ABC Presents a Two-Hour Documentary on Charles Manson, His Devoted Cult and the Grisly Murders of 1969

It was one of the most gruesome crime sprees of the 20th century that shocked and haunted the nation and people all over the world. ABC airs a special two-hour documentary on Charles Manson, his cult of devoted followers and the grisly murders in Los Angeles that he instructed his members to carry out. Amidst a counterculture era of sex, drugs, rock and roll and not long after the Summer of Love, Americans had a rude awakening when, on two consecutive nights in 1969, Manson's followers killed seven people, including actress Sharon Tate, who was more than eight months pregnant at the time, in the home she shared with her husband, Roman Polanski. The heinous acts instantaneously eliminated a sense of safety and security for many people across the country.

ABC's new retelling of Charles Manson, his cult, the followers who loved and killed for him, and the murders will include never-before-seen video from ABC News' interviews with Manson in his last network television interview from prison and former cult members Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel, who are serving life sentences for murders masterminded by Manson. The documentary will revisit the crime-scene footage and feature new interviews with and fresh insight from law enforcement, first responders and production crew who met Manson during his final TV interview. The special has interviews with Sharon's sister Debra Tate, family and friends of the victims, actors who worked with Sharon, Mike Love of the Beach Boys who met Manson before the killings, reporters who were in the courtroom during the trial, and more.

This is the second installment of the "Truth and Lies" series, which launched earlier this year with the No. 1 rated documentary on the Menendez brothers' murder case.
"Truth and Lies: THE FAMILY Manson" airs Friday, March 17 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EST) on ABC.

The special is produced by ABC News. David Sloan is senior executive producer.

Image courtesy of ABC.