Gavin Newsom Blocks Parole for Manson Follower Patricia Krenwinkel
The governor has once more rejected release for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent more than half a century in prison for her involvement in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by Charles Manson.
Parole Reversal Sparks Backlash
Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the elderly suitable for release, Newsom overturned the decision and declared that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if freed from prison at this time.”
It was the second instance Newsom has blocked her parole, and the move was met with sharp criticism from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor opted for “politics over people” and failed to consider the mistreatment she endured from Manson.
“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has no connection to the evidence of her transformation or the risk she presents,” said her attorney, her legal counsel. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the evidence and the governing regulations.”
Background of the Murders
The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult committed the killings of actress Sharon Tate and several others, including heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder for their involvement in the crimes.
Prison Transformation
Over many years in prison – she is California’s longest serving female prisoner – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys stated. She has earned college degrees and her behavior record is spotless, her attorney noted, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.
The inmate has shown regret for her actions in the offenses. In 2022, she stated: “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 strive daily to make amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.”
Previous Mistreatment and Reform
An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she endured abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her attorney said in a statement, stating that she has found her “personal identity, independence, and moral compass”.
Other Cases
Newsom has previously blocked parole for other former Manson followers. Leslie Van Houten was released from California prison in recent years after over five decades when a court of appeals overturned the governor's ruling to block her parole.
