Charles Manson's 'right-hand man,' Bruce Davis, dies in prison at 83

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

See more from the L.A.Times in Google Search.

Set us as preferred Bruce Davis, who was Charles Manson’s so-called “right-hand man,” died in a California prison hospital late last week at the age of 83, corrections officials said Monday.Davis was pronounced dead by a registered nurse at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville at 11:03 p.m.

Sept.11, according to Mary Xjimenez, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.Davis was convicted in 1972 of two counts of murder for the slayings of Gary Hinman, an aspiring musician, and Donald “Shorty” Shea, a stuntman who also worked at what was known then as the Spahn Ranch in Chatsworth where Manson and his followers made their homestead.

He was sentenced to life in prison and served most of his time behind bars at San Quentin State Prison.Hinman was targeted because he was viewed as a potential aid for the cult’s planned move from Los Angeles to the desert, according to parole records.But when he refused to cooperate, Davis held Hinman at gunpoint while Manson slashed him from his ear to his chin.

Shea was attacked because Manson told his followers the man was a police informant and attempting to kick them off the ranch.Fellow cult members Steve Grogan and Charles “Tex” Watson joined Manson and Davis in taking Shea to a secluded area and stabbing him multiple times.

Davis admitted to cutting Shea.While he was not involved in the group’s most infamous murders — including the killings of Sharon Tate and four others in Benedict Canyon — prosecutors and state officials have repeatedly described Davis as an integral member of Manson’s inner circle.

Davis did not shy away from his closeness to Manson.“I wanted to be Charlie’s favorite guy,” he said during a 2014 parole hearing.Davis had been found suitable for parole...