California's Governor Rejects Early Release for Cult Member Longtime Inmate
The governor again denied parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent over half a century in prison for her role in the 1969 murders orchestrated by Charles Manson.
Governor's Decision Sparks Backlash
Months after California’s parole board deemed the 77-year-old fit for release, Newsom reversed the ruling and declared that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unreasonable danger to the public if released from custody at this time.”
It was the second time Newsom has prevented her release, and the decision was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the abuse she suffered from the cult figure.
“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has nothing to do with the evidence of how much she’s changed or the danger she presents,” stated Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the evidence and the governing regulations.”
Case History of the Crimes
The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson's followers committed the murders of actor Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of seven counts of murder charges for their involvement in the crimes.
Prison Transformation
In her decades in prison – she is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys have reported. She has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, legal counsel said, which was a key factor the parole board recommended her for release.
Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her role in the crimes. 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 try every day to make amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.”
Previous Mistreatment and Reform
An earlier inquiry by the parole board found she endured abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her attorney noted, stating that she has developed her “personal identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.
Other Cases
Newsom has previously denied parole for other Manson followers. Another follower was released from California prison in 2023 after over five decades when a state appeals court reversed the governor’s decision to block her parole.
