Gavin Newsom Rejects Early Release for Manson Follower Longtime Inmate

The governor has once more rejected parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent over half a century in prison for her involvement in the 1969 murders masterminded by the cult leader.

Governor's Decision Sparks Backlash

Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the 77-year-old suitable for release, the governor reversed the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently represents an unacceptable risk to the public if freed from custody at this time.”

This marks the second time the governor has prevented her parole, 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 Manson.

“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of how much she’s changed or the danger she poses,” stated her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the evidence and the controlling law.”

Background of the Murders

Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson cult committed the killings of actress Sharon Tate and several others, including heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the attack.

Life Behind Bars

Over many years in prison – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has reformed, friends and her legal team stated. She has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, her attorney said, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.

Krenwinkel has shown regret for her actions in the offenses. In 2022, she stated: “I wish to express how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I took the lives that I did … I strive daily to live amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she experienced abuse in multiple forms by the cult leader, her lawyer said in a statement, stating that she has developed her “own identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.

Other Cases

The governor has previously blocked release for other former cult members. Leslie Van Houten was released from California prison in 2023 after 53 years when a state appeals court overturned the governor’s decision to block her parole.