Barbara Hoyt

Barbara Hoyt (born December 27, 1951^[1]) is a former member of the "Manson Family", led by Charles Manson. She was a witness in District Attorney Vincent Bugliosi's prosecution of Manson and his followers for the Tate-LaBianca murders, one of the highest-profile murder trials in history.

Affiliation with Charles Manson

She began living with the family at Spahn Ranch in April 1969. On the night of the Tate murders, Susan Atkins instructed Hoyt to retrieve three sets of dark clothing from the family's garment pile. Upon her return, Hoyt was greeted by Charles Manson, who told her that Atkins and crew had already left. The following day, Barbara became suspicious when some family members watched television reports of the Tate murders with delight. Hoyt was arrested with the family in the August 16 Spahn Ranch raid. A week later, she was awoken by the screams of Donald "Shorty" Shea, as other family members were killing him behind Spahn Ranch.

In Death Valley, Hoyt overheard Susan Atkins tell Ruth Ann Moorehouse that she had killed Sharon Tate, after which, Hoyt, along with a girl named Sherry Cooper, fled the family. Charles Manson eventually caught up with the pair at a diner in the town of Ballarat. After a short conversation, Manson gave the girls enough money to get back to Los Angeles. It was rumored that Manson later sent three family members to L.A., to retrieve or kill the two girls.

In the fall of 1970, Hoyt was unsure if she wanted to testify in the Tate-Labianca murder trial. The family offered her an all-expense-paid trip to Hawaii in return for not testifying. Hoyt accepted, and flew to Hawaii with Moorehouse. On September 9, Moorehouse flew back to Los Angeles after feeding Hoyt a hamburger laced with ten doses of l.s.d. When the drug took effect, Hoyt became disoriented, ran for several blocks, collapsed, and was brought to a hospital emergency room. Hoyt's father flew to Hawaii the following day and brought her back to California. Hoyt was then eager to testify against the family, where she provided a substantial incriminating testimony at the murder trials.

Later life

Hoyt returned to high school, graduated, and then pursued a nursing degree in college. She has since married and divorced, and currently lives in Washington State with her daughter.

References

External links

• barbara hoyt