Disappearance
On November 30, 1970, Hughes failed to return from a trip taken during a recess the judge ordered prior to final arguments. Hughes decided to take a camping trip in a remote area near Sespe Hot Springs, California. According to James Forsher and Lauren Elder, two friends who accompanied Hughes on the trip, heavy rains mired their Volkswagen in mud. Hughes' friends hitchhiked their way out, while Hughes decided to stay. As the rains continued, the wilderness area was evacuated. Campers had last seen Hughes walking in the rugged terrain. His Volkswagen was later found with trial transcripts in it, but there was no sign of Hughes.
Despite the disappearance, Judge Charles Older ordered the trial to proceed and appointed a new attorney, Maxwell Keith, for Van Houten. The women angrily demanded the firing of all their lawyers, and asked to reopen the defense. Judge Older denied the request. By week's end, Hughes had been missing for two weeks. When the court reconvened, Manson and the women created a disturbance suggesting that Judge Older "did away with Ronald Hughes," which resulted in their being removed again from the courtroom.
Read more about this topic: Ronald Hughes