Actress Sharon Tate's murderer SUSAN ATKINS has died from brain cancer in a California prison, just weeks after she was rejected parole.
Atkins, a member of Charles Manson's notorious cult, died at the age of 61 at Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, while serving a life sentence for eight counts of murder.
The former topless dancer confessed in court to killing eight-and-a-half months pregnant Tate and the unborn child she was expecting with director Roman Polanski, after breaking into their Beverly Hills home with other members of the Manson 'family' in August 1969.
Four of the actress' friends, who were visiting her at the time, were also murdered.
Atkins, who admitted taunting Tate before killing her, appealed for compassionate release earlier this year, after discovering she was dying, but parole board officials voted against her release in hearing on 2 September (09).
Manson is serving a life sentence for his role in the murders.