Gavin Newsom Rejects Early Release for Manson Follower Longtime Inmate
The governor again denied release for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent over five decades in prison for her role in the notorious murders orchestrated by the cult leader.
Parole Reversal Draws Backlash
Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the elderly suitable for freedom, Newsom overturned the ruling and declared that the inmate “currently represents an unreasonable danger to the public if freed from prison at this time.”
It was the second time Newsom has prevented her parole, and the decision was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who claimed the governor chose “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she endured from the cult figure.
“The governor's decision of her parole approval has no connection to the record of her transformation or the danger she poses,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the evidence and the governing regulations.”
Background of the Crimes
The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson cult carried out the killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder for their involvement in the crimes.
Prison Transformation
Over many years behind bars – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has reformed, friends and her legal team have reported. She has earned college degrees and her conduct is clean, her attorney said, which was one of the reasons the parole board supported her parole.
Krenwinkel has shown regret for her role in the crimes. In 2022, she stated: “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 live amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”
Previous Mistreatment and Reform
An earlier inquiry by the authorities found she experienced abuse in multiple forms by the cult leader, her lawyer said in a statement, adding that she has found her “own identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.
Other Cases
The governor has previously denied release for other former cult members. Leslie Van Houten was freed from California prison in recent years after 53 years when a state appeals court overturned the governor's ruling to deny her release.
