Unveiling Candy Stevens: The Woman Connected To A Notorious Past

17 Jul, 2025

There are some names that echo through history, often tied to moments of great darkness or infamy. One such name, or rather, a nickname, that draws curiosity is Candy Stevens. She was, in a way, a quiet figure caught in the early orbit of one of the 20th century's most notorious criminals, Charles Manson. Her story, while not widely known, offers a glimpse into the life of a woman whose path crossed with a man who would later become synonymous with fear and cult leadership. People, it seems, are still quite curious about her journey.

For many years, the focus remained almost entirely on Charles Manson himself, his crimes, and the chilling saga of his followers. Yet, it's almost as if some people are starting to look beyond the immediate horror, seeking to understand the lives touched by his early days. Candy Stevens is one of those individuals, a person whose existence was, in some respects, defined by her connection to him, even before his most infamous acts.

Her real identity, Leona Rae Stevens, or Leona Rae Musser, and her brief marriage to Manson, reveal a side of his life that is not often discussed. It's a story that, arguably, helps to fill in some gaps about the early stages of a man who would later orchestrate unspeakable acts. This article looks into what we know about Candy Stevens, drawing from available information to paint a picture of her life.

Who Was Candy Stevens? A Biography
Personal Details and Bio Data
The Early Connection to Charles Manson
Life After Manson and the Son
People Also Ask About Candy Stevens

Who Was Candy Stevens? A Biography

Candy Stevens, whose real name was Leona Rae Stevens, or Leona Rae Musser, holds a place in history due to her marriage to Charles Manson. She was, in a way, thrust into the spotlight, or at least into historical records, because of this connection. Before she met Manson, she worked as a sex worker. This aspect of her life, it seems, was something that later played a part in Manson's own early criminal activities. She received little public attention until she became his wife.

Her real name was Leona Rae Musser, according to reports like those from the Las Cruces Bulletin. She was born around 1940, making her quite young when her path crossed with Manson's. This young woman, known by her street name, Candy, married Manson in 1959. This was a year after his previous marriage, and it was a union that would, in a way, link her to one of the 20th century's most notorious figures.

The marriage happened in California, following Manson's release from a facility in San Pedro. It's interesting to consider how little is known about the specifics of their time together, especially given the future notoriety of her husband. She was, in some respects, the beauty who was in love with and married the man who would become known as a murderous beast. This dynamic, a bit like the popular movie title "Beauty and the Beast," perfectly describes their early relationship, at least from a certain angle.

Candy Stevens, born Leona Rae Stevens, was Charles Manson's second wife. She was also the mother of his second child, a son named Charles Luther Manson. Her involvement in his early criminal history is a notable part of her story. Manson, it is said, got women to prostitute, and this included his own girlfriend, Leona Rae "Candy" Stevens, also known as Leona Rae Musser. He, in turn, reaped the rewards from these activities. This part of their story highlights a darker side of their relationship, even before the later, more horrifying events unfolded.

Her role in Manson's life, especially before he became infamous for orchestrating the brutal murders of Sharon Tate and others, was, in a way, significant. She was, arguably, a key figure in his early adult life, during a period when he was still finding his way, albeit often through illegal means. Her connection to him from 1959 to 1963, when they were married, places her squarely in the formative years of his public persona.

It is also worth noting that she was featured in the 2013 book "Manson, The..." which suggests a continued interest in her story and her place within the broader narrative of Charles Manson's life. Even today, people search for details about her, wondering about the woman behind the nickname and her experiences with such a controversial figure.

Personal Details and Bio Data

Detail	Information
Real Name	Leona Rae Stevens (also Leona Rae Musser)
Nickname	Candy Stevens
Known For	Second wife of Charles Manson, mother of Charles Luther Manson
Birth Year	Around 1940
Marriage to Charles Manson	1959
Divorce from Charles Manson	Early 1960s (around 1963)
Child with Charles Manson	Charles Luther Manson (born September 24, 1960)
Occupation (Pre-Manson)	Sex worker (prostitute)
Role in Manson's Early Life	Involved in his early criminal activities, including prostitution
Public Attention	Received little attention until marriage to Manson

The Early Connection to Charles Manson

Leona Rae "Candy" Stevens played a key role in the life of the infamous cult leader Charles Manson, particularly during his formative years. Their relationship began, in a way, after Manson had already encountered trouble with the law. Manson married Leona Stevens in 1959, according to court records. This marriage followed his release from a facility in San Pedro, California. It was, arguably, a pivotal moment in both their lives, connecting them in a way that would be documented for history.

Before Manson became notorious for orchestrating the brutal murders of Sharon Tate and others, his life was, in some respects, already marked by criminal behavior. As revealed in Vincent Bugliosi's "Helter Skelter," Manson began to actively procure women for illegal sex work following his release from his first prison term. Among his roster of illegal sex workers was a young woman named Leona Rae "Candy" Stevens, also known as Leona Rae Musser. This detail paints a picture of their relationship's foundation, showing a dynamic that was, in a way, exploitative from the start.

Manson found himself in trouble with the law again on May 1, 1959, which was around the time of their marriage. This suggests a pattern of behavior that was already established for Manson, and Candy Stevens was, in some respects, drawn into this world. Her background as a sex worker meant she was already familiar with aspects of this life, and Manson, it seems, capitalized on that.

She was, too, involved in court proceedings related to Manson's legal troubles. Initially, Musser, which was her maiden name, lied in a court proceeding when Manson was sentenced. This act, in a way, demonstrates her loyalty or perhaps her fear, during that period of their lives. It's a small but significant detail that highlights the entanglement of their lives within the legal system.

Their marriage lasted for a few years, from 1959 to 1963, when they separated. This period was, in some respects, a turbulent one, marked by Manson's ongoing brushes with the law and his evolving criminal activities. Candy Stevens was, in a way, a witness to these early developments, a part of his life before the world knew him as the infamous cult leader. Her story is, quite simply, a piece of the larger puzzle of Charles Manson's early years.

Life After Manson and the Son

One of the most significant aspects of Candy Stevens's life with Charles Manson was the birth of their son. Although she was not actually pregnant when she spoke at Manson's trial, Candy Stevens gave birth to a son on September 24, 1960. She named the boy Charles Luther Manson. This child, in a way, is a lasting legacy of their brief but impactful marriage. The birth of their son occurred during a period when Manson was still, in some respects, navigating his early criminal life, before he became the notorious figure he is remembered as today.

The son, Charles Luther Manson, carries the name of his infamous father, which must have been a heavy burden. Details about his life are scarce, but his existence is a concrete link between Candy Stevens and Charles Manson. His birth, as reported by Lansing (via Medium), provides a specific timeline within their story, marking a moment of creation amidst the chaos of Manson's early life.

After their divorce, which happened in the early 1960s, specifically around 1963, not much is known about Candy Stevens. It seems that once they separated, she faded from the public eye, seeking a life away from the notoriety that would soon engulf her former husband. This lack of information about her later life is, in a way, a testament to her desire for privacy, or perhaps, the sheer difficulty of living a normal life after such a connection.

The text mentions that "true love eluded Manson" once again, referring to his separation from Candy Stevens. This suggests that their relationship, while brief and complicated by his criminal activities, was, in some respects, a significant one for him at the time. For Candy Stevens, however, the separation marked the end of her documented connection to the man who would become a household name for all the wrong reasons.

Her story, in a way, becomes one of quiet disappearance after the divorce. While there are mentions of other individuals named Candy Stevens in different contexts—like a professor named Candy Stevens Smith or a woman named Candy Montgomery—these are, quite simply, different people. The Candy Stevens connected to Charles Manson, Leona Rae Stevens, seems to have sought anonymity after her tumultuous marriage. Her life after the early 1960s is, in some respects, a mystery, leaving many to wonder what became of her. It's almost as if she vanished into the everyday world.

To learn more about the broader impact of Charles Manson's early life on our site, and to link to this page for more detailed biographical accounts of individuals connected to historical figures, you can explore our other articles.

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