The investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Marilyn Manson has been completed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and is being referred to the District Attorney’s Office for consideration of possible charges.
The Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau has spent the last 19 months investigating Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, after multiple women accused the singer of sexual and physical abuse. The prosecutor’s office said in a statement to BuzzFeed News that the sheriff’s department released “partial case material” regarding their investigation on Tuesday.
“There is more material pending, but we do not have a timeline for additional filing by LASD,” the statement said. “Once we receive everything, experienced prosecutors will carefully and diligently review everything that has been filed before making a decision on filing. This review will take time, but rest assured that our office takes these allegations very seriously.”
The sheriff’s department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and neither did Manson’s attorney. In the past, Manson has denied the allegations. In March, he sued actor Evan Rachel Wood and artist Illma Gore for defamation, fraud and conspiracy, alleging that he abused them.
His defamation lawsuit has drawn comparisons to the recent case of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard; Depp and Manson are friends, and texts between them disparaging their romantic partners were part of the court records. Heard was ordered to pay more than $10 million for allegations that she was a victim of domestic violence. Depp later said he was delighted to clear his name in court, and Heard described the verdict as a setback for women.
The investigation into Manson began in February 2021 after Wood posted on Instagram that her ex-fiancé had “terribly abused” her for years.
“He started grooming me when I was a teenager and was terribly abusive to me for years,” Wood wrote. “I was brainwashed and manipulated into submission.”
Other women have also accused Manson of abuse, including model Sarah McNeilly, who wrote on Instagram that Manson “tortured her,” locking her in rooms and throwing her against a wall. Another model, Ashley Lindsay Morgan, wrote on Instagram that she met Manson sometime around 2009 or 2010 and they quickly moved in together.
“There was abuse, sexual violence, physical violence and coercion,” Morgan wrote.
Another woman, Ashley Walters, said she suffers from PTSD as a result of her abusive relationship with Manson.
“It became clear what abuse he caused; he continues to wreak havoc on so many and I can’t watch this happen to others,” Walters wrote on Instagram. “Brian Warner must be held accountable.”
In addition, a woman named Gabriella accused Manson of abuse, saying he cut her during sex, took pictures of her without her permission, and sent her to other people.
Despite the allegations, Manson continued to receive recognition in Hollywood. He was nominated for the 2022 Grammys. Kanye West introduced him on the Donda album and invited him to perform on numerous occasions.