Gavin Newsom Rejects Parole for Manson Follower Longtime Inmate
Gavin Newsom again denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent more than five decades in prison for her involvement in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by Charles Manson.
Parole Reversal Draws Backlash
Months after the state parole panel found the elderly suitable for release, the governor reversed the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently represents an unacceptable risk to the public if freed from prison at this time.”
This marks the second instance the governor has prevented her parole, and the decision was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and overlooked the mistreatment she endured from Manson.
“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has no connection to the record of her transformation or the risk she presents,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the facts and the governing regulations.”
Case History of the Murders
The inmate was 21 when the Manson's followers committed the murders of actress Sharon Tate and several others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. 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 California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys stated. She has obtained higher education and her conduct is clean, legal counsel noted, 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 said: “I want to say my deep regret I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.”
Previous Mistreatment and Reform
An earlier inquiry by the parole board found she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her attorney noted, stating that she has found her “own identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.
Similar Instances
The governor has previously blocked parole for other former cult members. Another follower was released from state custody in recent years after 53 years when a state appeals court reversed the governor's ruling to deny her release.