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Gavin Newsom again rejected release for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served more than five decades in prison for her role in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Draws Backlash

Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the 77-year-old suitable for freedom, the governor overturned the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unacceptable risk to the public if freed from custody at this time.”

This marks the second instance the governor has blocked her parole, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from her legal representative, who claimed the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and overlooked the mistreatment she suffered from Manson.

“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has nothing to do with the evidence of how much she’s changed or the danger she poses,” stated Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the evidence and the controlling law.”

Case History of the Murders

The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson's followers carried out the murders of actor Sharon Tate and four others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening killed Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of seven counts of murder charges for their involvement in the attack.

Life Behind Bars

In her decades in prison – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys stated. She has obtained higher education and her conduct is spotless, her attorney said, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.

The inmate has expressed remorse for her actions in the crimes. Previously, she stated: “I wish to express my deep regret I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”

Previous Mistreatment and Reform

An earlier inquiry by the authorities revealed she endured abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her attorney said in a statement, stating that she has developed her “personal identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.

Similar Instances

The governor has previously denied release for other former cult members. Leslie Van Houten was freed from state custody in recent years after over five decades when a state appeals court reversed the governor’s decision to deny her release.