Video: 'Ed Davis LAPD Presser, Dec 1, 1969'

(Monday, December 1, 1969, 2:00 p.m. PST) — An occult band of hippies, directed by a leader who calls himself “Jesus,” murdered Sharon Tate and four others (Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojtek Frykowski and Steven Parent) on Aug. 9, 1969, at Tate’s home in the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles Police Chief Edward M. Davis announced today.

Members of the band — a mystical, hate oriented tribe of 20th century nomads — were also suspected of murdering Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, the following day, on Aug. 10, 1969.

The cult leader, Charles Manson, 34, who also refers to himself as “God” and “Satan,” was not named at today’s press conference, but has been in custody on unrelated charges since Oct. 12, 1969.

Video: 'American Justice - The Manson Family Murders' (Dec. 1, 1969, at 8:49)

Manson and four of his followers — Charles “Tex” Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, Linda Kasabian, Susan Atkins — would be indicted Dec. 8, 1969, on seven counts of murder arising from the Tate-LaBianca murders.

A sixth defendant, Leslie Van Houton, was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the LaBianca murders.

Five of the six defendants would eventually be found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

Kasabian, who was present but didn’t participate in the killings, was put into a witness protection program after testifying against the other defendants.