California's Governor Again Denies Parole for Manson Follower Longtime Inmate
Gavin Newsom has once more rejected release for the convicted inmate, who has spent over five decades behind bars for her role in the 1969 murders masterminded by the cult leader.
Parole Reversal Draws Backlash
Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the 77-year-old suitable for release, the governor reversed the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unacceptable risk to the public if released from custody at this time.”
It was the second instance Newsom has blocked her parole, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she suffered from the cult figure.
“The governor's decision of her parole approval has nothing to do with the record of her transformation or the danger she poses,” stated Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the facts and the governing regulations.”
Case History of the Murders
Krenwinkel 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 hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of multiple counts of murder charges for their involvement in the crimes.
Prison Transformation
Over many years in prison – she is California’s longest serving female prisoner – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team have reported. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her conduct is spotless, legal counsel said, which was a key factor the panel supported her parole.
The inmate has expressed remorse for her actions in the offenses. Previously, she said: “I want to say my deep regret I am for the harm and anguish that I created when I ended the lives that I did … I try every day to live amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”
Past Abuse and Reform
A 2017 investigation by the authorities revealed she experienced abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her attorney said in a statement, stating that she has developed her “own identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.
Other Cases
The governor has previously denied parole for other Manson followers. Leslie Van Houten was freed from state custody in 2023 after 53 years when a state appeals court overturned the governor's ruling to block her parole.
