Sharon Tate’s Final Day

before being murdered by the Manson Family

Friday, August 8th was a busy day at 10050 Cielo Drive. It was the day before Sharon’s scheduled baby shower and the expectant mom was in nesting mode, despite the 90° temperatures. Her housekeeper Winifred Chapman arrived at 8:00am. Ms. Chapman had worked for Sharon and Roman since spring of ’68, when the Polanski’s rented Patty Duke’s Beverly Crest house. Winifred lived in the city and took public transportation to and from work, so she often stayed overnight at Cielo for convenience. She and Sharon enjoyed an easy, relaxed relationship and that day, Sharon asked Winifred if she would prefer to stay over. It was so terribly hot and Sharon knew that Ms. Chapman didn’t have air conditioning at her home. But Winifred declined, to her eternal gratitude.

At 8:30am a handyman arrived to paint the nursery. He stayed several hours, leaving a window open to air out the fumes. The screen was in place.

At 11:00am Roman phoned Sharon.

“She wanted to know if I wanted a birthday party {his 36th birthday was approaching}. I said, yes, let’s hold one. She said a little kitten had come in from the hills and she was trying to feed it with an eye dropper.” — Roman Polanski quoted in “Actress Had No Premonitions in Last Phone Call from Husband” ©August 1969 UPI (United Press International)

At 12:00 noon, gardeners Tom and Dave (brothers) arrived. They mowed the lawn and groomed the hedges. Sharon planned to host her shower outside if…