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Gavin Newsom again denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served more than five decades in prison for her role in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Sparks Criticism

Months after California’s parole board found the 77-year-old fit for release, the governor reversed the decision and stated that the inmate “currently poses an unacceptable risk to the public if freed from custody at this time.”

This marks the second time Newsom has prevented her release, and the decision was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the mistreatment she suffered from Manson.

“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has nothing to do with the record of how much she’s changed or the risk she presents,” said her attorney, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the facts and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Crimes

The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson's followers carried out the murders of actress Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the crimes.

Prison Transformation

In her decades in prison – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team stated. She has earned college degrees and her conduct is spotless, her attorney noted, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her actions in the offenses. In 2022, she said: “I wish to express how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her lawyer noted, stating that she has developed her “own identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

The governor has previously blocked parole for other Manson followers. Leslie Van Houten was freed from state custody in recent years after 53 years when a state appeals court reversed the governor’s decision to deny her release.