🔗 Share this article

The governor again rejected parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than five decades behind bars for her role in the 1969 murders masterminded by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Sparks Criticism

Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the elderly fit for freedom, Newsom overturned the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unacceptable risk to society if released from prison at this time.”

This marks the second time Newsom has blocked her release, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor chose “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she endured from Manson.

“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of her transformation or the risk she presents,” said Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the evidence and the governing regulations.”

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, among them socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. In 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 the state's most senior female prisoner – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys have reported. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her conduct is spotless, legal counsel said, which was one of the reasons the parole board recommended her for release.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her actions in the crimes. In 2022, she stated: “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 try every day to live amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the authorities found she endured abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her lawyer noted, adding that she has found her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”.

Other Cases

The governor has previously blocked parole for other former cult members. Leslie Van Houten was freed from California prison in 2023 after over five decades when a state appeals court reversed the governor's ruling to block her parole.