How Did Ex-Manson Family Member Barbara Hoyt Die? – “The Summer of Manson,” the upcoming NBC Dateline show, will focus on one of the most talked-about slayings of the late 1960s and early 1970s. In his most recent movie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino even went back and revisited the horrifying killings.
On August 8, 1969, four members of the Charles Manson-led cult broke into Sharon Tate’s home and killed her and everyone else inside.
About 100 people made up the Manson family or the commune commanded by Charles Manson, who inspired them to commit crimes and murders. The cult gained notoriety in August 1969 while operating in California and shocked the world with the Tate-LaBianca murders.
Barbara Hoyt once belonged to Charles’ Family but eventually left. Her life was not made simple, nevertheless, by the Family. So here is everything we know about Barbara, in case you’re interested.
Read Also: Where is Charles Manson’s Parole Officer ‘Roger Smith’ Now?
Barbara Hoyt: Who Was She?
In December of 1951, Barbara was born. In April 1969, when she was 17 years old, she got into an argument with her father and stormed out of the home, heading by foot to Spahn Ranch in California. Charles and his supporters lived there at the time. On the first evening, Barbara got to know Charles.
She described what transpired on that particular day, stating, “They had dinner, and everyone sat on the floor. Salads and casseroles were distributed. Three or four nibbles would be taken before passing them on. Everyone ate from the same bowls with the same utensils. The gang shared a few joints after dinner.”
Then Barbara heard Charles start to sing. It gave her a sense of acceptance and love. She described Charles as being like God. He represented Satan. Everybody wanted to be him or be around him. He provided a justification for the state of the universe. He cited Scientology as one of his sources, among others. He claimed that we would have to give up all knowledge and die to ourselves. Charlie was revered as a saint by all.
But a few months later, the Manson Family would commit horrifying acts of violence in many places. Barbara recalled how one of them had requested her to bring three sets of dark clothing before the pregnant actress Sharon Tate and cult members murdered four other people on August 9, 1969. But when she did, the group had already dispersed. When several of the other family members were eager to watch the news coverage surrounding the murders at Sharon’s home, Barbara started to worry that something was wrong.
Sharon Tate was so beautiful. 53 years ago today her life and that of her unborn baby were taken along with Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Jay Sebring, and Steven Parent 💔#MansonMurders pic.twitter.com/KSECCKVNsg
— That Makes Me Happy (@pinklolzies) August 9, 2022
One of them remarked, “The Soul sure picked a good one,” Barbara recalled. Charlie was occasionally referred to as the Soul. They then began to chuckle. I believed I had not advanced as far as they had. Later, she overheard one of the group members, Sadie (Susan Atkins), discussing their involvement in the murders at Sharon’s house with Ruth Moorehouse. Soon later, Barbara and the other women left the Family.
The authorities eventually apprehended Charles and the others, and Barbara’s testimony became an essential piece of the puzzle. She was debating whether or not to take the stand when the Family offered to pay for her flight to Hawaii. Ruth allegedly served her a cheeseburger laced with 10 LSD pills to keep Barbara from testifying. Thankfully, Barbara survived the attempted poisoning and did speak up, aiding in the arrest of those guilty.
What happened to the Manson Family member Barbara Hoyt and How Did She Die?
Barbara Hoyt also recalled hearing the screams of Shorty Shea, the ranch hand, as the others slaughtered him in the back of the ranch. After putting everything behind her, Barbara eventually finished high school and pursued her nursing degree. Because both of them gave testimony during Charles’ parole hearings, she also developed an odd friendship with Sharon Tate’s sister, Debra. Before she retired, Barbara was a registered nurse for many years. She reportedly died from kidney failure on December 3, 2017, at the age of about 66.
