Suvechha Sarkar
In the fall of 1967, the life of Dianne Lake (now known as Dianne Kelley) changed forever when she became a part of the communal group, the Manson Family, led by Charles Manson. Netflix’s ‘Conversations With a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes’ delves deeper into the group and how the leader and some of the members were later connected to multiple homicides. Although Dianne was never involved with the murders or charged with any crime, she became a reliable witness for the prosecution, helping bring the killers to justice. Moreover, the episode features a detailed interview with her that reveals a troubling chapter of her life.
Dianne Lake Was 14 Years Old When She Joined the Manson Family
Clarence Lake and his wife welcomed Dianne Elizabeth Bluestein into their lives in 1953 in Minnesota. She was the oldest of three children and loved spending time with her younger brother and sister. Reports state that her father moved to California to study art in the summer of 1963. By 1965, Dianne and the rest of her family joined him in Santa Monica. According to her statements, her parents eventually gravitated toward the counterculture movement, and they bought a truck before beginning to visit several communes and campgrounds. Ultimately, the family joined the Hog Farm commune. Dianne stated that after joining the commune, she felt her parents grew distant, and she wasn’t happy with the situation.
Further records and Dianne’s statements during interviews suggest that the leader of the Hog Farm commune didn’t want any teenagers like her who were sexually active in their community. In the fall of 1967, she attended a party, where she first came across the Manson Family and the communal group’s leader, Charles Manson. She was just 14 years old when she joined them as the group’s youngest member and was given the nickname “Snake”. During her interview on the show, she admitted they often took LSDs and were greatly influenced by Charles. On August 16, 1969, Dianne, Charles, and their group were arrested at the Spahn Ranch in California, involving a stolen-vehicle investigation.
According to a journalist on the show, Dianne and the members were all released because the arrest warrant was deemed void, as it was executed three days after it was issued. They next settled in Barker Ranch, where they were all arrested again on another unrelated charge in October 1969. However, she was later released and agreed to testify for the prosecution when it was revealed that members of the Manson Family had been responsible for the murders of Jay Sebring, Sharon Tate, Abigail Folger, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, Wojciech Frykowski, and Steven Parent. Dianne bravely testified during the Manson murder trials, providing important testimony about her time inside the group. It is essential to note that Dianne was never convicted of any crime or sentenced.
Dianne Lake is Leading a Peaceful Retired Life Surrounded by Her Family Today
After Dianne Lake (also known as Dianne Kelley) got out of the Manson Family at the age of 16, the authorities reportedly sent her to Patton State Hospital, where she was diagnosed to be in a state of LSD-induced psychosis. There, she received intensive treatment for eight months before she was released. Following that, she was taken in as a foster child by the family of a detective, Jack Gardiner. Eventually, Dianne began attending Big Pine High School in 10th grade. She also loved eating dinner with the family and going on skiing trips with them. After graduating from high school, she pursued higher education at Glendale Community College. During that time, Dianne began living with her mother’s friend.
After completing her formal education, Dianne embarked on her professional journey by joining Barclays’ International Department in Los Angeles as a Loan Officer. Eventually, she completed her Master’s degree before becoming a Special Education Teacher. In October 2017, she wrote and published her memoir, ‘Member of the Family: Manson, Murder and Me’ alongside Deborah Herman. While speaking about her experience, she mentioned, “It’s an interesting story, but it’s also a cautionary tale.” Around the time Dianne was in community college, she crossed paths with a charming man named Jim, who became her travel partner throughout Europe. However, they went their separate ways before their relationship could blossom.
Once Dianne moved on with her life, she found love in her soulmate, Todd. As their relationship deepened, the couple finally tied the knot in 1979, surrounded by their loved ones. Together, they welcomed their two sons and a daughter into the world, filling their lives with immeasurable joy. Unfortunately, tragedy struck her life in 2014 when Todd passed away from skin cancer. A woman of faith, she let her beliefs guide her through the hard times. She then reconnected with Jim, and ultimately, they exchanged their vows. Currently residing in California, Dianne has retired and now seeks solace in nature, enjoying the melody of crashing waves at the beach and watching sunsets. Besides that, she now prefers to stay away from the limelight and lead a quiet life with her family.
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