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Gavin Newsom has once more denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served over half a century in prison for her involvement in the 1969 murders masterminded by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Draws Criticism

Months after the state parole panel found the elderly suitable for freedom, the governor reversed the decision and stated that the inmate “currently represents an unreasonable danger to the public if freed from custody at this time.”

This marks the second instance Newsom has prevented her parole, 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 abuse she suffered from the cult figure.

“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of her transformation or the risk she poses,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the evidence and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Crimes

Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson cult committed the murders of actor Sharon Tate and several others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the crimes.

Prison Transformation

In her decades 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 spotless, legal counsel said, which was one of the reasons the parole board recommended her for release.

Krenwinkel has shown regret for her role in the offenses. In 2022, she stated: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for the harm and anguish that I created when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to live amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation

A 2017 investigation by the parole board found she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her attorney noted, stating that she has developed her “own identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.

Similar Instances

Newsom has previously blocked parole for other Manson followers. Leslie Van Houten was released from state custody in 2023 after 53 years when a state appeals court overturned the governor’s decision to deny her release.