In 2022, Sophia Maddox received a phone call that changed everything she thought she understood about her family. It led her to delve into the life of one of America’s most infamous criminals.
At the time, the 22-year-old aspiring filmmaker and actress was based in Los Angeles, doing various jobs to pay her bills. Meanwhile, her father, Daniel Arguelles, was on a quest to uncover details about his own past. Raised by his mother and stepfather, Arguelles had been trying to pinpoint his biological father when he called Maddox with shocking news.
“He told me he thinks he found out who his father is, and if it’s true, it’s really dark,” Maddox recounted. “He wasn’t sure if I was ready to know. My dad isn’t a person who delves into dark subjects. He never discussed anything grim, and if he described it as dark, I figured it must be famously so. So, I told him to just tell me.”
Maddox recalled asking, “‘Is it Ted Bundy?’ He said, ‘Bigger. Think of the biggest movie you know and the biggest director you know.’ I thought about the film ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.’ That’s when it hit me: Charles Manson.”
She immediately looked up Manson’s name. The resemblance was striking, she noted.
“I thought to myself, ‘That’s my dad,’” Maddox said. “It was a really devastating day.”
Her journey following the revelation about Manson being her grandfather is featured in the Hulu documentary, “My Grandfather Charles Manson.” The film follows her as she connects with people linked to Manson, including some of his former followers, in an attempt to understand her family history.
“It was cathartic,” Maddox said. “I was already a filmmaker before learning about my grandfather. This whole experience turned my life upside down. I had something significant to express, and I couldn’t keep it bottled up.”
In 2015, Arguelles submitted his DNA to Ancestry.com, looking to find his father and address a question that had haunted him for years. He had long speculated that the man who raised him wasn’t his real father and confronted his mother about it when he turned 21.
Years went by, and Arguelles nearly lost hope until he matched with Michael Brunner. DNA tests confirmed they were half-brothers; Brunner is Manson’s son by Mary Brunner, one of his earliest followers.
Maddox described herself and her father as “normal, working-class citizens.”
“We don’t have any criminal records,” Maddox insisted. “We grew up immersed in art. My dad showed me the films he made and his modeling pictures taken by Richard Avedon. So, naturally, when I discovered that someone like Manson is my grandfather, I found myself questioning, ‘Am I like that too?’ People have asked, ‘Were you afraid of inheriting evil?’ But my dad and I are just ordinary, hard-working folks.”
Manson was convicted for orchestrating the 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate, who was pregnant, along with six others, and passed away in 2017 while serving a life sentence. A petty criminal since his youth, Manson had developed a cult-like following in the 1960s. He used his influence to manipulate others into committing gruesome acts of violence, which he claimed would incite a race war—an idea he derived from a distorted interpretation of the Beatles’ song “Helter Skelter.”
Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Manson maintained his innocence, insisting that society was at fault.
While Arguelles hesitated to learn more about his biological father, Maddox felt compelled to explore her grandfather’s legacy. Her curiosity was less about the mythology of Manson and more about uncovering how he became the figure that people feared.
Manson was born in 1934, to a teenage mother, Kathleen Maddox. His biological father was absent, and his mother later married a man named William Manson, whose surname Charles adopted. After a troubling childhood, including time in juvenile facilities, he grew into a troubled adult with a record of theft and other crimes.
By the time he was released from federal prison in 1967, Manson had spent a significant amount of his life behind bars. Throughout her documentary, Maddox explored previously unseen records that highlighted Manson’s difficult upbringing.
“I learned about similar abuses in my dad’s and Manson’s childhoods,” she mentioned. “My father’s experiences were really bad, but they were far worse in Manson’s time. It was appalling how boys were treated in those reform schools.”
Maddox expressed shock at the fact that Manson was placed alongside older juveniles with violent histories, pondering the survival instincts he likely developed during his confinement.
Arguelles, born in 1959, discovered he was the product of a brief relationship between his mother, Darlene, and Manson, who used the pseudonym “Charlie Dear.” But as Maddox dug deeper, their initial quest for answers began to create distance between them.
Maddox shared that she and her father had a falling out right before filming began. Although Arguelles had initially encouraged her to make the documentary, confronting Manson’s past became too difficult for him. “I think I have a bit more distance from Manson, being the grandchild,” she said. “But my dad shares a similar history, and it’s hard for him.”
“I have no idea if he’s seen the documentary,” she noted. “He hasn’t reached out to me. For now, I’m honoring his space.”
In a later mention, Arguelles stated, “I’m very proud of Sophia. The difference in our perspectives may have led to the falling out. Beyond that, I’d prefer not to say much.”
While making the film, Maddox sought to connect with the families of Manson’s victims. She reported, “I’m conversing with a couple of relatives, and it’s been a lovely experience. They were kind and understood why I’m telling this tale.”
Although Maddox’s examination of Manson’s life isn’t intended to absolve him of his brutal actions, it is aimed at understanding what led him there. “My goal isn’t to justify anyone’s actions,” she concludes. “I understand what my grandfather did.” She believes understanding his upbringing could help prevent future violence.
Additionally, Maddox shared her decision to change her surname from Arguelles to Maddox, explaining, “My dad and I searched for a name that felt right, and ‘Maddox’ symbolizes goodness. It’s about owning my heritage and redefining it.”
