🔗 Share this article

Gavin Newsom again refused parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served over five decades behind bars for her role in the 1969 murders orchestrated by the cult leader.

Governor's Decision Draws Criticism

Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the 77-year-old suitable for release, the governor overturned the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unreasonable danger to the public if released from custody at this time.”

This marks the second time Newsom has blocked her parole, and the move was met with sharp criticism from her legal representative, who argued the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the abuse she suffered from Manson.

“The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has no connection to the evidence of how much she’s changed or the risk she presents,” stated her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the evidence and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Crimes

The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult carried out the killings of actor Sharon Tate and four others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of seven counts of murder charges for their involvement in the attack.

Prison Transformation

In her decades behind bars – she is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys have reported. She has earned college degrees and her behavior record is clean, legal counsel said, which was one of the reasons the panel recommended her for release.

The inmate has expressed remorse for her role in the crimes. Previously, 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 try every day to make amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.”

Past Abuse and Reform

An earlier inquiry by the parole board found she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, adding that she has found her “personal identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

The governor has previously denied parole for other cult members. Another follower was freed from California prison in recent years after over five decades when a state appeals court reversed the governor's ruling to block her parole.