Susan Atkins was once living.
Susan Atkins . 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 . Atkins was incarcerated from October 1 , 1969 , until her death -- a period exactly one week short of 40 years . At the time of her death , Atkins was California 's longest-serving female inmate .