Gavin Newsom Again Denies Early Release for Manson Follower Longtime Inmate
Gavin Newsom again denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served over half a century behind bars for her involvement in the notorious murders masterminded by the cult leader.
Parole Reversal Sparks Backlash
Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the 77-year-old suitable for release, the governor overturned the ruling and declared that the inmate “currently represents an unacceptable risk to society if freed from prison at this time.”
This marks the second instance Newsom 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 endured from the cult figure.
“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of how much she’s changed or the danger she poses,” said her attorney, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the evidence and the controlling law.”
Case History of the Murders
The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult committed the murders of actor Sharon Tate and several others, including heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of seven counts of murder charges for their involvement in the crimes.
Prison Transformation
In her decades behind bars – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior female prisoner – she has reformed, friends and her legal team stated. She has obtained higher education and her conduct is clean, her attorney noted, which was one of the reasons the parole board supported her parole.
Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her actions in the crimes. Previously, she stated: “I want to say my deep regret 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] work toward self-improvement.”
Past Abuse and Reform
A 2017 investigation by the parole board found she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, stating that she has found her “own identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.
Similar Instances
The governor has previously denied parole for other former cult members. Another follower was freed from state custody in 2023 after 53 years when a court of appeals reversed the governor’s decision to block her parole.