Charles Manson: Countdown to Chaos - Episode 8

In this episode, we explore the financial devastation faced by Doris Day and her son Terry Melcher after the death of Day's husband, Marty Melcher, who left them deep in debt. The episode delves into how Melcher’s brief association with Charles Manson escalated into the horrifying murders that shook Hollywood, including the infamous creepy crawls that served as psychological conditioning for Manson's followers. We also examine Manson's desperate attempts to secure a record deal, leading to his increasing paranoia and the violent acts that followed. Join us as we uncover the real estate moves, dark manipulations, and shocking crimes that link Terry Melcher, Doris Day, and Charles Manson.



00:00 The Financial Ruin of Doris Day

01:58 Terry Melcher's Crisis Management

02:43 The Move to Cielo Drive

05:19 Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate Move In

09:38 The Manson Family's Descent

15:45 The Creepy Crawls Begin

29:52 The Murder of Gary Hinman

39:40 The Aftermath and Escalation

42:44 Charlie's Desperation and Final Plans



Tom Wood is a former murder squad detective and Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police in Scotland. Tom worked on many high profile murder cases including Robert Black, Peter Tobin and was part of the team investigating The World’s End Murders from day one until 37 years later when the culprit, Angus Sinclair was finally convicted. Tom was latterly the detective in overall charge of The World’s End murder investigation.



Tom is now retired from the Police and is a successful author.



Tom Wood's Books

Ruxton: The First Modern Murder https://amzn.eu/d/25k8KqG

The World's End Murders: The Inside Story https://amzn.eu/d/5U9nLoP



Simon is a retired Police Officer and the best selling author of The Ten Percent, https://amzn.eu/d/5trz6bs a memoir consisting of

stories from the first part of his career as a police officer. From joining in 1978,

being posted in Campbeltown in Argylll, becoming a detective on the Isle of

Bute, Scotland, through to the Serious Crime Squad and working in the busy Glasgow

station in Govan.



#CharlesManson,

#MansonMurders,

#truecrimepodcast,

#helterskelter,

#CrimeHistory,



Further reading on the Charles Manson which helped influence this podcast:



Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry

Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties by Tom O'Neill



This Podcast was made using multiple sources including testimonies and interviews of the perpetrators and witnesses including:



Charles Manson

Dennis Wilson

Terry Melcher

Lynnette Fromme

Susan Atkins

Patricia Krenwinkel

Charles ’Tex’ Watson

Lesley Van Houten

Brooks Poston

Rudolf Weber

Paul Crocket

Harold True

Greg Jakobson

Danny De Carlo

Phil Kaufman

Billy Doyle

Angela Lansbury

Michael Caine

Neil Young