Mild spoiler for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
The new film from director Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, portrays multiple members of the cult known as the Manson Family in major supporting roles.
In addition to the likes of Austin Butler as Charles "Tex" Watson and Maya Hawke as Linda Kasabian, the former child star Dakota Fanning also appears as the terrifying leading follower of Charles Manson known as "Squeaky".
Squeaky has an intense encounter with fictional stuntman Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) in the film as she stays at the ranch of George Spahn (Bruce Dern), but who is the real Squeaky and where is she now? And how does President Gerald Ford connect to her?
Who is Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme?
Lynette Fromme is a former member of the Manson Family cult who attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975.
Born in Santa Monica in 1948, Fromme was a child dancer and toured with the groups in America and Europe, even performing at the White House.
According to the Jess Bravin biography Squeaky, Fromme began using drugs and alcohol after the family moved to Redondo Beach and clashed with her parents throughout her education at high school and college. Her father eventually made her homeless.
In 1967, a depressed Fromme met Charles Manson at Venice Beach. Manson had recently been released from prison but his attitude and philosophies appealed to Fromme.
The two became fast friends and they travelled together with young people such as Mary Brunner and Susan Atkins.
Eventually, the growing Manson Family settled at the George Spahn Ranch, where the elderly owner George Spahn let them stay as long as they worked. Manson also ordered the women to sleep with the blind Spahn.
Lynette Fromme apparently got her nickname Squeaky because of the sound she made when Spahn touched her.
Following the arrests of Manson and his followers involved in the Tate-LaBianca murders, Fromme remained a staunch and vocal advocate of Manson, his innocence, and his beliefs.
She wasn't charged in relation to the murders but was convicted for contempt of court and trying to prevent Manson-involved prisoners to testify against him.
Fromme remained close by to Manson's new home of Folsom Prison, living with fellow follower Sandra Good in Sacramento.
On September 5, 1975, Fromme confronted President George Ford in Sacramento's Capitol Park, dressed in a red robe and armed with a gun. She wanted to plead for the plight of California redwoods.
Fromme was immediately restrained and the the pistol had been loaded with four rounds but there was no round in the chamber and the gun did not go off.
She received a life sentence under a 1965 law that made this the punishment for an attempted assassination on a president.
In 1987, Fromme escaped her prison in West Virginia and attempted to get to Manson, who was then suffering from testicular cancer, but was recaptured two days later. Extra time was added to her sentence.
Fromme and Good were, according to Helter Skelter writer Vincent Bugliosi, the only followers of Manson to not renounce his wrongdoings.
Where is Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme now?
Fromme was released on parole from her life sentence on August 14, 2009, and moved to upstate New York.
She lives in a house with her boyfriend, who is a former convict himself.
Fox News describes her boyfriend as "Manson-obsessed'.
Recently speaking to ABC News, Fromme said she was still in love with Charles Manson.
Fromme said: "Charlie was misunderstood. Was I in love with Charlie? Yeah, oh yeah, oh, I still am, still am. I don’t think you fall out of love."
Dakota Fanning portrays Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is in cinemas now.
