Disturbing Conversations Reveal Charles Manson's 'Genuine Self' in New Docuseries

Mar. 15, 2025

Charles Manson.Photo:Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

John Michael Jones spent nearly two decades talking to serial killerCharles Mansonfrom behind bars until his death in 2017 and did his best to appear to reserve judgement.

These never-before-aired conversations will be heard in a new three-part Peacock docuseries titledMaking Manson,premiering on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The series features the cult leader, who masterminded one of the most notoriousmass killing spreesof the 20th century, talking openly about the infamous crimes, his upbringing, criminal youth and his true feelings about the “Manson Family.”

“He knew I wasn’t evaluating him,” Jones says in an exclusive clip shared with PEOPLE. “He knew I wasn’t diagnosing him or I wasn’t judging him.” (The exclusive clip is shown below.)

Jones adds, “This is Manson behind the curtain sharing his genuine self."

Manson, who had been in and out of jail during his early years for petty crimes, reinvented himself in the ‘60s as the leader of a group of young followers. He often targeted teenage girls who ran away from home or were otherwise on their own to join his group, which became known as the “Manson Family.”

John Michael Jones.Peacock

Peacock

During a two-day spree in August of 1969, Manson instructed a handful of followers — including LeslieVan Houten, Susan Atkins and Patricia Krenwinkel — to kill seven people, including 26-year-old actressSharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her death.

A recreation of a tape in Peacock’s “Making Manson”.Peacock

In the docuseries, former “Family” members listen to the exclusive conversations and are taken back to the time when they “would do anything for Charlie,” per a release for the series. Additionally, in the final moments before his2017 deathat age 83, Manson reflects on his life in prison.

“John Jones is one of the few humans in my 80 years that has done me no wrong,” Manson is heard saying in the clip.

Manson and his followers were convicted in 1971 and ultimately given life sentences, being spared execution after California temporarily banned the death penalty. Manson was found legally responsible for the murders since they were carried out on his instruction.

Peacock’s “Making Manson”.Peacock

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

“He found somebody that he could be vulnerable to,” Jones explains. “I think that’s why Charlie gave me a lot of what we have on these tapes. And I think the longer I spent getting to know him, slowly that mask began to peel off.”

Making Manson, a three-part docuseries, begins streaming on Peacock on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Each episode is one hour long.

source: people.com