Where is Valentine Michael Manson, Charles Manson's son, now?

Where is Valentine Michael Manson, Charles Manson's son, now?

Charles Manson was a notorious American criminal and cult leader in California in the 1960s and 1970s. He married twice and left three children, including Valentine. So, where is Valentine Michael Manson today and what does he do? Valentine lives in the Midwestern United States with his partner, keeping a low profile and out of the spotlight. Read more about him here.

Charles Manson and his son Valentine Michael Manson
L: Charles Manson on a police van to Santa Monica Courthouse. R: Valentine Michael Manson in an interview with Los Angeles Times. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Los Angeles Times (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Charlie Manson's son, Velantine, tried to avoid the spotlight, but his father's negative reputation would not let him.
  • He lives a quiet life in the Midwest works in manufacturing with his partner.
  • At some point, Valentine changed his identity to get rid of his father's name and image.

Profile summary

Full nameValentine Michael Manson
Other namesMichael Brunner, Pooh Bear
GenderMale
Date of birth15 April 1968
Age 57 years (as of 2025)
Place of birthTopanga Canyon, Los Angeles, California, USA
Current residenceUnited States of America
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityWhite
Zodiac signAries
ReligionChristianity
SexualityStraight
Height 6 ft (180 cm)
Hair colourLight brown
Eye colourBlue
Children1
FatherCharles Manson
MotherMary Brunner
Siblings2
Alma materArlington Heights Elementary School
ProfessionFormer military contractor

Where is Valentine Michael Manson?

Valentine Michael Manson, the son of Charles Manson, now lives a quiet life in the Midwest. He works in manufacturing and keeps a low profile, and stays out of the public eye. Valentine lives with his partner on a 56-acre property where they grow some of their own crops, and has an adult son.

now lives a quiet life in the Midwest. He works in manufacturing and keeps a low profile, and stays out of the public eye. Valentine lives with his partner on a 56-acre property where they grow some of their own crops, and has an adult son.

Who is Valentine Michael Manson?

Valentine Michael Manson, also known as Michael Brunner or "Pooh Bear," He is a former military contractor. Valentine is also known as Michael Brunner or "Pooh Bear."

His father was a criminal, murderer, cult leader, and musician who led the Manson Family, a cult based in California, in the late 1960s.

How old is Valentine Michael Manson?

Valentine Michael Manson's age is 57 years as of 2025. He was born on 15 April 1968, and his Zodiac sign is Aries.

Valentine Michael Manson's educational background

Charles Manson's son attended Arlington Heights Elementary School. His educational journey was not smooth because of his father's criminal dealings and ill reputation. His peers kept reminding him that his father was a murderer, which affected his studies.

Facts about Valentine Michael Manson, Charles Manson's son
Top 5 facts about Valentine Michael Manson, Charles Manson's son. Photo: @Los Angeles Times (modified by author)
Source: Facebook

Did Charles Manson have a child?

The cult leader had at least three biological children. One of them is Valentine Michael Manson, whose mother is Mary Brunner.

Valentine was born in Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles, California, USA, and his nationality is American. He was renamed Michael Brunner after his maternal grandparents, John and Evelyn Brunner, took him away from his biological parents.

Is Mary Brunner still alive?

Whether Mary Theresa Brunner is alive or not remains unknown. According to People, she moved to the Midwest after her release in 1977.

Valentine Michael Manson's mother was born on 17 December 1943 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States of America and became a member of the Manson Family. She was present during the murder of Gary Hinman, a California musician and Ph.D. candidate, in 1969.

Who was Valentine Michael Manson's father?

Valentine Michael Manson's father, Charles Manson, was an infamous cult leader known for heading the Manson Family. The group consisted mostly of young women whom Charles manipulated with his philosophies and promises of an alternative lifestyle.

Charles Manson was responsible for the deaths of several people, including Hollywood actress Sharon Tate. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1972 and died there on 19 November 2017.

Valentine did not have a close relationship with his father. He once admitted that he wished he had known him better before his death. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, John and Evelyn Brunner, who kept him away from Charles.

One story about Valentine’s connection to his father recounts how he once considered reaching out to him. He eventually found people who had been in contact with Charles, but despite his efforts, he never received a response.

After returning to the United States, Valentine discovered a postcard from his father. It contained only the words: "write on. write on. write on." Though he wanted to reply, he never did.

Charles Manson smiling at the California Medical Facility, Vacaville, US
Charles Manson at the California Medical Facility, Vacaville, US. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Did Charles Manson get married?

Charles Manson was married twice. In 1955, he married Rosalie "Rosie" Jean Willis. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1958 while Manson was serving a prison sentence. He later married his second wife, Candy Stevens, in 1960. Candy divorced him in 1963.

In 2014, Manson obtained a marriage license with Afton Elaine Burton, a 26-year-old follower who had been visiting him in prison. However, the marriage never took place.

Who did Charles Manson have a child with?

Charles Manson had three known biological children with three different women. His first child, Charles Manson Jr., was born in 1955 to his first wife, Rosalie Jean Willis. After Rosalie remarried, Charles Jr. took his stepfather Jack White's last name and became known as Jay White.

He later took his life on June 29, 1993. According to his death certificate, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at Exit 438 on Interstate 70 around 10:15 a.m.

Manson's second child, Charles Luther Manson, was born on September 24, 1960, a year after Manson married his second wife, Candy Stevens. Candy divorced him in 1963, and Charles Luther reportedly changed his name later in life.

His third child, Valentine Michael Manson, was born to Mary Brunner, one of Manson’s early followers and a member of the Manson Family.

Does Charles Manson have a grandson?

Yes, Charles Manson has a grandson named Jason Freeman. He is the son of Charles Manson, Jr., who took his own life in 1993. Freeman has publicly claimed his relation to Manson and has been involved in legal disputes over Manson's estate and remains.

Who is Charles Manson's daughter?

While three of Charles Manson's biological children are publicly known, it has been alleged that he had more. A woman named Rebecca Evans came forward, claiming that the late cult leader was her biological father.

Evans stated that she was given up at birth and placed in foster care. In 2018, she vowed to fight for the rights to her father's remains and his estate. She also claimed that she was born at the Spahn Ranch and that her mother, Andrea Kavakow, gave her up at birth.

According to Evans, she discovered the identity of her biological father when she was 15. She is reportedly friends with Matthew Roberts, a musician who also claims to be Manson's son. The two have joined forces in their legal efforts to claim Manson’s estate.

What happened to Mary Brunner's son?

Valentine was separated from his biological parents when he was about 18 months old. Authorities found him lying half-naked in the cold alongside his mother and several members of Charles Manson’s cult. The group was discovered naked and in a ditch inside a stolen bus.

Valentine was later raised by his maternal grandparents, John and Evelyn Brunner, and eventually took their last name. He has stated that they did a great job raising him in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

During an exclusive interview with the LA Times in 2019, Valentine suggested that his father was mostly misunderstood and was therefore painted negatively than he deserved.

I would say 95% of the public looks at Charlie as this mass-murdering dog, and it’s really, obviously, just not true. He didn’t necessarily kill... I guess I’m here now for, just for posterity, [to] let people know where I’m standing now. I’m still not looking for any kind of celebrity. I mean, this isn’t something that you run around and brag about.

He expressed that, unlike himself, his father never had the chance to experience what good parenting feels like. However, little is known about Valentine Michael Manson as of 2025. He has lived a low-profile life since granting an exclusive interview to the Los Angeles Times. It is known that he worked as a former military contractor.

Charles Manson escorted by the police on the way to court.
Charles Manson is escorted by Los Angeles County sheriffs to a police van to the Santa Monica Courthouse to appear in court for a hearing. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
Source: Getty Images

What is Valentine Michael Manson's net worth?

Michael's current status is largely unknown. His only known source of income was a brief stint in the Army, during which he was deployed to Germany. For most of his life, he has been self-employed.

Charles Manson’s estate is believed to be worth millions, potentially including his artwork, music rights, and memorabilia. Despite this, Valentine Michael Manson did not inherit any of his father’s wealth.

A man named Michael Channels claimed he was the rightful heir to Manson’s entire estate. Channels was revealed to be Manson’s longtime pen pal and possessed what was said to be the only copy of the cult leader’s will.

In 2017, Channels quickly filed Manson’s last will in an attempt to gain custody of his body as soon as possible. Later, several individuals who claimed to be Manson’s biological children contested the will and fought for the estate. Valentine, however, did not publicly take part in the legal battle.

Where is Mary Brunner now?

Before Mary Brunner became a mother, she was Charles Manson’s first loyal follower. She allowed him to stay at her apartment shortly after they first met.

When their relationship turned romantic, she quit her job and followed him to California. Brunner was arrested in 1971 for participating in a heist at a Hawthorne surplus store.

She was released in 1977 and reportedly changed her name. Since then, she has lived a quiet, reclusive life in the Midwest.

There have been rumors that she is dead. In reality, she is alive, and the online obituary for Michael Brunner is not hers—it refers to a different person with the same name.

Where are Charles Manson's sons now?

Charles Manson had three sons. Two of them were Charles Manson Jr. and Charles Luther Manson. Both changed their names and have since died. The third is Valentine Michael Manson, now known as Michael Brunner. He lives a quiet life in the Midwest with his family. He has distanced himself from his father’s legacy.

Where is Charles Manson Jr. now?

Charles Manson Jr., born on April 10, 1956, changed his name to Jay White to distance himself from his father's notorious legacy. Despite this, he struggled with the burden of his father's infamy throughout his life.

On June 29, 1993, at the age of 37, he took his life through a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in his car near Burlington, Colorado. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Hopedale, Ohio.

Where is the Manson family now?

Most surviving members of the Manson Family cult are serving life sentences or have died. Charles Manson died in prison in 2017. Some, like Leslie Van Houten, have been released on parole, while others remain incarcerated. A few former members have distanced themselves from the group and live quietly, rarely speaking publicly about their involvement.

Jason Freeman is Charles Manson’s grandson, the son of Charles Manson Jr. (later Jay White). After Manson Jr.’s death in 1993, Freeman was legally recognized as his son. In 2018, a court granted Freeman custody of Manson’s remains, confirming his status as Manson’s next of kin.

Trivia

  • He did not have a mother-son bond with his mom because he was raised by his grandparents.
  • His father was in prison for about four decades when he died.
  • Several books, documentaries, TV shows and films have been released since the arrest of his parents. They are based on their life of crime.
  • His father succumbed to cancer in prison.
  • His biggest pet peeve is being judged for his parents' crimes.

Where is Valentine Michael Manson now? Charles Manson's son lives a quiet life in the Midwest, away from the spotlight due to his infamous father. His most recent public appearance was an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2019, where he spoke openly while maintaining his low profile.

Yen.com.gh recently published Rebecca Sneed's biography. Sneed is renowned for marrying a man who was already convicted of murder. He murdered his parents in collaboration with his brother.

As a result, most people are wondering what would have made a woman with a highly progressive career, as a magazine's chief editor, want to be with someone serving a life sentence. She is now a defence attorney.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Favour Adeaga avatar

Favour Adeaga (Lifestyle writer) Favour is an author, speaker, and coach. He graduated with a degree in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2011. He had his internship programme at The Nation Newspaper and taught diploma students in Newspaper and Magazine course at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi. He curates the facts and life hacks category since 2018. Favour is the author of two books available on Amazon. He currently lives in Nigeria. favouradeaga@gmail.com

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Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over six years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She received the 2023 Writer of the Year Award. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com