Curt Gentry who co-authored the blockbuster back in '74 died in San Francisco last July 10 at age 83. The blockbuster "Helter Skelter" which was about the true story behind the Manson Murders was one of his well-known works.

There has been no given reason for his death yet but his brother told the media that he was in hospice care when it happened.

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Gentry was best known for his books about the history of Califronia and its culture. In order to complete the "Helter Skelter" book, he teamed up with Vincent Bugliosi, a deputy district attorney who prosecuted the Manson case.

The Manson case was one of the most gruesome and most sensational murder cases of all time. To those who do not know, it was a case about Manson being accused of murdering seven people. These seven people include actress Sharon Tate. This happened in Los Angeles in less than 48 hours.

The book's title Helter Skelter was from the words written in one of the crime scenes. Blood was used to write these words. Mr. Manson is still in prison and is 79 years old.

Gentry won an Edgar Award in 1975. His book was said to be the best fact crime book. He also authored the great biography of J. Edgar Hoover. He published this in 1991. Hoover was the man who led the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The book totaled to 850 pages and a 15-year time frame for making this book possible. Hoover served the public for 48 years.

Gentry spoke with two of the biggest people in politics: Gerald R. Ford and Ronald Reagan. Both shed information about Hoover making the book more interesting.

Aside from his two well-known books, he was also a reporter for newspapers during his younger years. He always had an eye for anything extraordinary. He was serving in the Air Force when the Korean War broke out.

He also authored "The Madams of San Francisco: An Irreverent History of the City by the Golden Gate". He used prostitution as an angle in order to understand the city's social and cultural statuses way back from 1840s.

Other books of Gentry are "Frame- up (1967)" and "The Last Days of the Late, Great State of California."

TagsCurt Gentry, Dies, 83, Helter Skelter, San Francisco