True Crime: Manson, Dahmer & More

1988. Geraldo Rivera goes to San Quentin prison for an interview with convicted murderer Charles Manson. This exclusive sit-down with the madman uncovers a lot of his criminal mindset. Serial killer, cult leader....is he a 'sane' trickster or legitimately psycho? We start with about 1 minute of recap, before Charlie recounts his childhood and world view. The interview moves on to various aspects of blaming society for wanting him to be the evil man, to 'not being guilty of anything', to his relationship with his followers and how it began.

"I'm in paradise.."

"I'm the lawmaker..."

In the course of this interview Charlie admits having influenced 'the kids at the ranch' but denies responsibility for the 7 murders that put him in prison.

Charles Manson died at age 83, after 4 decades behind bars.

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July 15th, 1996. Geraldo Rivera on his namesake talk show hosts Olympian Tonya Harding, two years after the assault on her competitor Nancy Kerrigan. A clip is shown of Tonya denying prior knowledge of the assault in a press conference.

"...people didn't understand. I went and skated, practiced at midnight to 1:30 three days a week before nationals, before Olympics...because I couldn't go in the morning, because I had bruises all over my face."

Tonya details her relationship with Jeff Gillooly and his abusive nature. She claims his assaults were regular and that she endured dozens of instances of physical abuse. The conversation moves into the incident surrounding the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and Ms. Harding details her recollection of events .
Tonya Harding pled guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution relating to Nancy Kerrigan's assault, which her then husband Jeff Gillooly had masterminded. The United States Figure Skating Association banned Ms. Harding for life shortly thereafter and stripped her of a 1994 title.

Nancy Kerrigan quickly recovered from her injury and continued to compete. Tonya Harding also continued to compete in national competitions.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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July 15th, 1996. Geraldo Rivera's namesake talk show hosts Tonya Harding as controversy continues following the brutal attack on Nancy Kerrigan.

"If somebody goes out and does something that's bad, how long are they gonna have to pay the price? ... if somebody threatened your life and you didn't know what to do, what would you do?"

The star figure skater, recently banned for life from the United States Figure Skating Association, starts with reaction to the men who served 14 months in prison for assaulting one of her competitors. Her publicist David Hans Schmidt is in the audience, and he says the biggest benefactor from all this is the United States Figure Skating Association.

The conversation continues to audience questions. Most seem to feel as an athlete and role model, Tonya should pay whatever price for her role in covering up the assault on Nancy. Ms. Harding says people should be allowed to make mistakes, and if the ban stays or doesn't stay, she'll have success. A range of questions are asked including about if she learned anything from her failed marriages.

Tonya Harding pled guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution in 1994, related to the physical assault of Nancy Kerrigan. She had trained from age three, winning many awards, but never returned to professional skating following the incident.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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September 12th, 1991. Geraldo Rivera on his namesake talk show brings us a show on Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, this segment with escaped would-be victim Tracey Edwards.

"While I was talking to my brother, Jeffrey was telling my best friends other things, that he lived in a different place totally..."

Mr. Edwards details how he met the 'Butcher of Milwaukee' and the man seemed like a regular guy. The first warning sign was the terrible stench in the building, which Mr. Dahmer claimed was a sewer problem -- Tracey details other things he noticed in the apartment, and feeling the intoxicating effects of his drugged drink.

Authorities would later uncover the macabre source of this smell, which several residents of the apartment building complained of, being body parts of past victims.

Jeffrey Dahmer killed and dismembered 17 men and boys between 1978 to 1991, frequently preserving many of their body parts. He was sentenced to fifteen terms of life imprisonment in 1992, and beaten to death by a fellow inmate in 1994.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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1991. Geraldo Rivera, on his namesake talk show, hosts and interviews Tracy Edwards, the man who was slated to be Jeffrey Dahmer's 18th victim. He was lured to the home, with drinks and drugged, but managed to get away.

Mr. Edwards describes in detail the ruse he used to escape from the notorious serial killer. His lawyer Syed A Salat also speaks a few minutes into the clip, about his treatment by the authorities. Tracy's experience led to Dahmer's arrest.

Jeffrey Dahmer was a notorious serial killer convicted of over fifteen homicides between 1978 and 1991 with many involving cannibalism, necrophilia. He was beaten to death in prison in 1994.

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November 29th, 1989. Geraldo Rivera on his namesake talk show brings us 'Angels of Death', this segment focusing on murderer Donald Harvey.

"...at on point his macabre death total went to 87, 87 patients he claims now to have murdered....we know he has killed scores of people."

An interview with Donald in prison is shown, talking about how many people he killed at his first hospital and what happened next. He justifies his murders by claiming to have chosen patients with no chance of recovery.

Back in studio, we speak to Michael Pike, whose father was murdered by Donald Harvey. He claims a conspiratorial angle by the system in Cincinnati to avoid legal liability, as we hear the details of his father's wrongful death.

Also heard from is reporter Pat Minarcin, who played a crucial role in uncovering the case.

Donald Harvey was confirmed to have killed at least 37 during his work in various hospitals. He died in 2017 while serving 28 life sentences.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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1991. Geraldo Rivera's Now It Can Be Told program looks back at the Manson family murders in 1969, and the evidence suggesting criminal involvement. As Charles Manson and his followers begin their third decade behind bars, the case continues to intrigue and the motive may have been more than 'Helter Skelter'. Was the Manson family acting on the orders of the Mafia? Craig Rivera reports.

In this segment we hear from Doris Tate, Sharon Tate's mother, as well as other principals involved with and looking into the murders. Drugs may have been delivered to the Tate residence around the time of the murder, and Leno LaBianca may have owed money to the mob.

Tex Watson and 3 female followers of Manson murdered five individuals, including Sharon Tate, August 8th, 1969. The next night, the same 4 and others of Manson's followers participated in the murder of Leno & Rosemary LaBianca.

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August 19th, 1992. Geraldo Rivera on his namesake talk show brings us 'Highway to Hell, Roadside Killings', this segment focusing on the heartbreaking case of Susan Rossetti, a former college student at Arizona State.

"..people need to understand, Phoenix is not a small city...population of 700,000. I don't know what the odds are against them driving to the very location where Louise and Peter were looking, but it has to be astronomical..."

The details of this horrific case; kidnapping, rape and murder, are laid out in detail with the help of Ronald Watkins parole officer for one of the killers, which he discusses in his book 'Evil Intentions'. We learn that one of the two men was released on furlough, and the conversation continues to ask if that system is being abused.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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May 11th, 1992. Geraldo Rivera's Now It Can Be Told program brings us the case of cyanide-laced Tylenol and James W. Lewis.

"I think that I was probably prosecuted because.....create an illusion that someone, anyone was in prison for those homicides."

Mr. Lewis served 10 years for the crime, but maintains his innocence and claims he was only trying to draw attention to the real criminal. He was not charged with attempted murder but with extortion in connection with a letter written asking for a million dollars. Those that led the case in both prosecution and defense are spoken to about the anomalies of the case. Mr. Lewis was in fact implicated in other horrific crimes which he also denies.

James M. Lewis was released in 1995 after service 12 years. He maintained his innocence regarding the Tylenol murders until his death in 2023.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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