Valentine Michael Manson: Early Life, Family, a Childhood Away from the Manson Legacy, and Reflections as an Adult

Valentino Michael Manson, also known as Michael Brunner, is the son of Charles Manson, the cult leader behind the Tate-LaBianca murders of 1969, and Mary Brunner, one of Manson’s early followers. Growing up under his father notoriety, Valentine has struggled to define himself outside the “Manson Family legacy.” Despite the complexities surrounding his background. Valentine has sought a quiet, stable life away from his father’s infamous past.

Early Life and Family Context

Born on April 15, 1968, Valentine was named after the character Valentine Michael Smith from the novel “Stranger in a Strange Land” by Robert A. Heinlein. At the time of his birth, Mary Brunner was one of Manson’s closest followers. Valentine was raised in a communal environment, spending his first months on the Spahn Ranch, where Charles Manson and his followers lived. But as Manson grew in power over his followers and his activities became more criminal, Brunner removed her son from the dangerous environment.

In 1969, a year after Valentine’s birth, the Tate-LaBianca murders occured, propelling Manson and his followers into national headlines. For the fear of her son’s well-being, Brunner put Valentine into care with her parents in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. From that point, he was raised by his maternal grandparents in a much more stable environment, away from his father’s violent legacy.

A Childhood Away from the Manson Legacy

Valentine grew up in Wisconsin as Michael Brunner, taking on his maternal grandparents’ surname. His grandparents wanted a normal childhood without the shadow of his father’s name hanging over him. They limited his knowledge of Charles Manson, protecting him from the negative associations and intense media attention that could impact his life.

Although Valentine was mostly kept in the dark about his father’s identity, he started to become aware of it later in life. In interviews as an adult, he described mixed feelings about his parentage. He had a natural curiosity but also felt the weight of his father’s infamy and the challenges it brought.

Adult Reflections on a Complex Legacy

In recent years, Michael Brunner has spoken out about growing up as Charles Manson’s son. Unlike some of Manson’s alleged children, Valentine (Michael) has spoken out about his struggle to reconcile his identity with his father’s history. He has expressed empathy for the victims of his father’s crimes and condemned the violent actions while trying to distance himself from Manson’s actions. He believes though that while he is genetically related to Charles Manson, his upbringing and love from his grandparents made him a different person.

Brunner has said he only has a biological connection to Charles Manson, asserting that he has little in common with his father in terms of values or actions. He has consistently emphasized that he had a good upbringing and never allowed his father’s crimes to define who he is.