Murder or Suicide
John “Zero” Haught was an associate of the Manson Family. Haught began living with the family after he moved from Ohio to California. Haught was arrested with the family during the Barker Ranch raid. After being released from jail, Haught moved to a Venice Beach house, rented by a man named Mark Ross, aka Aesop Aquarian, along with several family members.
On Wednesday, November 5th, 1969, the Venice Police Department responded to a call at 28 Clubhouse Avenue. At the scene, police discovered the body of John Haught. Haught was lying on a mattress in the bedroom. He had an entrance wound to the right temple. There was a leather gun case and a revolver lying beside the body.
According to Madaline Joan Cottage, she and Haught were in bed when he picked up a .22 Caliber revolver. After Madaline told Haught that there was only one bullet in the gun, he spun the cylinder, placed the muzzle against his head, and shot himself.
Several family members were present when Haught died, including Bruce Davis and Catherine Gillies. They told the police that Haught killed himself playing Russian roulette.
The police ruled Haught’s death a suicide. However, there are indications that Haught may have been murdered. An anonymous source reportedly told the L.A Times that he was there when Haught died. He claimed Haught didn’t kill himself but was shot by one of the Manson girls.
