Gavin Newsom Rejects Early Release for Cult Member Longtime Inmate
The governor has once more denied release for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than half a century behind bars for her role in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by the cult leader.
Governor's Decision Draws Criticism
Months after the state parole panel deemed the elderly fit for freedom, Newsom overturned the decision and stated that the inmate “currently represents an unacceptable risk to society if released from custody at this time.”
It was the second time Newsom has prevented her parole, and the move was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the abuse she endured from the cult figure.
“The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has nothing to do with the record of her transformation or the danger she poses,” said her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the facts and the governing regulations.”
Background of the Murders
Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson's followers committed the killings of actor Sharon Tate and four others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the attack.
Life Behind Bars
In her decades in prison – she is the state's most senior female prisoner – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys stated. Krenwinkel has earned college degrees and her conduct is clean, her attorney noted, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.
Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her role in the crimes. In 2022, she said: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to live amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.”
Previous Mistreatment and Reform
An earlier inquiry by the parole board found she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her attorney noted, adding that she has found her “own identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.
Similar Instances
Newsom has previously blocked release for other former cult members. Leslie Van Houten was freed from California prison in 2023 after 53 years when a state appeals court reversed the governor’s decision to deny her release.
