Gavin Newsom Rejects Parole for Cult Member Longtime Inmate
The governor has once more rejected parole for the convicted inmate, who has served more than half a century behind bars for her involvement in the notorious murders orchestrated by the cult leader.
Parole Reversal Sparks Criticism
Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the 77-year-old suitable for release, the governor reversed the decision and declared that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unacceptable risk to society if released from prison at this time.”
This marks the second instance Newsom has blocked her parole, and the move was met with sharp criticism from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she endured from the cult figure.
“The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has nothing to do with the record of her transformation or the danger she presents,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the evidence and the controlling law.”
Background of the Murders
Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson cult carried out the murders of actor Sharon Tate and four others, including socialite Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the crimes.
Life Behind Bars
In her decades in prison – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has reformed, friends and her legal team stated. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her conduct is spotless, her attorney said, which was one of the reasons the parole board supported her parole.
Krenwinkel has shown regret for her actions in the crimes. In 2022, she said: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I took the lives that I did … I strive daily to live amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”
Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation
An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, stating that she has developed her “personal identity, independence, and moral compass”.
Other Cases
The governor has previously denied parole for other cult members. Another follower was released from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a state appeals court overturned the governor's ruling to deny her release.