Christian parents of Charles Manson's fiancée wanted her to 'be a preacher's wife'

Charles Manson and Afton Elaine Burton. MansonDirect.com

Murder conspirator Charles Manson was issued a marriage license on November 7 to wed Afton Elaine Burton, the daughter of devout Christians.

Burton, 26, said that she was raised in an extremely religious household near St Louis, and that her parents expected her to marry a preacher.

"I was smoking marijuana, eating mushrooms, not wanting to go to church every Sunday, not wanting to marry a preacher," she told Rolling Stone last year. "They are Christian Baptist and wanted me to be a preacher's wife."

The rebellious teen was locked in her room to try to keep her from negative influences, but was introduced to Charles Manson and his ATWA (Air, Trees, Water, and Animals) philosophy at the age of 16.

She began writing to Manson at Corcoran State Prison, and moved to California to be near him when she was 19. They have 90 days to wed, or will have to reapply for a marriage license.

Manson is serving a life sentence for ordering the 1969 murders of Jay Sebring, Voytek Frykowski, Abigail Folger, Steven Parent, Sharon Tate, who was eight-and-a-half-months pregnant at the time, and Jay and Rosemary LaBianca.

The 80-year-old has been denied parole 16 times, and must wait 12 years before being eligible for parole again.

Burton told the Associated Press that she believes her fiancé is not guilty, and plans to prove his innocence after they are married. She currently runs several websites and social media accounts purporting Manson's innocence.

The couple is allowed to greet one another with a kiss at the beginning and end of each prison visit, and Burton said she visits every Saturday and Sunday. Conjugal visits are not allowed in California for prisoners serving life sentences.

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