Al Springer - CharlesManson.com

Al Springer

[DECEASED] (October 16, 1943 – May 21, 2000)

Alan Springer was a member of the Straight Satan’s motorcycle club

Al Springer was born on October 16, 1943. He was a member of the Straight Satan’s outlaw motorcycle club and lived in Torrance California with his wife and kids. Springer did not meet Charles Manson until a few days after the Tate-Labianca murders when he visited the Spahn Ranch looking for his fellow Straight Satan member Danny Decarlo, whom he wanted to convince to leave the family. Both Al Springer and Danny DeCarlo gave evidence of the Family’s involvement with multiple murders attributed to the Family including information on the death of Gary Hinman and the supposed murder of Bernard “Lotsapoppa” Crowe. Both men also testified in front of a Los Angeles County Grand Jury which helped secure indictments.

On Wednesday, November 12, 1969 an officer from the Venice Police Department called Los Angeles homicide detectives and asked if they wanted to talk to an “Al Springer”, a known member of the Straight Satan’s motorcycle club and associate of the Manson family. During the interview Springer said Charles Manson told him personally on August 12, 1969, that the family was responsible for killing five people, whom Springer said Charlie identified as “pigs,” which was a description he often used for anyone in the establishment.

“Well, we knocked off five of them, just the other night”

Springer wound up giving detectives a tremendous amount of insight into the Family and their life at the ranch. He returned to police again on November 19, 1969 and gave additional information related to a “Blue Camaro” driven by someone trying to get Danny Decarlo into a Beer commercial. He also told police that “Charlie and Tex are the brains out there” on the ranch. Springer described co-conspirator Charles “Tex” Watson as “just like a college student.” He said Watson “kept his mouth shut” and enjoyed working on dune buggies. The interviews were conducted by Sergeant Manuel Gutierrez, Sergeant Mike McGann and Sergeant Frank Patchett.

According to court transcripts Springer testified that while he spent the night at the Spahn Ranch, Manson tried to recruit him to join the family. Manson explained how they got things:

“Well, we will go up to the door and knock on the door of their houses, and when they come to the door and open it up… we’ll just do them in or stick them… Everything behind the door is yours, then, … for the taking.” Manson said that he had “whacked a guy’s ear off… a Hinman.” Manson said that he took Hinman’s truck away from him. Manson said: “Well, we cut this guy’s ear off” and somebody asked “Who was that?” and Manson said “That was Hinman.”

In 1982, then 38-year-old Al Springer, was charged along with two other man with selling cocaine to federal undercover agents. The three men were all taken into custody by federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents at an airport motel in Milwaukee. He was living in Mancelona, Michigan at the time. Springer passed away at the age of 56 at Rideout Memorial Hospital on Sunday, May 21, 2000.

Interested in digging deeper? Listen to the audio interviews with Al Springer at Parker Center, Los Angeles in 1969.

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