Gavin Newsom Rejects Early Release for Cult Member Longtime Inmate
Gavin Newsom again denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served more than five decades in prison for her involvement in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by the cult leader.
Governor's Decision Draws Backlash
Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the 77-year-old fit for freedom, Newsom reversed the decision and declared that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unreasonable danger to the public if freed from custody at this time.”
It was the second time Newsom has blocked her release, and the move was met with sharp criticism from her legal representative, who claimed the governor chose “politics over people” and failed to consider the mistreatment she suffered from the cult figure.
“The governor's decision of her parole approval has no connection to the evidence of how much she’s changed or the danger she poses,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the facts and the governing regulations.”
Background of the Crimes
Krenwinkel was 21 when the Manson's followers carried out the murders of actor Sharon Tate and several others, including heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening killed Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of seven counts of first-degree murder for their involvement in the crimes.
Life Behind Bars
In her decades in prison – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has reformed, friends and her legal team have reported. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, her attorney 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 want to say my deep regret I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I took the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.”
Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation
A 2017 investigation by the authorities found she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her lawyer said in a statement, adding that she has found her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”.
Other Cases
Newsom has previously blocked parole for other Manson followers. Leslie Van Houten was released from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a state appeals court reversed the governor's ruling to block her parole.
