'I spoke to Charles Manson in last year of his life and final words will haunt me'

Charles Manson, the notorious killer and cult leader, was destined to leave prison only one way after receiving nine life sentences – in a coffin. The malevolent figure who cast a long shadow over California's history passed away in 2017 at the age of 83 from colon cancer.

Nearly half a century had elapsed since Manson orchestrated the chilling 1969 murders of Sharon Tate and eight others in Los Angeles. These brutal killings took place across four locations during July and August 1969, following Manson's orders to his 'Manson Family' followers to execute the barbaric acts.

Manson and several accomplices were apprehended and indicted in December that year.

The slayings that shook the hills of L.A. were part of Manson's twisted vision to ignite a race war he dubbed "Helter Skelter."

He envisaged this cataclysmic event would result in the Manson Family emerging as victors, enabling them to create a stronghold of power, reports the Mirror US.

The American public was simultaneously captivated and horrified by the case throughout the nine-month trial. In 1971, Manson was initially sentenced to death for his role in orchestrating the savage crimes; however, his sentence was reduced to life imprisonment when California repealed the death penalty the following year.

The announcement sealed Manson's fate to a life spent behind bars, and despite his prolonged existence, the notorious cult leader would never again experience freedom. He was refused parole an astonishing twelve times throughout his incarceration.

People Magazine reported Manson's last words were shrouded in mystery upon his passing. The LA Times noted that Manson had been "seriously ill" in the lead-up to his demise.

In November 2017, he was hospitalised for gastrointestinal bleeding linked to his colon but was considered too frail for surgery, according to the New York Times. He was subsequently returned to Corcoran State Prison in Bakersfield, California.

Later in the year, TMZ reported that Manson was readmitted to the hospital in critical condition and would not make it back to prison. He passed away two days after news of his hospitalisation broke.

Manson's death certificate revealed his health status at the time of death and listed the cause.

Manson was suffering from metastatic colon cancer towards the end of his life. Respiratory failure and cardiac arrest were the ultimate causes of death.

Manson died on November 19, 2017, at 8.13 pm PT. His prison record was marred with over 100 violations, including threats to prison staff, weapon possession, and assault.

Despite the obscurity surrounding Manson's final utterance, he spent his last year engaging with author and TV producer James Buddy Day in multiple interviews.

Day authored the 2019 tome 'Hippie Cult Leader: The Last Words of Charles Manson,' and is recognised as the last to conduct a comprehensive interview with Manson, as per a report by TIME.

Manson steadfastly claimed innocence regarding the murders right up to his demise, Day asserts.

In what are on record as his concluding words during a telephone exchange, Manson confided to Day: "I didn't have nothing to do with killing those people. They knew I didn't have anything to do with it."