Bruce Davis, a convicted Charles Manson follower, dies at 83 after more than five decades in prison and repeated parole denials.
Bruce Davis, a longtime follower of Charles Manson who was convicted in two 1969 murders, has died at age 83 while serving a life sentence in California.
Davis died Sept. 11 at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. His cause of death had not been disclosed.
His death closes a decades-long chapter for one of the most closely watched members of the Manson Family, who repeatedly sought freedom but remained behind bars.
Davis convicted in two 1969 murders
Davis was convicted in 1972 of the murders of musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald “Shorty” Shea.
Authorities and prosecutors identified Davis as a member of Manson’s inner circle. During a 2014 parole hearing, Davis acknowledged his involvement in the killings, including holding Hinman at gunpoint while Manson attacked him and later cutting Shea.
Davis was sentenced to life in prison and spent more than five decades incarcerated.
He was not involved in Sharon Tate murders
Despite his association with Manson, Davis was not convicted for the notorious killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others in August 1969.
Fox News reported that Davis faced no accusations of involvement in those home-invasion murders. His convictions instead stemmed from the separate killings of Hinman and Shea.
That distinction remained an important part of Davis’ legal history as he repeatedly appeared before parole officials.
Parole repeatedly recommended, then blocked
Davis’ parole battle stretched across decades.
Parole panels found him suitable for release multiple times, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that he was recommended for parole eight times. California governors, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom, repeatedly blocked his release.
Newsom reversed Davis’ 2021 parole recommendation, arguing that Davis continued to minimize his role in the crimes and had not demonstrated sufficient insight or empathy regarding the victims.
A California panel later denied Davis parole in July 2022.
Final years remained behind bars
Davis continued pursuing parole into his 80s.
His 2024 proceedings drew additional scrutiny after commissioners questioned his appearance on a true-crime podcast and plans to potentially write a memoir and speak publicly about his past.
The hearing was postponed as officials examined those plans and whether public discussion of his involvement with the Manson Family could contribute to notoriety surrounding the crimes.
Davis ultimately remained incarcerated until his death.
A complicated prison record
During more than 50 years behind bars, Davis also pursued education and rehabilitation programs.
He earned a master’s degree and maintained a clean disciplinary record for decades, according to reporting from the Los Angeles Times. His attorneys argued that he had undergone significant rehabilitation during his imprisonment.
But California officials repeatedly concluded that rehabilitation efforts did not outweigh concerns about his understanding of the crimes and his continued association with the Manson story.
Manson legacy continues after Davis’ death
Charles Manson died in prison in 2017 at age 83. Davis has now also died at the same age, after spending most of his adult life incarcerated because of crimes committed more than half a century ago.
Davis’ death marks another ending for a notorious chapter of American criminal history.
While he was never convicted in the Tate murders that made the Manson Family infamous worldwide, his role in the Hinman and Shea killings kept him connected to the cult leader’s violent legacy until the end of his life.
After decades of parole hearings and repeated efforts to secure his freedom, Bruce Davis died behind bars at 83 — never having received the release that California parole officials had recommended on multiple occasions.
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