Nancy Pittman grew up in a wealthy household in Malibu, where her father was a successful engineer and her mother was a society matron. She and her two younger brothers wanted for nothing materially, and her childhood years were devoted to school and surfing. However, the wealth didn't bring her happiness. At 16, she befriended some slightly older girls who were lived with an older man whom they spoke of glowingly and the teen aged Pittman convinced them to introduce her to him. The man was Charles Manson. She was immediately taken with him and ran away from home at the age of 16 to be with him. She quickly became one of his most ardent backers and traveled with him to various parts of California. Ultimately, they settled upon a former film set which became known as Spahn Ranch. She stayed loyal to Manson after hearing about the murder of Gary Hinman and Manson's role in it. She was also present at the ranch when Manson sent Charles 'Tex' Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian to commit murders at a house formerly occupied by producer Terry Melcher and actress Candice Bergen. Manson had once done some business with Melcher, which had gone badly and which may have been a factor in the murders. She was with Manson when they returned to the ranch and told Manson of the events that night. It is widely believed that she, Manson, and a few others drove to the house later than night to tamper with the crime scene. After the arrest of Manson and his family for the Tate/LaBianca murders, she was one of his most conspicuous supporters, singing and handing out placards to passers by.After the trial, she drifted into the Aryan Brotherhood and moved to a house in Stockton with a few other members. Two house-mates, James and Lauren Willet, were subsequently murdered by other members who lived there. Pittman ultimately was convicted of being an accessory after the fact to Lauren Willet's murder. She served some eighteen months in prison and wound up marrying one of the co-conspirators. They subsequently divorced and she moved to the Pacific Northwest with her children and changed her name. She has renounced Manson and keeps a low profile, striving to shield her children from any fallout from her past.
