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Charles Manson’s Grandson Wins Legal Battle Against Newhall Resident
Charles Manson’s Grandson Wins Legal Battle Against Newhall Resident. Photo courtesy of CNN.

Charles Manson’s Grandson Wins Legal Battle Against Newhall Resident

The estranged grandson of Charles Manson, Jason Freeman of Florida, will receive the infamous cult leader’s body instead of Newhall man Michael Channels.


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Four months after his death, a Kern County Superior Court commissioner ruled on Monday that the grandson of the now deceased Charles Manson could collect the cult leader’s remains, declaring a will produced by Channels, a longtime Manson pen-pal, invalid because of a signature date.

“I have a son who is a pilot in the military and he had joined even before 911; he is one of the most honorable outstanding human beings I know,” Channels said to KHTS on Friday. “I learned from him a respect: a respect for the uniform and people in general. So I have a respect for the judge’s uniform and I respect the decision.”

Despite losing the court battle, he said he doesn’t feel any animosity.

“I am not sad; I am not mad; I am at peace,” said Channels. “I fought for the wishes of a guy who only I knew what his wishes were.”

And in spite of the court’s ruling, Channels said he refuses to give up entirely on the fight to carry out Manson’s last wishes.

Manson was arrested in 1969 for his role in the Hollywood murders that shocked the world. Photo courtesy of CNN.

“It isn’t over yet though, because that ruling only concerned the body,” Channels said. “The next fight is for the estate ,and that requires a bit more proof than some guy just screaming ‘Grandfather.’”

Since Manson died in November 2017, a number of individuals have come forward, making claim to the body through whatever relationship they allegedly had with Manson. However, the two frontrunner claimants were always Freeman and Channels.

Channels had sat down with KHTS earlier this year and explained his story and correspondence with the convicted killer, saying that his amicable relationship with Manson began when he sought out the prisoners autograph.

From his Newhall home, which he has lived in since the 90’s, Channels sent 50 letters to Manson, a strategy of persistence that had garnered him memorabilia and autographs to add to his collection from a number of sources, from Neil Armstrong to Ted Bundy to Mother Teresa.

Related: KHTS Sits Down With Michael Channels, The Newhall Resident Fighting For Charles Manson’s Body

Then, on the 50th letter, Manson finally responded to the Santa Clarita husband and father, beginning a relationship that would span until the serial killer’s death in 2017.

Channels’s case hinged on the court’s acceptance of a will, given to him by Manson, that named the memorabilia collector as the sole benefactor of both the body and estate. However, due to a clerical error, that evidence became suspect.

Additionally, the judge had informed Channels a few days before the official decision came down that California law had already nullified his claim, regardless of how Manson had dictated his remains to be buried.

“The Judge basically told me last week in court that I can’t get the decision in my favor because, ‘California law states a person cannot give their body as a gift,’” said Channels. “But who said he was giving me his body as a gift? It was his wishes they worded into a gift of a dead body.”

Mug shot from 8/14/17 of Charles Manson from the California Dept. of Corrections. Photo courtesy of CNN.

Channels said he was skeptical about some parts of the legal frameworks that justified the final verdict.

“I do feel sorry for Michael Brunner, a guy who is actually Manson’s son,” said Channels. “For them to rule against MIchael Brunner, an actual son of Manson’s, because of a middle initial in a birth certificate is something I do not agree with.”

Nonetheless, despite the loss in court for Manson’s body, Channel’s remains optimistic and motivated to continue his pursuit for fulfilling his obligation to a deceased man.

“I fought for the wishes of a guy who only I knew what his wishes were,” said Channel’s. “As I said at the beginning of this thought, my son has taught me the respect of the uniform and the people who wear them.

“So I respect it. But I will never agree with it.”

Channels will return to court to fight for ownership over the the Manson Estate. No date has been given for when that trial might begin.

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Charles Manson’s Grandson Wins Legal Battle Against Newhall Resident

4 comments

  1. Michael Brunner really not Manson s son.

  2. 50 letters before upon the 50th he got what he wanted. you know what that’s called in eagle legal terms? stalking. just to start with. Michael Michael. Son sunshine. One is like TV Channels, the others 15 ‘public domain’ minutes kicked off the 90’s with TMZ’s ‘lawyer’ brewing it up. who made the bank$? who didn’t want anything to do with it, ripped up letters without reading. and who has a horror fetish and a tantrum stomping on letters (dramatically). crying ‘grandson’?

  3. Oh really? Were you there to see whose sperm hit the ovum?

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About Caleb Lunetta

Caleb has been a Santa Clarita resident for most of his life. After attending Hart High School, Caleb went on to study political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara along with College of the Canyons.