After all these years, the meaning behind those two fateful words- and the Beatles song of the same name- remains murky. The cult murderer invoked the phrase “Helter Skelter” as inspiration for the murders of seven people on two August nights in 1969. Jailed for 44 years, Charles Manson made his way back into the national conversation after falling seriously ill and being transported out of prison Tuesday.

If you were alive when the grim and puzzling saga played out, you might get the chills from these jailhouse photos of the Manson Girls, and the stories of who they were, what they did, and where they are now.Charles Manson is shown in this photo from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Jun.

Promising to provide a sense of 'family,' Manson brainwashed his followers and convinced them to do his evil bidding. They were further shocked to learn that the murders were carried out by a few young women and men who were following the orders of their charismatic cult leader.

The cold-blooded killers showed no mercy for Tate or any of their victims, and the murders were particularly gruesome and heinous, shocking even veteran police officers. Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, Abigail Folger, and Steven Parent were also murdered at Tate's house on the first night the following night, the Manson Family murdered Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were murdered in their home. One of those killed was stunning actress Sharon Tate, who was pregnant at the time with her husband Roman Polanski's baby. In August 1969, Manson called on his followers, the so-called 'Manson Family' to instigate Helter Skelter with a series of muders carried out in two locations on consecutive nights. Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten were female disciples of Charles Manson who participated in the killing spree meant to bring about Manson's doomsday scenario, a race war he called 'Helter Skelter.' But who were the Manson Girls? The young women known as the 'Manson Girls' had been normal, pretty, bright teenagers, but they're remembered for the brutal murder of seven people.

What did helter skelter mean to manson