Cult leader Charles Manson, 83, has died

LOS ANGELES — Convicted mass murderer Charles Manson, born Charles Milles Maddox, has died. He was 83.

According a release from the California Department of Corrections, Manson died of natural causes at 8:13 p.m. Sunday.

Manson was brought to a Bakersfield hospital last week, TMZ.com said.

Michele Hanisee, president of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, reacted to the death by quoting the late Vincent Bugliosi, the Los Angeles prosecutor who put Manson behind bars. Bugliosi said: “Manson was an evil, sophisticated con man with twisted and warped moral values.”

“Today, Manson’s victims are the ones who should be remembered and mourned on the occasion of his death,” Hanisee said.

California Corrections spokeswoman Vicky Waters said it’s “to be determined” what happens to Manson’s body. Prison officials previously said Manson had no known next of kin and state law says that if no relative or legal representative surfaces within 10 days, then it’s up to the department to determine whether the body is cremated or buried.

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