California's Governor Rejects Early Release for Manson Follower Longtime Inmate
Gavin Newsom again denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served more than half a century in prison for her involvement in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by the cult leader.
Governor's Decision Sparks Criticism
Months after California’s parole board found the 77-year-old fit for release, Newsom 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 time Newsom has prevented her parole, and the decision was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and overlooked the abuse she suffered from Manson.
“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has nothing to do with the evidence of her transformation or the risk she presents,” stated Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the facts and the controlling law.”
Case History of the Crimes
Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson's followers carried out the killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others, including heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the crimes.
Life Behind Bars
In her decades in prison – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys stated. Krenwinkel has earned college degrees and her behavior record is spotless, legal counsel noted, which was one of the reasons the parole board supported her parole.
The inmate has shown regret for her actions in the crimes. In 2022, she said: “I wish to express my deep regret I am for the harm and anguish that I created when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] focus on being a better person.”
Previous Mistreatment and Reform
A 2017 investigation by the parole board revealed she experienced abuse in multiple forms by the cult leader, her lawyer said in a statement, adding that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”.
Similar Instances
The governor has previously blocked parole for other Manson followers. Another follower was released from state custody in recent years after 53 years when a state appeals court overturned the governor's ruling to block her parole.
