DNA test reveals Charles Manson is filmmaker's grandfather
Filmmaker Sophia Maddox learned through a DNA test that cult leader Charles Manson is her grandfather, according to an exclusive report in PEOPLE. The revelation forms the basis of the Hulu documentary My Grandfather Charles Manson, which premieres July 22, 2026, and reveals a previously unknown branch of the convicted cult leader's family tree. Her father, Daniel Arguelles, bears a striking resemblance to the man behind the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders.
Key Takeaways
- Sophia Maddox discovered her link to Charles Manson after taking a DNA test to identify an unknown grandfather.
- The Hulu documentary premieres Wednesday, July 22, 2026, on Hulu and Disney+ internationally.
- Maddox co-directed the film and began self-filming immediately after learning the news.
- The project reveals family records and audio that had not been released before.
- Her relationship with her father strains as she digs deeper into Manson's legacy.
What did Sophia Maddox discover from her DNA test?
In PEOPLE's exclusive first look at My Grandfather Charles Manson, Maddox learns she is a descendant of the convicted cult leader behind the infamous 1969 Manson family murders, including the killing of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six others across two nights in August 1969.
The discovery marks a branch of Manson's real-life family that had not been publicly revealed before now, nearly nine years after Manson died in jail in 2017. After the DNA results, Maddox realized her previously unknown grandfather bore a striking resemblance to her father, Daniel Arguelles.
"After I learned Charles Manson was my grandfather through a DNA test, I started filming myself because I didn't know how else to cope with the news," Maddox told PEOPLE.
What is 'My Grandfather Charles Manson' about?
The documentary follows Sophia, described in Hulu's synopsis as the good girl who was her father's rock, as she traces her grandfather's life. Her search pulls her into an underworld of Manson family members and unreliable narrators.
Along the way, her genetics help unlock never-before-released records and exclusive audio recordings that illuminate Manson's pathology in startling ways. The more she uncovers, the more strained her relationship with her father becomes.
Maddox co-directed the project with Alexandra Orton. She told PEOPLE the film grew from personal coping into a deeper look at generational trauma, identity, and whether people are destined to repeat inherited stories. For more on cases like this, see our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries coverage.
When and where can you watch the documentary?
My Grandfather Charles Manson premieres Wednesday, July 22, 2026. It streams on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the United States, and on Disney+ internationally, according to a Hulu press release shared by The Futon Critic.
The project is produced by Matt Renner for SMUGGLER Entertainment, Alexandra Orton, and Eric Cook. Maddox executive produced for Joan of Arc Pictures alongside Tim Pastore, Brian Carmody, and Patrick Milling-Smith for SMUGGLER Entertainment.
Why does this discovery matter for Manson's family tree?
Before the documentary, Manson's publicly known children were widely reported as three sons: Charles Manson Jr., Charles Luther Manson, and Michael Brunner. Maddox's revelation suggests the Manson lineage may be broader than many assumed.
Laughing Place notes that Sophia's unwanted discovery forces a reckoning with a family legacy tied to one of history's most notorious criminals. For Sophia, the central question remains: what has she inherited, and how will she live with that history?