California's Governor Blocks Parole for Manson Follower Longtime Inmate

Gavin Newsom has once more rejected release for the convicted inmate, who has spent over five decades in prison for her role in the notorious murders orchestrated by the cult leader.

Governor's Decision Sparks Criticism

Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the elderly suitable for release, the governor overturned the ruling and declared that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time.”

It was the second time Newsom has prevented her parole, and the move was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued 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 no connection to the evidence of how much she’s changed or the danger she poses,” said Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the facts and the controlling law.”

Background of the Murders

The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson cult carried out the murders of actor Sharon Tate and four others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the attack.

Prison Transformation

Over many years in prison – she is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys have reported. She has earned college degrees and her behavior record is spotless, legal counsel noted, which was one of the reasons the parole board supported her parole.

The inmate has expressed remorse for her role in the offenses. In 2022, she stated: “I wish to express my deep regret I am for the harm and anguish that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I try every day to live 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 lawyer noted, adding that she has developed her “personal identity, independence, and moral compass”.

Similar Instances

The governor has previously denied parole for other former Manson followers. Another follower was freed from California prison in 2023 after 53 years when a court of appeals overturned the governor's ruling to deny her release.