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The governor again refused parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served over half a century in prison for her involvement 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 declared that the inmate “currently poses an unacceptable risk to society if released from custody at this time.”

This marks the second instance Newsom has prevented her release, and the decision was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the mistreatment she suffered from Manson.

“The governor's decision of her parole approval has no connection to the record of her transformation or the danger she presents,” stated her attorney, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the evidence and the controlling law.”

Case History of the Crimes

The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult committed the killings of actor Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the attack.

Life Behind Bars

In her decades in prison – she is the state's most senior female prisoner – she has reformed, friends and her legal team stated. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her behavior record is spotless, legal counsel noted, which was one of the reasons the parole board recommended her for release.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her role in the offenses. Previously, she said: “I wish to express how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I took the lives that I did … I strive daily to live amends … [and] focus on being a better person.”

Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she endured abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, stating that she has developed her “personal identity, independence, and moral compass”.

Similar Instances

The governor has previously blocked parole for other former cult members. Leslie Van Houten was released from California prison in recent years after 53 years when a court of appeals overturned the governor’s decision to block her parole.