Filmmaker Sophia Maddox has revealed the profound shock and devastation of learning that her paternal grandfather was Charles Manson, the notorious cult leader convicted of orchestrating multiple murders. The revelation came to Maddox, 26, and her father, Daniel Arguelles, through an online ancestry search.
"I was obviously very devastated," Maddox told The Post, describing the moment as "dumbstruck" and leading to sobbing. "My dad was just rubbing my back and holding me, and telling me we were nothing like him. But, it was a little traumatic."
Maddox co-directed the Hulu documentary, "My Grandfather Charles Manson," which follows her exploration of Manson's past, her complex relationship with her father, and interviews with individuals connected to Manson, including former cult member Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and Manson trial prosecutor Stephen Kay.
Arguelles was born in 1959 to Darlene, who was 17 at the time. She met Manson, then known as "Charlie Dear," at a bus stop, and their encounter resulted in a one-night stand. Manson, convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, including the 1969 slayings of Sharon Tate and others, died in prison in 2017 at age 83.
Maddox expressed concern about potential inherited mental health issues, noting that while therapists have cleared her, the knowledge of her grandfather's diagnoses, which included schizophrenia and hypomania, weighs on her. "If she has kids in the future, she will 'always have that concern.' However, if they do inherit issues such as bipolar or hypomania, depression, anxiety, 'I do have a hopeful heart that we have tools, and we have therapists,'" she stated, adding that she believes future generations would have the necessary support.
Regarding cultural portrayals of Manson, Maddox acknowledged limited exposure to them but mentioned seeing clips from "Mindhunter" and Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood." She noted the actor Damon Herriman played Manson in both projects. She recalled not realizing the significance of the character "Charlie" in the Tarantino film when it was released during her teenage years.
In her documentary, Maddox visits the Indiana Boys School, a juvenile correctional facility Manson attended at age 14, where he was allegedly both a victim and perpetrator of sexual abuse. Maddox stated she does not want to be perceived as an "apologist" for Manson's actions, explaining that examining the factors that shaped his life is not about justifying his behavior. "I think to end cycles of abuse, you have to look at the root of it," she said.
Maddox stated she feels no real connection to Manson, emphasizing the need to confront the truth. "I couldn’t live in secret. I don’t like lying to people. It really weighs heavy on my heart…I didn’t feel like I could live a lie," she explained.
She did acknowledge a potential shared trait of "creativity," noting that Manson's music was "pretty good." Before his notoriety, Manson was an aspiring musician. Maddox observed similarities between herself and her father, who also had a background in singing, acting, and modeling. She found that learning to play the guitar came naturally to her, a skill she now finds comforting.
Maddox's father was initially reluctant to delve into his father's history, which led to a falling out between them during the documentary's production. The father and daughter remain estranged, though Maddox expressed that her "door is always open" for reconciliation.
"My Grandfather Charles Manson" is currently available for streaming on Hulu.