Michael Channels was recently revealed as the anonymous pen pal to whom Charles Manson gave his will. Channels starting writing to Manson in the ‘90s and finally received a response in 1997. Channels visited with Manson in prison five years later. The 2002 meeting went well enough that Manson drafted a will naming Channels as the sole beneficiary to his estate. There are estimates valuing Manson’s estate in the millions of dollars after accounting for his music rights, artwork, and various memorabilia. Channels, apparently a fan of the cult leader, has a secret shrine dedicated to him and touts himself as an expert on Manson and the Manson family. Channels has said that he is prepared to fight anyone who wants to challenge his claims.
See Abigail Miller, Charles Manson’s Pen Pal Files the Killers Last Will and Testament in Court After Saying ‘He’ll Go into the Ring’ If Anyone Challenges the Document, DailyMail.com, November 28, 2017.
Special thanks to Joel C. Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.
