Death certificate says Charles Manson died of heart failure

The deadly cult leader's death certificate confirms that he died Nov. 19 at Bakersfield's Mercy Hospital.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

SACRAMENTO - Charles Manson died of cardiac arrest accompanied by respiratory failure, triggered by colon cancer that had spread to other areas of his body.

The deadly cult leader's death certificate confirms that he died Nov. 19 at Bakersfield's Mercy Hospital. The 83-year-old had been serving a life sentence for orchestrating the 1969 killings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and eight other people.

The Kern County death certificate, first obtained by TMZ.com, says Manson died minutes after his heart stopped, but had been suffering respiratory failure for days. It says his cancer developed months ago.

His death set off competing claims for his remains and possessions. A hearing based on a claim by his purported grandson is set for next month in Los Angeles County.

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