Atkins, 60, was convicted in the 1969 slayings of actress Sharon Tate and four others. She had been incarcerated at the California Institution for Women in Corona, California.
But Atkins, the state's longest- serving female inmate, has been hospitalized since March 18 and is listed in serious condition, state corrections department spokeswoman Terry Thornton said. Because of privacy laws, Thornton would not disclose the nature of Atkins' illness.
Atkins' husband and attorney, James Whitehouse, was quoted as saying she has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, according to a blog called Manson Family Today. She also has had a leg amputated, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday, citing sources close to the case.
The compassionate release request has been approved by the prison, which conducted an evaluation, and is under corrections department review, Thornton said.
If the department approves, the Board of Parole Hearings and the sentencing court in Los Angeles also must sign off on the request. There is no timeline for a decision to be made, Thornton said.
Atkins, known within the Manson family as "Sadie Mae Glutz," has been in prison since 1971 and has been denied parole 11 times.
According to historical accounts of the murders, Atkins stabbed Tate, who was 8½ months pregnant, and scawled the word "pig" in blood on the door of the home the actress shared with director Roman Polanski.
"I don't want to seem like a heartless creature, but in all my years, I never considered this could happen," Debra Tate, the actress' sister, told the Riverside Press-Enterprise.
"She showed no compassion. She told my sister as she slit her throat that she didn't (care) for her or her unborn baby," Tate added.
Sharon Tate and three houseguests were slain in August 1969 by killers who burst into her Benedict Canyon home. A teenager who was visiting the home's caretaker in his cottage on the property also was killed.
The following night, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were slain in their home in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. The two-day crime spree sent shock waves throughout Los Angeles.
All of the killers remain behind bars. Atkins also was convicted in the earlier murder of music teacher Gary Hinman.
Atkins, like Manson, received a death sentence, and the punishment was changed to life in prison when the California Supreme Court ruled the state's death penalty unconsitutional in 1972.
Vincent Bugliosi, who prosecuted Atkins, told the Los Angeles Times that she "has paid substantially, though not completely, for her horrendous crimes. Paying completely would mean imposing the death penalty." But, he told the paper, given her terminal illness, "I don't have an objection to her being released."
According to her Web site, Atkins is a born-again Christian who during her incarceration has worked to aid at-risk youth, victims of violent crimes and homeless children.
Last month, authorities dug for buried bodies at the Inyo County, California, ranch where Manson and his followers once lived, after police became aware that testing had indicated humans might be buried there. Nothing was found, police said

cnn.com

So because she is a god xxxx christian she thinks she deserves to be released just because of a fatal disease? OH HELL NO!! That bitch can burn in Hell and lick the devil's ass on the way down for she deserves NO sympathy.

If shes made peace with god and gained redemption, thts wonderful.

Let her rest in paradise when the time comes.

for now she should be accountable for her earthly crimes. The people she killed didnt get anything special when they were dying

I wouldn't let her out, but the people who determine if her request will be granted will probably be looking at which is cheaper, keeping her prison or letting her die outside of prison.

If I remember my corrections class correctly, if she's in prison, the state will be funding part of her medical attention.

If she's dying already, then I say the state should just finish the job.

quote:

Originally posted by Coldwin:
If shes made peace with god and gained redemption, thts wonderful.

Let her rest in paradise when the time comes.

for now she should be accountable for her earthly crimes. The people she killed didnt get anything special when they were dying

Gods, you mean the Gods, for there are many.

not a bad try at flame bait but the arguing over how many or which god is kinda old hat.

GENERAL MOD HAND SLAPPING ALERT -

While everyone is entitled to an opinion, PLEASE refrain from using extreme obscene or offensive language while expressing it.

Please be mindful that kids might lurk here too. k'??

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~AlluraP

Well who am I to judge if she's changed or not. I don't think it means she should go free. Many people die in prison. I personally believe that karma goes around and comes around, good and bad. Her judgment still has to come, so its not for me to say if she's sincere in her religous experience.

But I don't think letting her go is doing Sharon Tate or her unborn child any justice here on earth. She admitted guilt, she needs to serve the time man has placed as a punishment for that crime.

But again, I dont wish ill on anyone lest it come back on me. My mom always said, "you speak your fate.". If she's made peace with God, that's good. God will know in the end.

quote:

Originally posted by Gankutsuou:
Gods, you mean the Gods, for there are many.

If you believe that, that's nice for you. Don't push it on the rest of us as an absolute. Just thought I'd say that in a non-combative way. So flame off, okey dokey?

Can I have Aphrodite as my god?

quote:

Originally posted by KiethBlackLion:
Can I have Aphrodite as my god?

Ask your wife. If she says yes - I'll speak to Zeus for you.

quote:

Originally posted by KiethBlackLion:
Can I have Aphrodite as my god?

As your god and not your goddess?

Something you wanna tell us KBl?

quote:

Originally posted by Coldwin:

quote:

Originally posted by KiethBlackLion:
Can I have Aphrodite as my god?

As your god and not your goddess?

Something you wanna tell us KBl?

BWWAHAHAHAAHH!! DRAT! I missed that totally! Good catch Coldy!

quote:

Originally posted by Coldwin:

quote:

Originally posted by KiethBlackLion:
Can I have Aphrodite as my god?

As your god and not your goddess?

Something you wanna tell us KBl?

*beats himself with the rolled up newspaper*

Definitely didn't see that typo.

I caught it...

I just chose to be silent about KBL and Hermaphrodite...hehe

quote:

Originally posted by RadicalX:
I caught it...

I just chose to be silent about KBL and Hermaphrodite...hehe

Now THATs funny!