19 Facts About Ronald Hughes

Ronald William Hughes was an American attorney who represented Leslie Van Houten, a member of the Manson Family.

Ronald Hughes's body was found in March 1971, but his cause of death could not be determined.

At least one Manson Family member has claimed that Ronald Hughes was murdered by the family in an act of retaliation.

Ronald Hughes was among the first lawyers to meet with Charles Manson in December 1969.

Ronald Hughes had failed the bar exam three times before passing and had never tried a case.

Ronald Hughes hoped to show that Van Houten was not acting independently, but was completely controlled in her actions by Manson.

Ronald Hughes later told a reporter that he was confident that he could secure an acquittal for Van Houten.

On November 27,1970, Ronald Hughes decided to take a camping trip in a remote area near Sespe Hot Springs in Ventura County, California.

Ronald Hughes appeared to be unharmed and was in an area that was away from flood waters.

Ronald Hughes's body was found wedged between two boulders in a gorge.

Ronald Hughes' funeral was held on April 7,1971 in West Los Angeles.

Ronald Hughes is buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Rudd believes that Ronald Hughes was stranded by the rainstorm which caused the creek to swell.

Ronald Hughes believes that Hughes drowned or was knocked unconscious and killed by rocks and debris as he was swept away by the water.

Musician and author Ed Sanders, who was a friend of Ronald Hughes, wrote about his death in his 1971 book The Family.

Ronald Hughes stated therein that his death was due to accidental drowning.

In 1976, Van Houten was granted a new trial on the grounds that she was denied proper legal representation after Ronald Hughes disappeared before the closing arguments.

Ronald Hughes was released from jail after posting $200,000 bond and retried in 1978.

Ronald Hughes was sentenced to seven years to life in prison.