Charles' mother wasn't as bad as it he made her out to be, she cared a lot about her son Charles and each time he was incarcerated, she would move from state to state to be closer to him. She was very supportive of Charles Manson, but he was mentally unstable and proceeded to ruin her reputation with each interview he gave mentioning her. Charles Manson was a pathological liar always searching for attention. When interviewed, Charles Manson would always change his story. When his mother was arrested in West Virginia for robbing a service station, Charles Manson was sent to live with his Aunt and Uncle in West Virginia while his mother served her five-year prison sentence.
When he attended elementary school, he would convince his fellow classmates to attack people that he didn't like.4 He would usually be able to convince the female classmates to commit actions for him. When confronted by teachers, he would always use the excuse that his classmates acted on their own accord. Charles usually avoided getting into trouble when he was younger. He would act up at home as well, according to his cousin Jo Ann. Charles would always cause trouble and disobey his aunt and uncle and would always find someone else to blame for his actions.4 .
She recalls a particular story that scared her when they were children. One day, when Charles was seven, his aunt and uncle left the house and ordered Charles and Jo Ann to change the bed linen. Charles disobeyed them frequently and did the exact opposite of what he was told. Charles found a sharp-edged sickle in the backyard and waved it at his cousin's face. She pushed him out of the way as she continued to do her chores. He continued annoying Jo Ann and she then put him outside and closed the screen door as well as the door to the house. Charles then went into a furious state, screaming and crying. Charles began slashing at the screen door of the house while screaming.