want to pick on poor Alice) can not come to terms with own deceit thirty-five years later and is still a wallowing bag of misery that is Hoyt’s problem but was not part of the sentencing and Leslie’s chances of parole should not be conditioned by blubbermouth Barbara.

Personally I give a damn if LVH is let free or kept inside – but I think the law should be respected. Judge Krug thinks so too.

Go on. Shoot me down, but echoing Alice La Bianca I say it sure ain’t justice.

Frank

starship said...

Frank, your analysis of the parole system being flawed is very astute, and I agree wholeheartedly.

Now, for me, since parole is made possible through this system, then how can we as a society not grant it to people who are and have been model prisoners all along? I mean, if you've served your sentence with quiet dignity and bettered yourself and have helped others all through your time in prison, and you still can't get paroled, then do we even really have a workable parole system?

And I'm not saying any of these people should be paroled either, but am just considering the whole system on principle.

Marliese said...

Brian Davis said...Van Houten had nothing to do with the Tate murders.
She knew nothing of the plan prior, so, you cant really pin "conspiracy" on her as you can Charles


Just asking :)
She knew nothing of what plan? The Tate killings, or the LaBiancas?
She knew Gary Hinman had been killed...why didn't she leave then? She may not have known about the Tate killings as they were taking place, but she found about the slaughter the morning after (from PK, I believe?) and wasn't horrified, didn't run for her life, admits to feeling left out, went along eagerly the second night...happily sitting on killer Tex's lap in the back of the car. Knowing what she knew, I believe she was guilty of conspiracy.

I don't see simlarity between LVH and Beausoleil in the circumstances of the murders. It was vicious what BB did to Hinman, not saying he wasn't guilty of first degree re other circumstances of the crime, but was it premeditated? Walking into the privacy of the LaBianca home, LVH knew full well what the deal was...

I find it frustrating when it's said that Leslie Van Houten stabbed Rosemary only after she was dead. She stabbed her 16 times...that's a lot of deliberate effort, one slash after another 16 times. And isn't she the one that said later the more she did it, the better it felt. As well, didn't she say that Rosemary would take into eternity the desperate horror of hearing her husband's murder? She fought with Rosemary...and by all accounts, Rosemary fought hard. LVH prevented her from having any chance at all...she lied to her, she anchored her in place with the heavy lamp and when she and PK had trouble with her, calling Tex...she knew Tex was going to kill her. Then she carefully cleaned up afterwards.

Brian Davis said...

Marliese,

Excellent post ! And ahhh...I stand corrected.

Very well stated ! Thanks !

A.C. Fisher Aldag said...

Um, they all have been sentenced to life with the possibility of parole... otherwise they would not have *parole hearings*! Duh. People who have been sentenced to life without, do not receive parole hearings.

The CA legislature could not overturn a sentence for individuals sentenced to life with - that's unconstitutional. I'm not quite sure how it worked when the death penalty was repealed, then reinstated. Usually this matter is settled during the penalty phase of the trial... but you can't revoke life with possibiliity of parole, and then give life without! That's a judicial branch thing, not a legislative.

augusteigth1969 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ColScott said...

I am no longer IN the Candyass group.

I have responded to your comments in a new post already

techie123 said...

Col
Another good topic.

Marliese
Great points. LVH knew good and well what was going to happen and went along willingly.

Frank
Sorry my friend, drugs or not, all of the peer pressure in the world couldn't make me go into a strangers house and stab the inhabitants. A run on sentence because I know how much you love them.

I am bias for personal reasons, but I think the victim's family should have a voice in the parole hearings.

FrankM said...

Techie: [if you are still reading this blog entry]


All of the peer pressure in the world couldn't make me go into a strangers house and stab the inhabitants.

Are you familiar with Nazi experiments during WW2 designed to test to what extent subjects would follow the instructions of an 'authoritative' figure. Or what has come to be known as the 'Milgram Experiment' (there is a wikipedia entry)?

A run on sentence because I know how much you love them.

For me, run on sentences are comma splices without a comma this is an example.

My hatred of them goes back to my days as a teacher, I guess.

Peace

Frank

techie123 said...

Frank
Sorry I couldn't do better with the run on sentence but I gave it my best shot.
I don't know what Nazi experiments you are referring to but I did read about the Milgram Experiment. Very interesting stuff. I might very well have played along and gave a shock or two myself. I still don't think I have it in me to brutally murder someone.

FrankM said...

Hi, Techie

If I were you, you could try a dangling participle

Re the Milgram experiement you might be in a minority. I quote (my bold):

following intructions from `authority' (man in a white coat), 65% of `teachers' continued applying shocks all the way to the maximum, which they believed might cause death. None of the `teachers' refused to stop before reaching the `dangerous' 300 volt level.

Frank

techie123 said...

Frank
Doesn't Viagra cure a dangling participle?
As for the experiment, I don't know if I fall in with the remaining 35% or not. Most likely I fall into the backstreet test group where it sounds like the numbers might be closer to even.

FrankM said...

Nah, Techie, it was just a bad case of brewer's droop ...

Don't take it amiss but I'm leaving this topic now - see you on the latest page

Frank