(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA cause of death has not been released.<\/p>\n
Although Davis was a prominent member of Manson\u2019s inner circle, he was not present during the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders that left seven people dead, including actress Sharon Tate, the pregnant wife of filmmaker Roman Polanski.<\/p>\n
Instead, Davis was convicted for his involvement in the murders of Manson Family associate Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald \u201cShorty\u201d Shea.<\/p>\n
Davis admitted to police that he attacked Shea with a knife. He also told investigators he was armed with a gun when Manson attacked Hinman with a sword.<\/p>\n
The crimes eventually landed Davis in prison for life. Like other Manson Family members, he was originally facing a death sentence, but California\u2019s abolition of the death penalty resulted in his sentence being commuted to life imprisonment.<\/p>\n
\nAnd while Davis repeatedly sought parole over the years, his attempts ultimately went nowhere.<\/p>\n
His most recent parole bid was denied in 2022. According to his attorney, Michael Beckman, a parole commissioner cited Davis\u2019 \u201clack of empathy\u201d when explaining the decision.<\/p>\n
Davis also made headlines in 2024 when a scheduled parole hearing was postponed after he appeared on the podcast \u201cThe Lighter Side of Serial Killers.\u201d He had previously written to host Keith Rovere in a 2023 Christmas card that he was \u201clooking forward\u201d to his upcoming parole hearing.<\/p>\n
That hearing was ultimately moved to August 2024, when Davis was again denied parole. Manson himself died<\/a> in 2017.<\/p>\nDebra Tate, Sharon Tate\u2019s sister, offered a restrained response to news of Davis\u2019 death.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always say a prayer upon their passing,\u201d she told TMZ, referring to other Manson Family members who have died behind bars.<\/p>\n
Tate added that her prayer asks that the deceased members \u201cfinally have clarity\u201d about the actions they committed and that God have mercy on their souls.<\/p>\n
Davis spent the final decades of his life incarcerated for crimes committed nearly 60 years ago.<\/p>\n
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