In a move stirring both fascination and furor among true crime and horror aficionados, the Michigan Museum of Horror has confirmed the addition of a small vial containing the cremated remains of notorious cult leader Charles Manson. As CBS News Detroit reported, the museum's owner, Nate Thompson, announced on social media the inclusion of this contentious artifact, declaring, "There's a lot of true crime and horror museums in the world, but not many can say they own Manson himself." Thompson, while cradling the notorious figure's residue, described the contents of the vial as containing visible "pieces of bone and ash."
According to WOODTV, Thompson described the vial as "one in a million," noting its authenticity had been corroborated by "seasoned collectors" and vouched for by a direct paper trail. The museum, which opened in 2022, boasts of its unique horror-themed collections, including what they claim to be Michigan's largest Ouija board collection and specimens such as human skulls and parts of a real mummy.
The significance of possessing an article belonging to Charles Manson, who led the Manson Family into committing the notorious 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders, is of particular note; the cult leader died in 2017 at 83 after having been incarcerated for decades. His criminal legacy continues to wield a morbid curiosity among the public and is reflected in the museum's acquisition, which also includes a handwritten letter and strands of Manson's hair, as MLive reported. In addition to the macabre mementos of Manson, the museum houses an array of artifacts associated with infamous figures such as Jeffrey Dahmer and OJ Simpson.
