California's Governor Blocks Early Release for Cult Member Longtime Inmate
The governor again denied parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than five decades in prison for her involvement in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by Charles Manson.
Governor's Decision Sparks Backlash
Nearly five months after the state parole panel deemed the 77-year-old fit for release, the governor overturned the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently poses an unreasonable danger to the public if freed from prison at this time.”
This marks the second instance the governor has blocked her parole, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from her legal representative, who argued the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the mistreatment she suffered 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,” stated Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the facts and the controlling law.”
Case History of the Murders
The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson's followers carried out the killings of actor Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of multiple counts of murder charges for their involvement in the attack.
Prison Transformation
In her decades in prison – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team have reported. Krenwinkel has earned college degrees and her behavior record is spotless, legal counsel noted, which was a key factor the panel supported her parole.
Krenwinkel has shown regret for her role in the crimes. In 2022, she said: “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 strive daily to make amends … [and] focus on being a better person.”
Previous Mistreatment and Reform
An earlier inquiry by the authorities revealed she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her attorney said in a statement, stating that she has found her “personal identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.
Similar Instances
Newsom has previously denied parole for other former Manson followers. Another follower was freed from state custody in recent years after 53 years when a court of appeals reversed the governor’s decision to deny her release.
