Right now, deep in the cruel heart of Death Valley, California, a team of scientists is preparing to search for more of Charlie Manson's victims' remains. Maybe you recall from the book or documentary Helter Skelter, there were just a few members of The Family who seemed to—poof!—vanish. One of the more memorable unaccounted-for chaps, Tex Watson, lured by good acid and easy sex, was reportedly hacked up on Barker Ranch, his head lopped off and buried separately from his body. Authorities suspect there might be others and have found the cash and resources with which to re-open the case.

In late April authorities reported that soil samples tested positive for human remains (results were eventually found inconclusive due to damaged laboratory testing gear, according to a police statement). Next Tuesday a crew of scientists, laser technicians, cadaver dogs, soil testers, and search team from Inyo County Sheriff's Office will comb the cult's old clubhouse grounds. Since the 1969 murders, rumors and speculation have been rampant as to whether additional bodies had been disposed of at Barker Ranch, where Manson was arrested, found hiding under a kitchen sink in fetal crouch. So, why now after all these years? "The sheriff just really wants to put this to rest," sheriff spokesperson Carma Roper tells Radar. "He wants conclusive answers."

The mystery donors funding the pricey team of scientists remain unknown, but it is said that Debra Tate, sister of Manson murder victim Sharon Tate, is taking an active role in the effort. However, Sharon Tate's body was found, along with other victims coffee heiress Abigail Folger and hairdresser Jay Sebring, at director hubby Roman Polanski's house. Tate's body was at least found and properly buried, the family getting some degree of closure.

Earlier this month, Tate appeared on Inside Edition to talk about fashion and her dead sister's clothes—which she keeps at hand and occasionally takes out for a good long whiff. "I really enjoy going through the clothes," Tate said. "It takes me back to a much happier time when she and I would spend time in her closet picking which outfit she was going to wear to which event." Tate yanked out some items and said she can still smell her sister on the clothes. "They're precious moments. That is why I don't open it often. I can still smell her scent."

Inyo County Sheriff Bill Lutze just seems psyched for the high-tech forensic gadgetry and all the raised profile that comes with digging in to Manson's cold case. "This is the stuff of television's CSI series," Sheriff Lutze said in a statement, describing a laser technology that "causes bones to literally glow at a great distance, which is helpful to search teams covering a large outdoor area." He added that similar technology has proven effective in illuminating bones up to 300 years old, and has been used successful in several cold cases in Utah, similar terrain similar to the Barker Ranch property. "Some of this equipment is so cutting edge that it does not exist in the market place. This case will dramatically alter how police agencies search outdoor crime scenes in the future."

Manson meanwhile, 73 years old and still shithouse crazy, is whittling away a life sentence writing letters and selling locks of his hair and sketches of the devil on eBay. Crafty!