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Gavin Newsom again rejected release for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served more than five decades behind bars for her involvement in the notorious murders masterminded by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Draws Backlash

Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the elderly suitable for release, the governor overturned the ruling and declared that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unacceptable risk to society if freed from prison at this time.”

It was the second time Newsom has prevented 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 overlooked the mistreatment she suffered from the cult figure.

“The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of how much she’s changed or the risk she presents,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the evidence 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 heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder for their involvement in the attack.

Prison Transformation

Over many years behind bars – she is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys have reported. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, her attorney noted, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her actions in the offenses. Previously, she stated: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] focus on being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

A 2017 investigation by the authorities found she endured abuse in multiple forms by the cult leader, her lawyer noted, adding that she has found her “own identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.

Similar Instances

The governor has previously blocked parole for other former cult members. Leslie Van Houten was released from state custody in 2023 after 53 years when a court of appeals reversed the governor’s decision to block her parole.