California's Governor Rejects Early Release for Cult Member Longtime Inmate
Gavin Newsom again rejected parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served more than five decades in prison for her involvement in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by Charles Manson.
Parole Reversal Draws Backlash
Months after the state parole panel found the 77-year-old suitable for release, Newsom reversed the ruling and declared that the inmate “currently poses an unacceptable risk to the public if released from prison at this time.”
It was the second instance Newsom has prevented her release, and the move was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who argued the governor chose “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she endured from the cult figure.
“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has nothing to do with the record of her transformation or the risk she presents,” stated Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the facts and the governing regulations.”
Background of the Crimes
The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson's followers carried out the murders of actress 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 LaBianca. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of seven counts of murder charges for their involvement in the crimes.
Prison Transformation
Over many years in prison – she is the state's most senior female prisoner – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team stated. Krenwinkel has earned college degrees and her behavior record is spotless, her attorney noted, which was a key factor the panel recommended her for release.
Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her role in the offenses. In 2022, she said: “I wish to express how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to live amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”
Past Abuse and Reform
A 2017 investigation by the parole board revealed she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her attorney noted, stating that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”.
Other Cases
The governor has previously denied release for other cult members. Another follower was freed from California prison in 2023 after 53 years when a state appeals court overturned the governor’s decision to deny her release.
