🔗 Share this article

Gavin Newsom has once more rejected parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served more than half a century in prison for her role in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by Charles Manson.

Parole Reversal Draws Criticism

Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the elderly 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 time the governor has prevented her parole, and the move was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor chose “politics over people” and failed to consider the mistreatment she suffered from the cult figure.

“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has no connection to the record of her transformation or the danger she poses,” stated Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the facts and the governing regulations.”

Background of the Crimes

The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson's followers carried out the killings of actor Sharon Tate and several others, including socialite Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. In 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of multiple counts of first-degree murder for their involvement in the crimes.

Prison Transformation

In her decades behind bars – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior female prisoner – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team stated. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her conduct is spotless, legal counsel said, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.

The inmate has expressed remorse for her role in the offenses. In 2022, she said: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for the harm and anguish that I created when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to live amends … [and] focus on being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Reform

A 2017 investigation by the parole board found she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her lawyer noted, stating that she has developed her “personal identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

Newsom has previously denied parole for other former Manson followers. Leslie Van Houten was freed from state custody in 2023 after 53 years when a court of appeals overturned the governor's ruling to block her parole.