On August 10, 1969 the headline 'Actress Is Among 5 Slain at Home in Beverly Hills' appeared on the front page of the New York Times (Roberts). This was the beginning of a investigation of police error which prolonged the arrest of Charles Manson.
There were several people who claimed they had heard gunshots and screaming in the early morning hours of August 9. Mrs. Kott, who lived at 10070 Cielo Drive, heard three or four gunshots at what she guessed was to be about twelve thirty to one o'clock a.m. after which she heard nothing. About three quarters of a mile south of the murder scene, Tim Ireland was having an over night party at the camp of which he was a counselor. Everyone had gone to bed when Tim awoke to a man's voice screaming 'Oh, God, no, please don't! Oh God, no, don't, don't, don't...' (Bugliosi & Gentry 4).
The famous "black and white" LAPD police cruiser
Charles Manson
English: LAPD officers at crime sceneAt this time, about twelve forty a.m., he awoke his supervisor, told him about the scream, and requested that he go see if anyone needed help. He drove around the area but saw nothing unusual. Robert Bullington of the Bel Air Patrol was in his parked car when he heard three gunshots spaced a few seconds apart. He immediately called in to headquarters (the call logged in at 4:11 a.m.). Headquarters then called in to LAPD but nothing further was done. About four thirty paperboy Steve Shannon, who hadn't heard anything the previous night, noticed what looked like a telephone wire hanging over the front gate and a bug light on near the house. Mr. Kott also noticed the wire when he went out to get his paper at about seven thirty that morning (Bugliosi & Gentry 4-5).
Winifred Chapman, the housekeeper for 10050 Cielo Drive, arrived...