On this day, Aug. 26, in 1969, Charles Manson cult members killed stuntman Donald "Shorty" Shea, whose body was not discovered for nearly a decade.

Shea, 35, was a bit actor, wrangler and the caretaker of the Hollywood movie ranch where Manson had his commune.

Manson believed Shea had reported the cult to police, who were investigating the gruesome killings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate, along with four others. He also didn't like Shea because the ranch hand had married a black woman.

Manson took Shea for a ride, and from the back seat, cult members struck him with a pipe and stabbed him to death.

Shea's body wasn't found until December 1977. From prison, one of the Manson followers drew a map to Shea's remains to prove to police that Shea hadn't been, as previously rumored, cut into nine pieces.

- Scott McCabe