🔗 Share this article

Gavin Newsom again rejected parole for the convicted inmate, who has served more than half a century in prison for her involvement in the notorious murders orchestrated by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Draws Backlash

Months after the state parole panel found the elderly fit for release, the governor overturned the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unreasonable danger to society if freed from prison at this time.”

This marks the second instance the governor has blocked her parole, and the decision was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and overlooked the abuse she suffered from the cult figure.

“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has no connection to the evidence of her transformation or the danger she presents,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the facts and the governing regulations.”

Background of the Murders

The inmate was 21 when the Manson's followers committed the killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others, including socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of seven counts of murder charges for their involvement in the crimes.

Life Behind Bars

In her decades behind bars – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team stated. She has obtained higher education and her conduct is spotless, her attorney said, which was a key factor the panel recommended her for release.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her role in the crimes. In 2022, she said: “I want to say my deep regret I am for the harm and anguish that I created when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”

Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the authorities found she endured abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, adding that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

The governor has previously denied parole for other cult members. Another follower was released from state custody in 2023 after 53 years when a court of appeals overturned the governor’s decision to block her parole.