Dean Moorehouse – The Preacher, The LSD Dealer, and The Manson Connection

 

In our latest Livestream, we explored the mysterious character Dean Moorehouse, a man whose life intersected with some of the most infamous aspects of 1960s counterculture. From his early days as a preacher to his unexpected role in the world of LSD and his undeniable connection to Charles Manson, Charles Watson, and Terry Melcher. Moorehouse's story is one of contradictions and strange twists.

The Preacher and Family Man

We began by looking at Dean Moorehouse’s background. Originally a Methodist preacher, he seemed like the last person you’d expect to be drawn into the Manson orbit. He had a wife and family, and on the surface, his life appeared stable. Were there already signs of something simmering beneath the surface? Picking up hitchhiker Charles Manson changed everything for him.

The Turn to LSD and Counterculture

One of the most fascinating aspects of Moorehouse’s story is how he transitioned from a preacher to an advocate of LSD. We explored how, after meeting Manson and being introduced to the psychedelic world, Moorehouse seemed to have a radical shift in perspective. Instead of condemning the counterculture, he embraced it, becoming an evangelist of a different kind—this time, preaching the gospel of acid. He even had connections to some of the key figures in the music industry. And he was later disturbingly willing to hand his young daughter over to them, it seems. 

We also discussed Manson's early arrest after he took Ruth.

His Connection to Charles Manson and Tex Watson

Of course, one of the biggest aspects of our discussion was how Moorehouse became entangled with Charles Manson. We broke down how Manson initially charmed him, leading to a bizarre relationship where Moorehouse turned into a devoted follower, seemingly at the drop of a hat, or LSD tab...

This is another baffling example of how Manson could manipulate people like Moorehouse, flipping their beliefs and drawing them into his orbit. It’s no coincidence that Moorehouse’s young daughter, Ruth Ann, also became deeply involved in the Manson Family.

But an even more chilling aspect of Moorehouse’s influence was his role in shaping Charles “Tex” Watson’s path. This is something that doesn’t get talked about enough, and it raises the question: Why? We discussed how Tex, a seemingly all-American college boy turned drug abuser, was introduced to LSD through none other than Dean Moorehouse. This is where things take a darker turn—Moorehouse didn’t just introduce Tex to the drug, but he also played a role in his deeper descent into the Manson Family’s ideology by actually bringing him to Spahn Ranch for the first time. Without Moorehouse, would Tex have gone down the same path? It’s a question that lingers and adds a new layer to the Manson Family story.

What’s even more interesting is how little attention this link gets. We always hear about Manson’s control over Tex, but Moorehouse’s role as the bridge between the former clean-cut Texas athlete and the LSD-fueled madness of Spahn Ranch is often glossed over. Why is that? Was it simply overlooked, or was there a conscious effort to downplay Moorehouse’s influence?

Tex and Dean Borrowing Terry Melcher’s Car

One of the most intriguing and often overlooked aspects we touched on was the incident involving Dean Moorehouse, Tex Watson, and music producer Terry Melcher. We discussed how Tex and Moorehouse borrowed Melcher’s car to travel to Dean's first Ukiah court case, and left Ruth Ann behind with him. This raises all sorts of questions—was it a simple favor, or was there something more calculated at play? Given what we know about the way Manson and his followers operated, with Manson pimping his girls, even the underage ones. The idea of Moorehouse and Tex strategically placing Ruth Ann in that situation is unsettling. Was it a conscious decision to give Ruth to Melcher, or just reckless behavior?

But more than that, why is this barely ever discussed? Could it be that people didn’t want to connect Tex and Moorehouse in this way? It’s clear that both men were playing deeper roles in the Family’s operations than we’re often told, and it makes you wonder what else might have been pushed aside or conveniently forgotten.

A Willing Participant or Just Another Victim?

It makes you wonder whether Moorehouse was fully aware of what he was getting into or if he was just another person caught up in the Manson mystique. We weighed the evidence—his active participation in LSD distribution, his clear influence over younger members of the Family, his apparent liking for minors, and his unwavering loyalty to Manson. And, of course, the question of Tex Watson loomed large—was Moorehouse just another enabler, or was he a key figure in turning Tex from a promising yet drug-damaged young man into one of Manson’s most notorious killers? At what point does a follower become complicit? 

And Dean's eventual May 1991 conviction and prison sentence for lewd and lascivious acts against minors can't be ignored. It shows what he was probably into all along and paints his offences that involved taking drugs with minors in an even more sinister tone.

What Is in Chaos?

Another key part of Chaos that we discussed was Manson’s repeated attempts to go to Mexico and the strange connections between the Manson Family and a mining company Dean Moorehouse, also a parolee, signed his name for. The book points out that Manson, while on parole, made multiple requests to leave the country, something that should have been nearly impossible under normal circumstances. His parole officer, Roger Smith, seemed to have an unusual level of leniency toward him, allowing Manson’s illegal activities to continue unchecked. Why was Manson so interested in going to Mexico? And why did his parole officer—who should have been closely monitoring him—seem to allow it? It was intriguing that this was all at the same time that Roger Smith was conducting a study into Cartel activity in Mexico for the Federal Government as well, hints that he may have an ulterior motive for sending Manson to Mexico.

Legacy and Final Thoughts

As we wrapped up, we reflected on the broader implications of Moorehouse’s story. He represents a recurring theme in the Manson saga—seemingly ‘respectable’ individuals who, for various reasons, abandoned their former lives to follow a dangerous path. His descent into the Manson world highlights how fragile identities can be and how certain charismatic figures can completely alter a person’s trajectory.

But the biggest takeaway from our discussion? There’s a missing piece in how Tex Watson’s descent is usually framed. Moorehouse was there at key points, playing a role that seems too significant to ignore—so why is it ignored? Was this a deliberate cover-up? Was Moorehouse protected in some way? It’s a question worth asking and one that might change how we see the entire Manson story.

It was a fascinating discussion, and as always, I appreciated everyone’s insights and theories. Moorehouse’s story isn’t as widely discussed as some other Manson Family members, but his role was significant, and understanding it helps paint a fuller picture of how the Manson Family operated.

What do you think? Was Moorehouse a lost soul searching for meaning, or was he more of a manipulator than a victim? And how much responsibility does he bear for Tex Watson’s transformation? Most importantly, why does it feel like this part of the story was meant to be forgotten? Let’s keep the conversation going! Leave a comment.

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