Terry Melcher, a record producer and the son of Doris Day, lived at Cielo Drive as a tenant. The house was actually owned by Rudy Altobelli, a talent manager. I do believe that Dennis Wilson introduced Manson to Melcher in the hopes of getting Charlie's music sold, but Melcher had no interest. The last time Melcher saw Charlie, he was living in the guest house and Sharon was already at the main house. Charlie showed up there looking for Terry, and Sharon sent him down to the guest house, where Melcher curtly dismissed him.

Charlie chose the house because he knew that famous people lived there and hoped to draw attention to Helter Skelter with their grisly deaths. Although he didn't know the residents, he and Sharon had actually come face to face that one time.