Bruce Davis, a former lieutenant in Charles Manson's cult who was convicted for his role in two murders in 1969, has died at the age of 83. Davis passed away on Sept. 11 at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, where he was serving a life sentence.
Davis was found guilty in 1972 for his involvement in the torture-slaying of musician Gary Hinman and the murder of stuntman Donald "Shorty" Shea. Prosecutors stated that Davis admitted to cutting Shea with a knife and holding a gun while Manson himself cut Hinman’s face with a sword.
Although Davis was not present during the infamous Tate-LaBianca killings later that summer, authorities determined he was a significant lieutenant within the Manson family, helping to plan and execute operations under Manson's direction. He had previously been recommended for parole in 2019, but the decision entered a review period, with the final say resting with then-Governor Gavin Newsom.
Past parole bids by Davis were denied, with former governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown rejecting his requests. Davis was not implicated in the murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others, which were carried out by other members of the Manson group.
The Manson Family was a notorious cult led by Charles Manson in the late 1960s, known for a series of murders in Los Angeles during August 1969. Davis's death marks the end of a long prison sentence for his part in the violent criminal activities orchestrated by the cult.