Episode 95: Leno & Rosemary LaBianca — The Other Side of the Manson Murders

In August of 1969, the world became consumed by the shocking murders of actress Sharon Tate and her friends at Cielo Drive. But what many people forget is that the terror did not end there.

Just one night later, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were brutally murdered inside their Los Angeles home by members of the Manson Family. While the media focused heavily on the Hollywood victims, the story of the LaBiancas was often pushed into the background.

In this episode, we tell the heartbreaking and often overlooked story of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca — who they were before the murders, the lives they built, their Italian American roots, and the horrifying events that unfolded inside their Waverly Drive home.

We explore Leno’s family history, his father’s successful grocery business, Rosemary’s rise from a difficult childhood to becoming a successful businesswoman, and the strange events that seemed to haunt the couple in the months leading up to their deaths.

This is the story of the “other side” of the Manson murders — the side many people rarely hear about.

Italian American Stories is hosted by Stephanie and Sandy and brings forgotten Italian American stories back to life through old newspapers, historical research, and storytelling.