Charles Manson’s grandson just won a bizarre legal battle to retrieve the killer’s remains.
That grandson lives in Bradenton and he spoke to News Channel 8 about what he plans to do next.
Charles Manson was a notorious cult leader. In 1969, he orchestrated the brutal killing of pregnant actress Sharon Tate.
But to Jason Freeman, Manson was just “grandpa.”
“My grandfather was really sick in the hospital and it was hard for me to handle seeing that I lived in Florida and he resided in California,” said Freeman.
Manson died in November and Freeman just won a court battle to obtain his remains.
Freeman has known about his connection to Manson since childhood.
“It was hidden, it was put away… It’s just not something that you go on top of the mountain and you spout off about,” Freeman said.
Eight years ago, they developed a relationship.
“For us to have a relationship it took a lot of time, for me to earn his trust and for him to earn mine. Also because I was leery of having contact with my grandfather, but it’s been well worth it,” he said.
“If he wasn’t family, trust me, I would not be there, but then I wouldn’t have the opportunity to really do the research and really understand him and understand what I call it, the other side of the coin,” Freeman added.
After they started their relationship, Manson frequently told Freeman that he felt he was unjustly sentenced to life in prison.
“He said, yeah, he may have done some bad things in life but he didn’t deserve life,” said Freeman.
“He was denied his Sixth and Eighth Amendment rights and he was not guilty of those murders.”
Freeman plans to cremate his grandfather and hold a private family ceremony outside of Florida.
“Of course I know society is looking at me going, ‘what the heck is this kid thinking?'” said Freeman.
Freeman is a committed Christian. Not only does he feel his grandfather deserves a proper burial, Freeman also believes God has given him this family legacy for a purpose.
“I look at it as a blessing. I look at it as being one of the biggest platforms that a young man can step into,” he said. “I know the lord is leading me and that’s what’s most important.”
Freeman did not say where he plans to bury his grandfather’s remains.
Since Freeman couldn’t be there for Manson during his life, he wants to be there for him after his death.
He’s currently making a documentary about their relationship and this journey to retrieve his body.
