Convicted killer Charles Manson‘s namesake son, Charles Manson Jr., didn’t outlive his father and was tormented by his dad’s crimes. In Touch takes a look into how Charles Manson Jr. died, as well as his cause of death.

How Did Charles Manson Jr. Die?

Charles Manson Jr. shot himself on June 29, 1993, along a section of highway in eastern Colorado near the Kansas state line, CNN reported in 2012.

According to the outlet, he died from a “self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head” at “exit 438 on interstate 70,” although Charles Jr.’s death certificate didn’t indicate what might have caused him to take his own life.

“He couldn’t live down who his father was,” Charles Jr.’s son, Jason Freeman, told CNN in 2012. “He just couldn’t let it go.”

When Was Charles Manson Jr. Born?

Charles  Jr. was born on April 10, 1956, to waitress Rosalie Jean Willis and Charles Manson. The couple married in 1955, but Manson went to prison the following year due to a probation violation. He was behind bars at the time Rosalie gave birth to Charles Jr. Manson and Willis divorced in 1958, and she died in August 2009, outliving her son by 16 years.

Charles Manson Jr. Changed His Name Prior to the Manson Murders

Charles Jr. reportedly changed his name to Jay White prior to his dad’s involvement in the infamous 1969 Manson murders.

Manson was convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in 1971. He was the alleged mastermind behind the murder of actress Sharon Tate and four others at her rental home in the Hollywood Hills on August 9, 1969. The following day, several of Manson’s followers killed Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca, at their home in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz area.

While Manson wasn’t present at the murder scenes when the killings were committed, he received the death penalty for his involvement. He was sentenced to death in 1971, although it was commuted to life in prison when California abolished the death penalty the following year.

“I think there’s no question Manson is culpable for those murders, if not all of them. The murders would not have happened without him,” author James Buddy Day told Time magazine in July 2019. James did one of the last interviews with Manson prior to his November 2017 death and wrote the book, Hippie Cult Leader: The Last Words of Charles Manson, which was published in August 2019.

Charles Manson Jr.’s Son Jason Freeman Wanted to Stop Hiding From His Identity

“I’m personally, I’m coming out,” kickboxer and cage fighter Jason told CNN in 2012. Jason wanted to stop hiding his identity and understand where he came from.

Jason recalled realizing he was Charles Manson’s grandson from a young age. He really it him during an eight grade history class when the teacher ” … was talking about Charles Manson and I’m looking around like, are there people staring at me.”

Jason told the outlet he only knew his father via an occasional letter or gift, but that Charles Jr. purposely stayed out of his life so that his son wouldn’t go through the same pain he did of being a descendant of Charles Manson.

When Jason was asked what he’d like his father to know, he replied, “I want him to know … he missed out on a lot.”

“I see my kids, you know, and that’s kinda where I get shook up,” he stated through tears. “I would hate to see them grow up without a father. That’s important. Very important.”

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).