So far…nada. Inyo County sheriff investigators reported today that they have not found any bodies yet at Barker Ranch, the last known hideout of Charles Manson and his followers.

“One bullet casing was found in the site,” said Inyo County Sheriff’s Lt. Jim Jones,” but forensic testing indicates that there were no human remains in or around that site.”

The .38 caliber casing was found just two inches below the surface of the first dig site.

Investigators also found remnants of what appeared to be ash and small animal bones at another site. The National Park Service determined that the location would be considered an archaeological site.

Manson had preached of an apocalyptic race war he said was predicted in The Beatles’ song “Helter Skelter.” His followers believed they would eventually control the United States – if they performed grisly murders for Manson. Manson and his followers escaped to Barker Ranch in the summer of 1969 after murdering nine people, including pregnant actress Sharon Tate and wealthy Los Feliz Hills grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary.

On May 20, law enforcement agencies, shadowed by a small army of local and international reporters, descended on Barker Ranch in the Panamint Mountains of Death Valley in hopes of getting to the bottom of persisting rumors that murder victims are buried there.

Forensic investigations will continue through May 22.