Manson Family Member Bruce Davis Dead at 83 After More Than 50 Years Behind Bars

Bruce Davis, a longtime member of the Mansion Family who was convicted of two murders, has died. He was 83 years old.

According to a report from TMZ published on Monday, September 14, David died on Friday, September 11, at 11:03 p.m. at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California, where he was incarcerated.

The Solano County Coroner’s Office confirmed Davis’ death to the outlet, but no cause of death has been released at this time.

Davis was considered one of Charles Manson‘s most prominent members, but he was not one of the people who participated in the 1969 murder of actress Sharon Tate, who was more than eight months pregnant at the time. Six other people were murdered that night: Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech “Voytek” Frykowski and Steven Parent.

Davis was instead convicted for his involvement in the murders of musician Gary Hinman and Donald “Shorty” Shea, a stuntman and ranch hand. He was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in 1972, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.

Following the news of Davis’ death, Debra Tate, the sister of Sharon, told TMZ that she prays for the members of the Manson Family when they die.

“I always say a prayer upon their passing,” she told the outlet. “Basically it says may they finally have clarity on the actions that they caused during their life, and may Lord have mercy on their souls.”

Davis had been behind bars for more than 50 years after he surrendered to the police in 1970. He was recommended for parole numerous times over the years, but his release was repeatedly blocked.

Davis’ death comes nearly nine years after Manson himself died in prison in November 2017 at age 83.