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Gavin Newsom has once more denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent over five decades behind bars for her involvement in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by the cult leader.

Governor's Decision Sparks Backlash

Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the elderly suitable for release, the governor reversed the ruling and declared that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unacceptable risk to the public if released from prison at this time.”

It was the second instance Newsom has prevented her parole, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and overlooked the abuse she endured from Manson.

“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has nothing to do with the record of how much she’s changed or the risk she poses,” stated her attorney, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the facts and the controlling law.”

Case History of the Crimes

The inmate was 21 when the Manson's followers committed the murders of actor Sharon Tate and several others, including socialite Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening killed Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their involvement in the crimes.

Prison Transformation

In her decades in prison – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys have reported. She has earned college degrees and her conduct is spotless, legal counsel said, which was a key factor the parole board supported her parole.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her role in the crimes. In 2022, she said: “I wish to express how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] focus on being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the authorities found she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her lawyer said in a statement, stating that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”.

Other Cases

Newsom has previously blocked release for other former Manson followers. Leslie Van Houten was freed from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a state appeals court reversed the governor’s decision to block her parole.