Bruce M. Davis
Bruce M. Davis | |
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Born | Bruce McGregor Davis October 5, 1942 Conspiracy to commit murder Robbery |
Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
Bruce McGregor Davis (born October 5, 1942) is an American criminal and former member of the Manson Family who has been described as Charles Manson's "right-hand man".[1][2]
Early life
Bruce McGregor Davis was born on October 5, 1942, in Monroe, Louisiana[3] and grew up in Mobile, Alabama.[4]
Davis was editor of his high school yearbook and attended the
Davis traveled to Europe and spent time traveling in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, and claims he was introduced to Scientology after arriving in London in November 1968 when he was invited by girls he met after stepping out of the Earl's Court underground station.
Manson Family murders
Davis was present when, in July 1969, Manson allegedly cut Gary Hinman's left ear. Hinman was allegedly stabbed to death by Bobby Beausoleil one day, although neither Manson nor Davis were present when Hinman was murdered. In late August, Davis did participate in the murder of Spahn's Ranch hand Donald "Shorty" Shea.
Davis said that he was at Spahn Ranch on August 8, 1969, the night of the Tate murders. He says that Susan Atkins approached him, saying that they were going out tonight and that Manson wanted him to come, but that he refused.[16] Davis said the same thing occurred the following night, the night of the LaBianca murders.[17]
Davis was present when, on November 5, 1969, John Philip Haught aka "Zero", allegedly killed himself playing Russian roulette.[18] Davis claimed in an April 2023 interview that he was in the front room of the house, and heard a popping from the back room. He thought they were setting off firecrackers, until "Patty" (Madeline Cottage) came in and told him Zero shot himself.[19] Interestingly, he stated that the gun was a "Sears Roebuck High Standard .22 automatic",[20] a semi-automatic firearm cannot be used to play Russian roulette. Bugliosi wrote in Healter Skelter that the gun police found was a .22 caliber Iver Johnson revolver.[21] Davis also stated that he had put his finger on the muzzle of the firearm after the shooting, and that the police found his fingerprints,[22] while Bugliosi wrote that the police found no fingerprints on the gun.[23]
At some point after these events, Davis went into hiding, ultimately turning himself in on December 2, 1970.[24]
Conviction and prison
External audio | |
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Bruce Davis BBC Interview with Bill Scanlon-Murphy |
In 1972, Davis was convicted in Los Angeles County of two counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Hinman and Shea, conspiracy to commit murder, and robbery. California having recently abolished the death penalty, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
References
- ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ISBN 9780312209704.
- ^ "The Charles Manson family: Where are they now?". www.mercurynews.com. June 5, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ^ Keith Rovere (April 2023). "S1E22 - Bruce Davis: Scientology, Murder, and Manson". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 48:50. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ]
- ^ Keith Rovere (February 2023). "S1E14 - Bruce Davis: Salvation from Manson Pt. I". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 36:05. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ Keith Rovere (February 2023). "S1E14 - Bruce Davis: Salvation from Manson Pt. I". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 36:05. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ISBN 9780306834226.
- ^ Keith Rovere (February 2023). "S1E14 - Bruce Davis: Salvation from Manson Pt. I". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 38:11. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ Keith Rovere (February 2023). "S1E14 - Bruce Davis: Salvation from Manson Pt. I". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 38:11. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ Keith Rovere (April 2023). "S1E22 - Bruce Davis: Scientology, Murder, and Manson". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 9:45. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Keith Rovere (April 2023). "S1E22 - Bruce Davis: Scientology, Murder, and Manson". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 16:17. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ISBN 9780393072365.
- ISBN 1560253967. Archived from the originalon October 22, 2013.
- ^ Keith Rovere (April 2023). "S1E22 - Bruce Davis: Scientology, Murder, and Manson". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 9:00. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Keith Rovere (April 2023). "S1E22 - Bruce Davis: Scientology, Murder, and Manson". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 51:09. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Keith Rovere (April 2023). "S1E22 - Bruce Davis: Scientology, Murder, and Manson". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 51:46. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ISBN 9780393322231.
- ^ Keith Rovere (April 2023). "S1E22 - Bruce Davis: Scientology, Murder, and Manson". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 38:29. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Keith Rovere (April 2023). "S1E22 - Bruce Davis: Scientology, Murder, and Manson". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 38:29. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ISBN 9780393072365.
- ^ Keith Rovere (April 2023). "S1E22 - Bruce Davis: Scientology, Murder, and Manson". Spotify (Podcast). The Lighter Side of Serial Killers with Keith Rovere. Event occurs at 39:08. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ISBN 9780393072365.
- ISBN 9780393322231.
- ^ "Toledo Blade - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ]
- ^ "Manson family member Bruce Davis found eligible for parole". Los Angeles Times. August 27, 2015.
- ]
- ^ "CDCR Today: Parole Granted for Former Manson Family Member Bruce Davis". Archived from the original on August 31, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ "CDCR Today: Parole Granted for Former Manson Family Member Bruce Davis". Archived from the original on August 31, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ "Parole Hearing: Bruce Davis 2014 | Cielodrive.com". cielodrive.com.
- ^ "For the third time, Brown rejects parole of Manson follower Bruce Davis, 73". Los Angeles Times. January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Parole Hearing: Bruce Davis 2017 | Cielodrive.com". cielodrive.com.
- ^ "Parole Hearing: Bruce Davis 2019 | Cielodrive.com". www.cielodrive.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "Parole Recommended for Ex-Manson Follower, Bruce Davis – CBS Los Angeles". January 22, 2021.
- ^ "Governor Denies Parole for Former Manson Family Follower". June 18, 2021.
- ^ Fortin, Jacey (June 24, 2017). "Bruce Davis, a Charles Manson Follower, Has Parole Blocked for Fifth Time". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ Thompson, Don (July 8, 2022). "Parole denied for Manson follower for slayings in 1969". Associated Press. Retrieved July 10, 2022.