Suvechha Sarkar
Netflix’s documentary, ‘Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes,’ examines the multiple murders that took place in 1969 in Los Angeles, California. It also sheds light on the influence Charles Manson, the leader of the commune, had on its members, who were known as the Manson Family. Among the group’s members was Stephanie Schram, also known as Carol Mathews. She was interviewed on the show and shared how she became part of it. The documentary also delves deeper into the murder through detailed interviews with the officials and archival materials.
Stephanie Schram Was Returning From a Trip When She Met Charles Manson
Stephanie Schram, also known as Carol Mathews, was born on November 13, 1951, in San Diego, California. She grew up in a normal home and was a diligent student who graduated from high school sometime around 1967 or 1968. She shared that when she was just 17 years old, she wanted to live life on her own terms, which led her to rebel and take off in her car shortly after. While on the road, Stephanie began to make friends and was returning one night from a trip with a friend from Reno, Nevada. She reportedly stopped at a gas station in Big Sur, California, around 2 am or 3 am, when she met Charlie Manson. She recalled, “I heard this guy say, ‘What’s somebody as pretty as you doing out here late at night?'”
According to Stephanie’s statements on the show, that was the night she first met Charles, and she also said she found him quite captivating. After their brief introduction and conversation, she informed her friend that she had decided to go with Charlie because he would show her around Big Sur. Eventually, she joined his communal group, the Manson Family, which settled at the Spahn Ranch in Los Angeles, California. Reports state that when the murders of Sharon Tate, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Steven Parent, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, and Jay Sebring took place in August 1969, Stephanie was living in the same trailer as Charles.
In other interviews, Stephanie claimed that she didn’t initially notice anything unusual but soon realized there was a change in Charles’ demeanor. Following that, she reportedly observed the other members listening to news on the radio and overheard conversations, which led her to believe that some of the group members were connected to the seven murders. On August 16, 1969, authorities raided the ranch in connection with a stolen-vehicle investigation. During the raid, Charles, Stephanie, and the other members were arrested. Shortly after, the raid was deemed illegal because the warrant was issued on August 13 and the raid wasn’t carried out until August 16, resulting in the release of everyone, including Stephanie, according to an official’s statement.
Stephanie Schram Escaped the Manson Family on a Night in October 1969
After the Manson Family members, including Stephanie, were released, she went to live with her parents for a brief period. She once again returned to the Manson Family when they settled at Barker Ranch in Death Valley, California. Another report suggests that Stephanie was also arrested alongside Charles on the charge of indecent exposure, but the case was later officially dismissed. In an interview, she claimed that he was abusive and threatened the women in the group to kill them if they decided to leave.
Stephanie alleged, “Charlie had made it clear to us: ‘Once you’re here, don’t go, or we’ll kill you.'” She continued, “I was afraid I’d end up dead.” Stephanie later claimed that Charles stayed in the trailer on the nights of the murders. In her statements, Stephanie noted that he was not inside the trailer for several hours on the night of August 9, 1969. On the night of October 9, 1969, she and another member, Kathryn Rene Lutesinger, AKA Kitty, fled from the Barker Ranch barefoot, fearful for their lives.
At the time, Stephanie was identified as a runaway from Anaheim, while the other woman was a runaway from Los Angeles. The 17-year-olds reportedly stopped a passing California Highway Patrol car at the mouth of Anvil Springs Canyon and asked the officer for protection. It marked their departure from the group, following which Charles and several other members of the commune were arrested and convicted for the murders. It is worth noting that Stephanie was never convicted of any crimes.
Stephanie Schram Recently Shared Her Experience With Charles’ Granddaughter
Following Stephanie’s escape, she returned to live with her parents. To complete her education, she attended San Diego State University. Apart from that, she began her professional journey by joining a dog grooming business, which helped her build a unique path of her own. In 2011, she publicly spoke about her experiences with Charles and the group during the 1970 trial. Following that, Stephanie gave her first interview in October 2011, when she appeared as a guest on ‘Tate-LaBianca Radio Program.’ She had started writing a book about her experience and had even consulted the chief prosecutor of the case, Vincent Bugliosi, about whether it would pose any threat to her safety.
However, Vincent had reportedly assured Stephanie that it was safe to do so. However, as of writing, there is no publicly available information about the book or its release. She had appeared on ‘Helter Skelter: An American Myth’ in 2020. It was followed by her interview with Charles’ granddaughter, Sophia Maddox, on ‘My Grandfather Charles Manson’ in 2026. Beyond that, Stephanie has shielded several details of her current professional and personal life away from the spotlight. From what we can tell, she appears to be maintaining a low profile and spending quality time with her loved ones.
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