“I was dead until I took LSD.”
Dean Moorehouse, a former Methodist minister, introduced his teenage daughter, Ruth Ann Moorehouse, to Charles Manson—an encounter that ultimately pulled both of them into Manson’s orbit. Dean met Manson in 1967, when Manson was still building the group that would soon be known as the Manson Family.
Moorehouse developed a close relationship with Charles “Tex” Watson, later infamous for the Tate–LaBianca murders. The two even traveled together on a road trip. Dean briefly lived with the Family at Spahn Ranch until Manson eventually told him to move on.
Early Life
Dean Allen Moorehouse—later called “Baba” within the group—was born on February 13, 1920, in Minnesota. Legal documents list him mostly as “Dean,” but occasionally as “Deane.” He was the third of five children, born to Lee and Lulu Moorehouse. His relationship with his parents was strained, and he left home young. While he remained in contact with his family for a time, he later cut ties entirely.
Education
Dean graduated from Central High School in Minneapolis and earned a degree from Minot State College in North Dakota, majoring in history with a minor in speech and education. He continued his religious studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Grand Forks for two years and completed additional coursework at Hamline University. Raised Catholic, he eventually converted to Protestantism.
Marriage and Children
In 1939, Dean married Audrey Lucille Sirpless. They had four children: Kathleen Adair, Deane Thomas, Sharon Lee, and Ruth Ann. After the couple divorced in 1967, the two oldest children distanced themselves, and Dean kept contact only with his youngest daughters, Sharon and Ruth.
Meeting Charles Manson
The commonly repeated story—drawn from Manson in His Own Words—claims Dean met Manson by picking him up while hitchhiking. But the book was written by Nuel Emmons, not Manson, and its accuracy has long been questioned.
Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme clarified the story decades later in her memoir Reflexion (2018). According to her, it was not Dean but his best friend Don (“the Fat Man”) who picked up Manson. Don then introduced Manson to Dean.
Meeting Manson (What Actually Happened)
By 1967, after more than twenty years as a minister, Dean was questioning his faith and exploring countercultural ideas. He had recently moved his family from San Jose to a cabin in the woods near Leggett. Dean invited Manson, Mary Brunner, and Lynette Fromme to the cabin. There they met Audrey, 15-year-old Ruth, and the family’s two dachshunds. Dean and Don were experimenting with LSD, and Manson supplied it.
LSD profoundly affected Dean. During his testimony in Tex Watson’s trial, he said, “I was dead until I took LSD.” At one point—possibly while under the influence—Dean declared he believed Manson was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
(And the oft-repeated story about Manson trading Dean’s piano for a Volkswagen bus? Fromme clarified that the piano actually belonged to Don.)
The Leggett Incident (1967)
In July 1967, the Moorehouses were living in a cabin in Leggett. On the night of July 26, Dean and Audrey had a heated argument. The next morning, both left separately for San Jose—leaving 15-year-old Ruth alone with Manson, Lynette Fromme, and Mary Brunner.
Audrey contacted police, reporting that her underage daughter was alone with an ex-convict. Deputies located Ruth and Manson at the cabin. When they attempted to take Ruth home, Manson told them they would have to use force, leading to his arrest for interfering with police and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Dean later filed a statement saying he had intentionally left Ruth in the care of “friends” and believed the order to remove her was invalid.
Sheriff’s Crime Report: Part 1 | Part 2
Deputies End Leggett Tryst
Newspaper Article
Monday, July 31, 1967 — Charles Willis Manson, 33, Santa Barbara, was booked at county jail Friday by authorities on a charge of delaying peace officers in carrying out their duties, and for contributing to the delinquency of a 15-year-old girl.
Sheriff’s deputies report that they had received a teletype from the mother of the girl in San Jose notifying them that her daughter was staying in Leggett with Manson unchaperoned by either parent and asking that the girl be returned to her.
They report that when they went to investigate and pick up the girl Manson told them that they would only do it by force. They called for several other deputies to stand by but the girl was picked up and Manson arrested without further incident.
Dean Moorhouse Police Statement
Statement of Mr. Dean A. Moorehouse, age 47, living at Adanac, Leggett and residence 4999 Paseo Olivos, San Jose, Calif.
My wife Audrey, my daughter Ruth, 15, and I moved into this cabin in Leggett one week ago. My wife got angry with me Wednesday night, July 26th and on July 27th she left and went to San Jose, Calif.
On July 27th about 9 AM I left my daughter with adults, Charlie, Chris, Mary and Lynn at my home. I left for San Jose on business & intended to return Fri. night or Sat. AM. I got back home this AM about 11:00 AM and found that my daughter had been taken to Juvenile Hall & my friend Charlie, was arrested.
The above people are friends of mine and I left my daughter in their care, temporarily. In my opinion, the order from the San Jose Police Dept., was invalid as no proceedings for divorce or separation, have been filed by either party.
Dean A. Moorehouse
Dean and His Daughter Join Manson
Manson wanted Ruth to join him but knew her age made it risky. He told her she could travel with him only if she legally emancipated herself. On May 20, 1968, at age 15, Ruth married 23-year-old bus driver Edward Heuvelhorst (see marriage record).
The next day, she left her new husband, went to Dennis Wilson’s Sunset Boulevard home where Manson was staying, and never returned.
Dean soon followed. He began living in Wilson’s guesthouse from June to September 1968, doing yard work and odd jobs in exchange for his stay. During this period, Audrey divorced Dean and remarried.
Meeting Tex Watson
Tex Watson first encountered the Manson circle after giving Dennis Wilson a ride home. Inside the kitchen, Tex met Dean, who was sitting with several of the Family’s young girls. Dean enthusiastically told Tex how LSD and Manson had transformed his life, even calling Manson the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Dean and Dennis Wilson introduced Tex to Manson, drawing him into the group.
Arrest for LSD Dealing
On March 21, 1968, Dean was arrested in Redwood Valley during a drug raid and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Later that month, two individuals identified him as a drug dealer, leading to a second arrest.
Road Trip with Tex Watson
Despite their age difference, Dean and Tex formed a close bond. In August 1968, Dean was required to return to Mendocino County for his LSD case, and Tex accompanied him. They traveled in Terry Melcher’s black Jaguar XKE, which Dean had borrowed.
At Melcher’s home at 10050 Cielo Drive, they picked up Melcher’s credit card. It was Tex Watson’s first time inside the house—where he would commit murder one year later. Dean, Tex, and Melcher smoked marijuana in the living room before heading north. Dean “preached the whole way,” according to Tex.
The trial resulted in a hung jury, and a second trial was scheduled. Dean and Tex stayed in Mendocino for several weeks, taking LSD and traveling through San Francisco before returning south. They eventually encountered Manson on a motorcycle heading toward Dennis Wilson’s new Malibu home.
Dean’s relationship with Wilson had soured—possibly involving an incident with one of the girls—so Dean and Tex moved on to Spahn Ranch. Manson gave them a tent near the creek bed. Dean stayed only a few weeks before Manson asked him to leave; he didn’t want older people living at the ranch long-term.
Six-Month Sentence
Dean’s second trial began on December 17, 1968. This time, he was convicted of selling LSD. On January 2, 1969, he was sentenced to six months in state prison. He was transferred between several institutions, including Folsom and San Quentin, and was paroled on March 23, 1971.
Second Marriage
After his release, Dean married Marilyn Nicokiris—roughly the same age Ruth had been when she entered the Family. Dean reportedly tried to reconnect with Manson Family members, but none reciprocated.
Lewd and Lascivious Acts
Dean was accused repeatedly of sexually inappropriate behavior toward minors. In 1991, he was convicted of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and sentenced to eight years in prison. He served 52 months and was released on September 2, 1995. Within two years he violated parole and was returned to prison in May 1997. He was released again in May 1998 and remained under supervision for a year.
Later Life and Death
Dean Moorehouse died on May 22, 2010, in Shasta Lake, California.
Ruth Ann Moorehouse left a brief message—“Miss you, Mom”—on her mother Audrey’s online obituary. She posted no such message on her father’s.