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Gavin Newsom again refused release for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent more than five decades in prison for her involvement in the 1969 murders masterminded by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Sparks Criticism

Months after California’s parole board found the 77-year-old suitable for release, Newsom overturned the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently represents an unreasonable danger to the public if released from custody at this time.”

This marks the second instance Newsom has blocked her release, and the decision was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor opted for “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 her transformation or the danger she poses,” said her attorney, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the facts and the controlling law.”

Background of the Murders

Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson cult carried out the killings of actor Sharon Tate and several others, including heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the attack.

Life Behind Bars

In her decades behind bars – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team have reported. She has obtained higher education and her conduct is clean, her attorney noted, which was a key factor the parole board supported her parole.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her actions in the offenses. Previously, she stated: “I wish to express 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 self-improvement.”

Previous Mistreatment and Reform

An earlier inquiry by the authorities found she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her lawyer noted, adding that she has developed her “personal identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

The governor has previously blocked parole for other cult members. Leslie Van Houten was released from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a court of appeals reversed the governor's ruling to deny her release.