Gavin Newsom Again Denies Early Release for Cult Member Longtime Inmate
The governor has once more denied release for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served more than five decades in prison for her role in the 1969 murders orchestrated by the cult leader.
Parole Reversal Draws Backlash
Months after the state parole panel deemed the elderly suitable for freedom, the governor reversed the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently represents an unreasonable danger to the public if released from custody at this time.”
It was the second instance the governor has blocked her release, and the move 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.
“The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of her transformation or the danger she poses,” said her attorney, her legal counsel. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the evidence and the governing regulations.”
Background of the Crimes
Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson cult committed the murders of actor Sharon Tate and four others, including socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of multiple counts of first-degree murder for their roles in the attack.
Life Behind Bars
Over many years 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 earned college degrees and her behavior record is clean, legal counsel said, which was a key factor the panel recommended her for release.
The inmate has shown regret for her actions in the crimes. Previously, she stated: “I want to say 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] focus on being a better person.”
Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation
An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she endured abuse in multiple forms by the cult leader, her attorney noted, stating that she has developed her “personal identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.
Other Cases
Newsom has previously denied parole for other former Manson followers. Another follower was released from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a court of appeals reversed the governor’s decision to deny her release.
