Susan Atkins was once living.
Susan Denise Atkins ( May 7 , 1948 September 24 , 2009 ) was a convicted American murderer who was a member of Charles Manson 's `` Family '' . Known within the Manson family as Sadie Mae Glutz or Sexy Sadie , Atkins was convicted for her participation in eight of these killings , including the most notorious , the `` Tate/LaBianca '' murders . She was sentenced to death , which was subsequently commuted to life in prison .