TMZ and reports: Charles Manson dead in hospital at age 83

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Hollywood Reporter and TMZ report that Charles Manson, an American criminal and former cult leader who led what became known as the Manson Family in California in the late 1960s, died Sunday at age 83.

Earlier in the week the Kern County Sheriff's Office confirmed Manson's admittance to the hospital, but the hospital could not comment on his status because of medical privacy laws.

The news came after Manson was admitted to a hospital in January after suffering from severe intestinal bleeding and needed surgery to repair a lesion. At the time, doctors determined that he was too weak to undergo the procedure. As there was nothing else they could do to help him, they sent him back to prison.

Following his return, someone close to him indicated that his condition had taken a turn for the worse.

“He’s not good,” the source said. “His health is failing.”

RELATED: As Charles Manson was being prepped for surgery, doctors had to make a major decision

Charles Manson and his followers were arrested over 40 years ago after the murders of Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant at the time, and four others at the home she shared with husband Roman Polanski. The victims were stabbed, shot and beaten to death while Polanski was out of town. Following the murders of three others, Manson and his followers were arrested on suspicion of auto theft. Police only connected them to the murders after Susan Atkins, who was in jail for the Tate murders, told a fellow inmate about the rest of the cult.

“Because we wanted to do a crime that would shock the world, that the world would have to stand up and take notice,” she said.

Manson and five followers were indicted in 1969, with the leader facing murder-conspiracy charges. All of the defendants were found guilty, with many of them, including Manson, receiving the death penalty. However, California abolished the practice the following year, and all of their sentences were commuted to life in prison. Manson has racked up 108 disciplinary violations since 1971 and has reportedly shown no remorse for the killings.

Manson was in California State Prison, Corcoran, serving nine consecutive life sentences, CBS News reported.

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