The Tragic Assassination of Sharon Tate: A Detailed Account

Sharon Tate, a symbol of innocence and glamour in the 1960s, met a tragic and violent end. Late on the night of August 9, 1969, Charles Manson and his followers brutally killed Tate, a pregnant actress, in her home at 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles. This article delves into the terrifying details of her murder, uncovering the circumstances leading up to and following the killings.

The Manson Family and the Attack

The night of Sharon Tate's assassination was marked by chaos and violence. Charles Manson, the deranged cult leader, and his followers, committed a series of gruesome crimes that sent shockwaves through Hollywood. On that fateful evening, Manson and his followers, including Tex Watson and Susan Atkins, broke into Tate's home along with other members of the Manson Family.

When law enforcement arrived at the property the next morning, they found a scene of horror. The garage was empty, but the front car, presumably belonging to Tate, was parked in the middle of the courtyard. The officers entered through the gate and were shocked to find a young man sprawled out in front of the car, an arm hanging from the wheel. Sharon Tate, who was suspected to be shot, was lying in the car with multiple stab wounds to her chest and back, which punctured her heart, lungs, and liver, leading to massive hemorrhage.

The Background and Motives

Charles Manson's plot against Sharon Tate and her home at 10050 Cielo Drive was based on a misunderstanding and miscommunication. Manson had been promised by record producer Terry Melcher, Doris Day's son, that Melcher would listen and maybe produce songs by Manson. This introduction came about through Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys, who was attempting to purchase marijuana from Manson's group.

Unfortunately, Terry Melcher had only been renting the property and had moved out two weeks before Tate and her husband, director Roman Polanski, moved in. By the time Manson's followers reached the house, they expected Terry Melcher to be residing there. Instead, they found Roman Polanski in New York filming Rosemary's Baby, leaving their target unprepared for the imminent danger.

The Detailed Account of the Assassination

Sharon Tate was stabbed a total of 16 times. According to the official cause of death, she died from “Multiple stab wounds of the chest and back, penetrating the heart, lungs, and liver, causing massive hemorrhage.” The coroner's report further detailed that three of the stab wounds penetrated the heart, one of which severed the descending branch of the left coronary artery. These injuries were not survivable.

It is worth noting that the coroner's report did not mention any wounds on Tate/Polanski's hands, despite the extreme violence of the attack. Instead, there were two incised wounds on her left forearm and one stab wound on her right upper arm.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The tragic death of Sharon Tate remains a dark chapter in the history of American crime. The event not only shocked the nation but also highlighted the dangers of misunderstanding and miscommunication.

Keywords: Sharon Tate, Charles Manson, Tex Watson, Manson Family