Charles Manson, the notorious murderer currently serving life in a California prison, has not been released from prison on parole.
An article from Empire News, a self-described “satire” website, posted an article saying he was freed on parole.
“One of the most famous killers in the American prison system will soon be walking free. On Tuesday Charles Manson, who is now 79 years old, was granted parole by the California Board of Parole and authorized by California Governor Jerry Brown,” it reads. “According to California Board of Parole Hearings Commissioner John Peck, prison overcrowding forced the prison board to re-evaluate prisoners that are elderly or those with serious illnesses. In February a panel of federal judges ordered California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) two more years to reduce chronic prison overcrowding that has cost the state billions of dollars.”
However, Empire News has a disclaimer, which says it’s not real and “is a satirical and entertainment website,” It also “uses invented names in all its stories, except in cases when public figures are being satirized. Any other use of real names is accidental and coincidental.”
Hoax-debunking website Snopes.com adds, “By the following day links and excerpts referencing this article were being circulated via social media, with many of those who encountered the item mistaking it for a genuine news article. However, the article was just a bit of satire from Empire News, a web site that publishes fictional stories such as ‘Cure for Cancer Discovered; ‘Amazingly Simple’ Says Researcher,’ and ‘College Student Excused from Classes After Dog Eats Grandmother.’
The fake article saying Manson was released had tens of thousands of shares and “likes” on Facebook.
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A state-appointed attorney representing Manson recently said he should be granted psychiatric care at a hospital to get moved to Atascadero State Hospital. “Lewis said in the interview he is not sure any rehabilitation has taken place throughout Manson’s incarceration. The prisoner did not come out of his cell when the attorney last attempted to meet with him,” reads a report from ABC7.
Manson has been in prison since 1969 after he was convicted for leading a group of people to kill seven people, including actress Sharon Tate. He was sentenced to death originally but that was changed to life in prison in the 1970s. He’s been denied parole 11 times.
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