California's Governor Again Denies Early Release for Cult Member Longtime Inmate
The governor again refused parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent more than half a century behind bars for her role in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by the cult leader.
Parole Reversal Sparks Criticism
Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the elderly suitable for release, Newsom overturned the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently represents an unreasonable danger to society if freed from prison at this time.”
This marks the second time Newsom has prevented her parole, and the decision was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the abuse she endured from Manson.
“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, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the evidence and the controlling law.”
Background of the Crimes
Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson cult committed the killings of actress Sharon Tate and several others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of multiple counts of first-degree murder for their involvement in the attack.
Life Behind Bars
In her decades behind bars – she is the state's most senior female prisoner – she has reformed, friends and her legal team have reported. Krenwinkel has earned college degrees and her behavior record is spotless, legal counsel noted, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.
Krenwinkel has shown regret for her role in the offenses. In 2022, she said: “I want to say my deep regret I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I ended the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] focus on being a better person.”
Previous Mistreatment and Reform
A 2017 investigation by the parole board revealed she endured abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her lawyer noted, adding that she has developed her “personal identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.
Other Cases
Newsom has previously blocked release for other former cult members. Leslie Van Houten was freed from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a court of appeals overturned the governor's ruling to deny her release.
