Leslie Van Houten, Monrovia High School 1967 yearbook. By Vicky Hansen
MHM Board Member
Can you guess which former Monrovia High School student our Museum visitors ask to find most often at our yearbook station?
With decades of Monrovia school memories at their fingertips, visitors search for old classmates, teachers, friends and familiar faces. But there is one former student whose photograph seems to be requested more than anyone else's. And by the story behind the familiar face found in the pages of a Monrovia High School yearbook.
Before the Headlines: Leslie Van Houten at Monrovia High
MHM Board Member
Can you guess which former Monrovia High School student our Museum visitors ask to find most often at our yearbook station?
With decades of Monrovia school memories at their fingertips, visitors search for old classmates, teachers, friends and familiar faces. But there is one former student whose photograph seems to be requested more than anyone else's. And by the story behind the familiar face found in the pages of a Monrovia High School yearbook.
Before the Headlines: Leslie Van Houten at Monrovia High
1966, in her junior year at Monrovia High School; yearbook archives. Today, the name Leslie Van Houten is inseparably connected with one of the darkest chapters of the 1960s. But before her name appeared in newspapers across the country, she was a teenager growing up here in our hometown and attending Monrovia High School. Her story is, unquestionably, a sad and troubling part of Monrovia's past. But preserving our history means remembering the difficult stories as well as those we are proud to celebrate.
Born in 1949, Van Houten spent much of her youth here in Monrovia. She grew up in a middle-class, churchgoing family, sang in her church choir and participated in youth activities, including Camp Fire Girls and Job's Daughters.
At Monrovia High, she was active in student life. Our 1964 yearbook pictures her as a freshman Homecoming Princess, and she later participated in student government. Looking through those yearbooks today, her school years appear much like those of many other Monrovia teenagers of the era.
Her teenage years, however, became increasingly troubled. Her parents divorced when she was 14, and during the years that followed she began experimenting with drugs and moving away from many of the activities that had previously been part of her life. After high school, she attended Sawyer College and earned a legal secretary certificate.
Born in 1949, Van Houten spent much of her youth here in Monrovia. She grew up in a middle-class, churchgoing family, sang in her church choir and participated in youth activities, including Camp Fire Girls and Job's Daughters.
At Monrovia High, she was active in student life. Our 1964 yearbook pictures her as a freshman Homecoming Princess, and she later participated in student government. Looking through those yearbooks today, her school years appear much like those of many other Monrovia teenagers of the era.
Her teenage years, however, became increasingly troubled. Her parents divorced when she was 14, and during the years that followed she began experimenting with drugs and moving away from many of the activities that had previously been part of her life. After high school, she attended Sawyer College and earned a legal secretary certificate.
Leslie Van Houten (center) in 1969, Associated Press Photo, in connection with the Tate-LaBianca case. By the late 1960s, her life had taken a dramatically different direction. She became associated with Charles Manson and the group of followers commonly known as the “Manson Family.” Van Houten was not involved in the August 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others. The following night, however, at age 19, she participated in the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. She was convicted of murder and spent more than five decades in prison before being released on parole in July 2023. Since then, she has largely remained out of the public eye.
Leslie Van Houten during a parole hearing at the California Institution for Women, June 28, 2002, Associated Press photographer, Damian Dovarganes. Perhaps the contrast between those notorious events and the seemingly ordinary Monrovia teenager pictured in our yearbooks explains the continuing fascination. In fact, Leslie Van Houten remains one of the people visitors most frequently ask to find at our Yearbook Station.
Leslie Van Houten may be one of the names visitors most often ask about at our Yearbook Station, but she is certainly not the only Monrovia High School student who became known well beyond our hometown. Over the generations, Wildcats have distinguished themselves in academics, entertainment, civil rights and professional sports.
From Wildcats to Notable Monrovians: Where Did They Go From Here?
Click the names to read more.
Johnny Lindell — A standout athlete during his Monrovia school years, Lindell went on to a lengthy Major League Baseball career and is best remembered for playing with the New York Yankees; he died in 1985.
Keith Lincoln, Class of 1957 — Lincoln became an AFL football star with the San Diego Chargers, helping the team win the 1963 AFL Championship; he died in 2019.
Thomas J. Sargent, Class of 1961 — Sargent became one of the world's leading economists and was awarded the 2011 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.
Kiyoshi Kuromiya, Class of 1961 — Known as “Steve” to his Monrovia High classmates, Kuromiya became a nationally recognized civil-rights, antiwar and LGBTQ-rights activist and pioneering HIV/AIDS advocate; he died in 2000 and was honored here in Monrovia with a Neighborhood Treasure monument in 2026.
George Trapp, Class of 1967 — After helping Monrovia High win a CIF basketball championship, Trapp became the fifth overall selection in the 1971 NBA Draft and played professionally for the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons; he died in 2002.
Ron Husband, Class of 1968 — Besides being a stellar athlete in both track and football, he was then and still is an accomplished artist. He has the distinction of being the first black animator for Disney. His legacy can be seen on Disney+ in the excellent documentary, HUZ.
Donna Adamek, Class of 1975 — Adamek became one of the outstanding professional women bowlers of her era, winning 19 professional titles and earning induction into both the PWBA and USBC Halls of Fame.
Ian Hunter, Class of 1983 — Hunter went on to an acclaimed career in Hollywood visual effects, becoming a co-founder of New Deal Studios and a two-time Academy Award winner whose credits include The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar and First Man.
Corie Blount — The former Wildcat was selected in the first round of the 1993 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and went on to an 11-season NBA career.
Kate Wiesner — The Monrovia High soccer standout continued her career at Penn State before being selected seventh overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft and moving into professional women's soccer.
And these are surely not the only Wildcats whose journeys took them from Monrovia High to interesting and noteworthy places. Did we miss someone? If you know of another Monrovia High graduate who went on to make a name in the arts, sciences, business, public service, sports, entertainment—or somewhere completely unexpected—we'd love to hear about them. Let us know, and perhaps we'll find them in the pages of our yearbooks, too.
Leslie Van Houten may be one of the names visitors most often ask about at our Yearbook Station, but she is certainly not the only Monrovia High School student who became known well beyond our hometown. Over the generations, Wildcats have distinguished themselves in academics, entertainment, civil rights and professional sports.
From Wildcats to Notable Monrovians: Where Did They Go From Here?
Click the names to read more.
Johnny Lindell — A standout athlete during his Monrovia school years, Lindell went on to a lengthy Major League Baseball career and is best remembered for playing with the New York Yankees; he died in 1985.
Keith Lincoln, Class of 1957 — Lincoln became an AFL football star with the San Diego Chargers, helping the team win the 1963 AFL Championship; he died in 2019.
Thomas J. Sargent, Class of 1961 — Sargent became one of the world's leading economists and was awarded the 2011 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.
Kiyoshi Kuromiya, Class of 1961 — Known as “Steve” to his Monrovia High classmates, Kuromiya became a nationally recognized civil-rights, antiwar and LGBTQ-rights activist and pioneering HIV/AIDS advocate; he died in 2000 and was honored here in Monrovia with a Neighborhood Treasure monument in 2026.
George Trapp, Class of 1967 — After helping Monrovia High win a CIF basketball championship, Trapp became the fifth overall selection in the 1971 NBA Draft and played professionally for the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons; he died in 2002.
Ron Husband, Class of 1968 — Besides being a stellar athlete in both track and football, he was then and still is an accomplished artist. He has the distinction of being the first black animator for Disney. His legacy can be seen on Disney+ in the excellent documentary, HUZ.
Donna Adamek, Class of 1975 — Adamek became one of the outstanding professional women bowlers of her era, winning 19 professional titles and earning induction into both the PWBA and USBC Halls of Fame.
Ian Hunter, Class of 1983 — Hunter went on to an acclaimed career in Hollywood visual effects, becoming a co-founder of New Deal Studios and a two-time Academy Award winner whose credits include The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar and First Man.
Corie Blount — The former Wildcat was selected in the first round of the 1993 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and went on to an 11-season NBA career.
Kate Wiesner — The Monrovia High soccer standout continued her career at Penn State before being selected seventh overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft and moving into professional women's soccer.
And these are surely not the only Wildcats whose journeys took them from Monrovia High to interesting and noteworthy places. Did we miss someone? If you know of another Monrovia High graduate who went on to make a name in the arts, sciences, business, public service, sports, entertainment—or somewhere completely unexpected—we'd love to hear about them. Let us know, and perhaps we'll find them in the pages of our yearbooks, too.
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