Squeaky Fromme

President

Popular As Red

Birthday October 22, 1948

Birth Sign Libra

Birthplace Santa Monica, California, U.S.

Age 75 years old

Nationality United States

#8664 Most Popular

1725

She and Good lived in the third-floor apartment at 1725 P Street in Sacramento.

(38.57114°N, -121.48579°W)

1948

Lynette Alice "Squeaky" Fromme (born October 22, 1948) is an American criminal who was a member of the Manson family, a cult led by Charles Manson.

Fromme was born on October 22, 1948, in Santa Monica, California, the daughter of Helen (née Benzinger) and William Millar Fromme, an aeronautical engineer.

1950

As a child, Fromme performed with a popular dance group called the Westchester Lariats, which began touring the United States and Europe in the late 1950s, and had an appearance on The Lawrence Welk Show and at the White House.

1963

In 1963, the family moved to Redondo Beach, and Fromme began using alcohol and drugs.

1966

Her grades dropped at Redondo Union High School, but she graduated in 1966.

She moved out of her parents' house for a few months before her father convinced her to enroll at El Camino College.

She returned home for two months before her father kicked her out following an argument, rendering her homeless.

1967

By 1967, at the age of 19, Fromme had dropped out of college.

She went to Venice Beach after her parents threw her out of the family house.

Suffering from depression, she sat on a curb and watched a bus arrive, and Charles Manson exited.

Manson stopped and looked at her and said, "Your parents threw you out, didn't they?"

Fromme immediately decided Manson was a psychic.

Manson walked away as Fromme picked up her belongings and followed him.

Manson had recently been released from the federal prison at Terminal Island, and Fromme became the second member of what would become the Manson Family.

Fromme found Manson's philosophies and attitudes appealing, and the two became friends and traveled together with other young people, including Mary Brunner and Susan Atkins.

She lived with the Manson Family at Spahn Ranch where they worked for their keep, and at the Barker Ranch in Death Valley, which was owned by the grandmother of one of the Family members.

Ranch owner George Spahn gave her the nickname "Squeaky" because of the sound that she made when he touched her.

1969

Manson and some of his followers were arrested for the Sharon Tate and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca murders in 1969, and Fromme and the remaining Manson Family camped outside the trial.

Manson and fellow defendants Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten carved Xs into their foreheads, as did Fromme and her compatriots.

They proclaimed Manson's innocence and preached his apocalyptic philosophy to the news media and to anyone else who would listen.

Fromme was not charged with involvement in the murders but was convicted of attempting to prevent Manson's imprisoned followers from testifying, as well as contempt of court when she refused to testify herself.

She was given short jail sentences for both offenses.

Fromme and Sandra Good moved into an older attic apartment in downtown Sacramento, as they wanted to be near Manson after he was moved to Folsom Prison.

1972

Fromme traveled to Stockton in 1972 with Nancy Pitman, Priscilla Cooper, and Aryan Brotherhood members Michael Monfort and James Craig, in order to follow through with Manson's deal with the Brotherhood.

This group met James and Lauren Willett at a cabin.

In November 1972, Monfort and Craig forced James Willett to dig his own grave and then shot him because he was going to tell the authorities about a series of robberies that they had committed after they were released from prison.

His body was found with his hand still sticking out of the ground.

The housemates were arrested on suspicion of murder, after which Lauren Willett's body was discovered in the basement.

She had been shot to death.

The Willetts' eight-month-old daughter, Heidi, was found alive in the house.

Fromme was released for lack of evidence.

1973

Around 1973, Fromme started work on an extensive 600-page book about the Manson Family, including intricate drawings and photos; other family members had contributed to it as well.

Fromme sent it to publishers, but she dropped it after discussing it with Clem Grogan, deciding that the project was too incriminating.

1975

Though not involved in the Tate–LaBianca murders for which the Manson family is best known, she attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975.

For that crime, she was sentenced to life in prison.

2009

She was paroled from prison on August 14, 2009, after serving approximately 34 years.

2018

She published a book about her life in 2018.

The book, titled Reflexion, was eventually published in 2018 by the Peasenhall Press.