'Charles Manson was LOVED': Devotee tries to crowdfund $15,000 in funeral expenses for the cult leader - and makes $949 before the campaign is pulled by GoFundMe

  • The campaign went up Wednesday put was pulled by GoFundMe on Thursday
  • The site said all money was refunded but declined to say why it did so
  • Manson, 83, died of natural causes on Monday. He'd been in prison for 46 years
  • Mason's grandson, Jason Freeman, 41, must claim Manson's body from prison or it will be cremated by the state
  • The mentally ill man ordered his cult to murder seven people in the late '60s

A devotee of Charles Manson tried to crowdfund the cult leader's funeral expenses - and made at least $949 before the campaign was pulled.

The page, titled 'Please Help my friend Jason,' appeared on GoFundMe on Wednesday and asked for $15,000 to alleviate the financial burden on Manson's grandson, Jason Freeman.

'Together we can help Jason bring his grandfather home & prove to the world Charles WAS LOVED & WILL BE CLAIMED!' the accompanying text read.

It was accompanied by what appeared to be a Photoshopped illustration drawing of Jesus kissing a ghostly Manson's head. 

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A fund opened on Wednesday to raise money to reclaim the body of cult leader Charles Manson from prison. He died Monday aged 83
The money was to go to Manson's grandson, Jason Freeman

A fund opened online to raise money to reclaim the body of cult leader Charles Manson (left) from prison. He died Monday aged 83. The money was to go to grandson Jason Freeman (right)

The fund (pictured) opened on Wednesday but was shut down and the money refunded on Thursday. GoFundMe confirmed that it closed the campaign but did not say why

The fund (pictured) opened on Wednesday but was shut down and the money refunded on Thursday. GoFundMe confirmed that it closed the campaign but did not say why

This image of Jesus kidding Manson was included in the campaign. The man who posted the fundraiser said it would show the world that 'FREE MAN SON=LOVE'

This image of Jesus kidding Manson was included in the campaign. The man who posted the fundraiser said it would show the world that 'FREE MAN SON=LOVE'

The text, written by John Jones of Everett, Massachusetts, says that Manson's grandson, Jason Lee Freeman, had just lost his job and was struggling with expenses.

It then called on Jason's 'friends, family loved ones and/or supporters' to help him 'do right by his grandfather' by contributing to transportation, legal and living costs.

It had previously been reported that Manson's body would have to be claimed by November 30 or it would be cremated and the cost removed from his assets.

The GoFundMe text slowly segued onto Manson himself, as it called on the readers to show that 'our love for him & his grandfather is forever'.

It promised that 'we're ready to be a part of this moment in history of freeing Charles from the same system that did everything in their power to destroy him'.

'We will not sit back and let them throw Mr Manson away like trash,' it said, 'His whole life he lived with the pain of feeling unclaimed. We must not let this happen in death.'

The blurb concluded: 'LET'S NOT STOP SHOWING THE WORLD... FREE MAN SON=LOVE!'

But the world was apparently less receptive to this message than hoped, and the account was deleted on Thursday. 

Nadia Gilani, a spokesperson for the site, said: 'We removed this content earlier today and refunded donors.' 

She declined to give the reason for the removal. Freeman and Jones have both been contacted for comment.

Freeman (pictured) recently lost his job as an oil rig laborer and was worried about the cost of burying his grandfather. He'd been unable to visit before Manson died

Freeman (pictured) recently lost his job as an oil rig laborer and was worried about the cost of burying his grandfather. He'd been unable to visit before Manson died

Freeman, 41, had linked to the site on his own Facebook page, and said that people had asked him if he needed help, and now he was 'coming to the Well!!'

'If for any reason I don't get my grandfathers gift at the end of the rainbow, I'll personally return your... love,' he added.

Manson died of natural causes aged 83 in a hospital after spending most of his life in California State Prison after his cult - dubbed the 'Manson Family' - murdered seven people in the late 1960s at his command.

Among the dead was actress Shannon Tate, who was then pregnant with the child of her husband, film director Roman Polanski.

On Tuesday, Freeman, Manson's grandson told The New York Post that the loss of his grandfather was 'rough'.

'It was hard because I didn't get to see my grandfather before he passed, and that's something I've been working really hard at during this last year.'

He said Manson was unsure about Freeman visiting the prison in case he became tainted by the Manson name.

The former oil-rig laborer said: 'There's no one else out there related to my grandpa, so it's all on my head,' he added.

Manson is seen here at his trial in 1970. He ordered his cult to murder seven people in the late 1960s, and was convicted of first-degree murder. 

Manson is seen here at his trial in 1970. He ordered his cult to murder seven people in the late 1960s, and was convicted of first-degree murder. 

Actress Sharon Tate (pictured) was among Manson's victims. She was pregnant with the child of her husband, film director Roman Polanski, at the time

Actress Sharon Tate (pictured) was among Manson's victims. She was pregnant with the child of her husband, film director Roman Polanski, at the time

Manson's only known child, Charles Manson Jr, is Freeman's father. Manson Jr changed his name to Jay White to disassociate himself from his father but killed himself in 1993 in Burlington, Colorado.

While it is unknown why he killed himself, his son told CNN in 2012 that Manson Jr 'just couldn't let it go,' adding: 'He couldn't live down who his father was.'

Freeman said he grew up with little knowledge of Manson's crimes, and it was only at school that he realized their severity. However, he said, he hoped to connect with his relative despite the atrocities he'd committed. 

'Anybody with a kind heart and a gentle soul would want to see their parents or grandparents at their worst states in life, I just want to visit my grandfather while he's in the hospital before it's too late,' Freeman said before Manson died.

'I love people even if they do me wrong or if they've done things wrong in their lives, I believe in forgiveness.'

The fundraiser hoped to reach $15,000 but was pulled after making just $949

The fundraiser hoped to reach $15,000 but was pulled after making just $949

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