Gavin Newsom Rejects Early Release for Manson Follower Patricia Krenwinkel
Gavin Newsom again rejected release for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served over half a century in prison for her involvement in the notorious murders masterminded by Charles Manson.
Governor's Decision Sparks Criticism
Months after the state parole panel found the elderly suitable for release, the governor reversed the decision and declared that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unreasonable danger to the public if freed from prison at this time.”
This marks the second time Newsom has blocked her release, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she endured from the cult figure.
“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has no connection to the record of how much she’s changed or the danger she presents,” said her attorney, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the evidence and the controlling law.”
Background of the Murders
Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson cult committed the killings of actor Sharon Tate and several others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of seven counts of murder charges for their roles in the attack.
Life Behind Bars
In her decades behind bars – she is the state's most senior female prisoner – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys stated. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, her attorney said, which was a key factor the panel supported her parole.
Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her role in the offenses. In 2022, she said: “I want to say my deep regret I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”
Previous Mistreatment and Reform
A 2017 investigation by the parole board found she endured abuse in multiple forms by the cult leader, her lawyer said in a statement, stating that she has found her “personal identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.
Other Cases
The governor has previously denied release for other Manson followers. Leslie Van Houten was released from state custody in recent years after over five decades when a court of appeals reversed the governor's ruling to block her parole.
