MOBILE, Ala., Jun. 22 – The half sister of one of three women charged with Charles Manson in the murder of actress Sharon Tate was found dead here Sunday and police said she apparently drowned.

Officers said the nude body of Charlene Ann Lowell, 26-year-old half sister of Patricia Krenwinkel, 22, was recovered from Halls Mill Creek in a wooded area on the city’s south side.

The officers said the body was found by Freddie Mosley, 28, of Mobile, whom they identified as Miss Lowell’s boyfriend. They quoted him as saying he and Miss Lowell had been on a moonlight swim, became separated, and he later went to sleep in the woods nearby.

Mosley said he discovered Miss Lowell’s body in shallow water shortly after he awoke Sunday.

A Coroner’s investigation has been ordered, officers said.

Miss Lowell was the daughter of Mrs. Dorothy Krenwinkel of Theodore, Ala., a suburb, of Mobile. Her half sister is being held in Los Angeles, where she is charged with murder and conspiracy in the ritual-like slaying of Miss Tate, 26; hair stylist Jay Sebring, 26; Wojciech Frykowski, 37, and Abigale Folger, heiress to Coast coffee fortune.

Miss Krenwinkel also is charged in the slaying of Mr. and Mrs. Leno LaBianca, wealthy market owners, who were found dead in their home near the Tate residence Aug. 10.