Gavin Newsom Blocks Early Release for Cult Member Patricia Krenwinkel

Gavin Newsom again rejected parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent over five decades behind bars for her role in the 1969 murders masterminded by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Draws Backlash

Months after California’s parole board found the 77-year-old fit for release, the governor reversed the ruling and declared that the inmate “currently poses an unacceptable risk to the public if freed from prison at this time.”

It was the second instance the governor has blocked her parole, and the decision was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who argued the governor opted for “politics over people” and failed to consider the mistreatment she endured from Manson.

“The governor's decision of her parole approval has nothing to do with the evidence of how much she’s changed or the danger she poses,” stated Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the evidence and the controlling law.”

Case History of the Murders

Krenwinkel was 21 when the Manson's followers committed the killings of actor Sharon Tate and several others, including heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder for their roles in the attack.

Prison Transformation

Over many years in prison – she is California’s longest serving female prisoner – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team stated. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, her attorney noted, which was one of the reasons the panel recommended her for release.

The inmate has shown regret for her role in the offenses. In 2022, she stated: “I want to say my deep regret I am for the harm and anguish that I caused when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

A 2017 investigation by the parole board revealed she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, adding that she has developed her “own identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.

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 state appeals court reversed the governor’s decision to deny her release.