Creepy last picture of cult serial killer Charles Manson's open casket service before he was cremated
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This is the final image of cult murderer Charles Manson before he was cremated.
The serial killer was finally laid to rest, four months after he died aged 83 in prison in Kern County, California.
His body had been sitting on ice in a morgue as a judge decided who should be allowed to claim it.
In the end, it was Manson's grandson Jason Freeman who won the rights to the body and he attended the service with around 30 others.
An image obtained from the day shows Manson heavily covered in make-up to conceal decomposition.
Two verses from the Bible were read including: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13) and "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" (Philipians 4:13).
Manson was then cremated and his ashes scattered in a nearby stream.
(Image: Getty)
Pastor Mark Pitcher, of Porterville Church of the Nazarene, performed the service and told TMZ he had felt uncomfortable about taking part.
But Pitcher said he made an exception because Mr Freeman said he was a "follower of Christ".
While the battle over Manson's body was resolved, another for the future of his $250,000 estate has just begun.
Pen pal Matthew Roberts claims he was left everything in a will dated February 14, 2002.
Manson is believed to have made a fortune while in prison through merchandising rights to his image which has since been used on T-shirts and selling art he created.
The will, published by celebrity website TMZ, also leaves his "exclusive music catalogue" to Mr Roberts.
It is believed Manson received 10 cents for every shirt sold featuring his image and the words 'Charlie Don't Surf' which were made famous in the film Apocalypse Now.
(Image: Getty Images North America)
His artworks have been sold online and he even wrote a number of songs, including one recorded by the Beach Boys but never released.
He released an album in 1970 and the surviving members of his family cult who remained free issued two CDs of his works.
He is said to have recorded an acoustic album in 2010, in part produced by Harry Rollins, and while only five were pressed be is believed to have retained three of them.
(Image: AFP)
The will also expressly disinherited his known children, ex-wives, in-laws, friends, fellow-inmates, lawyers, police, prison guards and the State of California, it is claimed.
Ben Gurecki, a friend of Manson's, claimed that Mr Roberts was not only the beneficiary, but also Manson's long lost son -but this has never been proved.
Manson's pen-pal Roberts, told TMZ he first wrote to Manson out of curiosity and after 50 unanswered letters he replied in 1997.
He said they progressed to phone calls and visits, and that he met Manson for the first time in 2002, and saw him for the last time on October 21, less than a month before his death.
(Image: ABC)
TMZ said the typed will contains handwriting, which they compared with known writing and it appears to match.
One note on it says: “I'm not in the best spot to rest in peace.”
The will was witnessed by a fellow inmate.
(Image: mirrorpix)
Manson and three of his followers were convicted of murdering actress Sharon Tate and six other people in a bloody two-night rampage in Los Angeles in August 1969.
Tate, who was married to director Roman Polanski, was eight months pregnant.
Manson and his followers were sentenced to death but that was changed to life in prison when the California Supreme Court ruled the death penalty was unconstitutional in 1972.
He was turned down for parole 12 times.