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Gavin Newsom has once more refused parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent over five decades in prison for her involvement in the notorious murders orchestrated by Charles Manson.

Governor's Decision Sparks Criticism

Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the elderly fit for freedom, the governor reversed the decision and declared that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unreasonable danger to the public if released from custody at this time.”

This marks the second time the governor has prevented her release, and the decision was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and overlooked the mistreatment she suffered from Manson.

“The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has nothing to do with the evidence of how much she’s changed or the risk she poses,” stated her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the facts and the controlling law.”

Background of the Murders

The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult committed the killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others, including socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder for their roles in the crimes.

Prison Transformation

In her decades behind bars – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior female prisoner – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys have reported. She has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, her attorney said, which was one of the reasons the parole board supported her parole.

Krenwinkel has shown regret for her actions in the offenses. Previously, she stated: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for the harm and anguish that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] focus on being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Reform

A 2017 investigation by the parole board revealed she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her lawyer noted, stating that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”.

Similar Instances

The governor has previously blocked parole for other former cult members. Another follower was released from state custody in 2023 after 53 years when a court of appeals reversed the governor's ruling to block her parole.