Shivangi Sinha
Charles “Tex” Watson was one of the central figures in the Tate-LaBianca killings of August 1969 in Los Angeles, California. As part of Charles Manson’s group, he acted as an important person in the two crimes and was arrested soon after, but the legal processes that followed were not as simple. Watson has remained an important piece of the puzzle that continues to baffle people to this day. Netflix’s ‘Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes’ sheds light on Watson’s involvement and the events surrounding the crimes.
Charles “Tex” Watson Was Hiding in Texas When He Was Arrested for His Crimes
Charles Denton “Tex” Watson was born on December 2, 1945, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in a religious family and, along with his three other siblings, had a fairly normal and protected upbringing. He excelled in school at Farmersville High School and has been mentioned as an honor student, while also being enthusiastic about his extracurricular activities. He was the editor of the school paper and captain of the football team. In September 1964, he joined the University of North Texas and also became part of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. In 1967, Watson started working as a baggage handler for Braniff International.
Watson decided to take a trip to Los Angeles, California, where he was introduced to the counterculture and began engaging with recreational drugs over time. He eventually decided to drop out of college as well. One day, he ended up giving a ride to Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys, and when he dropped him at his home, that was where he met Charles Manson for the first time. He eventually moved back with them to Spahn Ranch and spent a lot of time with the other members as well. In the documentary, former “family members” said that it was after his introduction that recreational drug use allegedly increased in the group. Watson is believed to have been equally enamored with Manson and an ardent follower.
On July 1, 1969, Watson was supposed to deliver some drugs to Bernard Crowe, aka Lotsapoppa. At the place, a dispute erupted over the payment and the quality of the drugs, following which Watson called Manson, who shot Crowe in the stomach. Thankfully, he survived, but it was after this and Bobby Beausoleil’s arrest for Gary Hinman’s murder that Manson orchestrated the Tate-LaBianca murders as well. Watson accompanied the group in both instances on August 8 and August 9, 1969. In an audio tape of his interview, which is featured in the documentary, Watson is heard admitting the details of the crime and how he took the front role in both incidents. After the raid at the Spahn Ranch and Manson’s move to the Barker Ranch, Watson distanced himself and moved to Texas. He tried to hide for a while but was arrested on November 30, 1969.
Charles “Tex” Watson Had Four Children While serving His Sentence
Charles “Tex” Watson’s lawyers fought against his extradition to California, which is why he was not tried along with Charles Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten. When he was brought to California, he reportedly stopped talking and eating and lost about 55 pounds. He spent 90 days at the Atascadero State Hospital, and his trial only began in October 1971. Watson was convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. His defense team tried to put up an insanity claim to reduce his punishment, but he was found to be competent. He was handed down the death sentence shortly afterward.
When the California Supreme Court struck down the state’s death penalty in 1972, Watson’s sentence was commuted to life in prison, and he has been eligible for parole since 1976. Watson has had quite a life behind bars as well. He declared that in 1975 he became a born-again Christian, and in 1983 he was ordained as a minister. In 1978, he even published his autobiography, ‘Will You Die for Me?’, which he co-authored with Raymond “Chaplain Ray” Hoekstra. In 1979, Watson got married to Kristin Joan Svege, and together they founded Abounding Love Ministries, Inc. in 1980. At the time, conjugal visits were still allowed, and he even had four children with her.
Charles “Tex” Watson is Being Held in a California Prison Today
In 2003, Charles Watson and Kristin Svege divorced, but they remained friends, and she has long advocated for his release. Behind bars, Watson held several jobs, including as a hazmat porter, and also helped facilitate inmate recovery groups. In 2009, he got his degree in Business Management from California Coast University. In 2019, he published his second book, ‘Cease to Exist: The Firsthand Account of the Journey to Becoming a Killer for Charles Manson’, with the same co-author.
In May 2023, Watson launched the Abounding Love podcast, which features some of his sermons from when he had just entered prison. He has applied for parole 18 times, and in October 2021, he was rejected once again for another five years. He is now being held at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County, California. In May 2026, he voluntarily waived his right to a hearing for three years, and his next tentative hearing has been set for 2029.
Read More: Bobby Beausoleil: Where is the Killer and Manson Family Associate Now?
You must be logged in to post a comment.