Gavin Newsom Blocks Parole for Manson Follower Longtime Inmate

Gavin Newsom again refused parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than five decades in prison for her involvement in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by the cult leader.

Governor's Decision Draws Criticism

Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the elderly fit for release, Newsom overturned the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently poses an unacceptable risk to the public if released from custody at this time.”

It was the second time Newsom has prevented her release, and the move was met with sharp criticism from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor chose “politics over people” and failed to consider the abuse she endured from Manson.

“The governor's decision of her parole approval has no connection to the record of her transformation or the danger she presents,” said Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the evidence and the controlling law.”

Background of the Crimes

Krenwinkel was 21 when the Manson cult committed the killings of actor Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of multiple counts of murder charges for their involvement in the crimes.

Prison Transformation

In her decades in prison – she is California’s longest serving female prisoner – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team stated. She has obtained higher education and her conduct is spotless, her attorney said, which was a key factor the parole board recommended her for release.

The inmate has shown regret for her role in the offenses. Previously, she said: “I want to say my deep regret I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I took the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Previous Mistreatment and Reform

A 2017 investigation by the parole board revealed she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, adding that she has developed her “personal identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.

Similar Instances

The governor has previously denied release for other former cult members. Leslie Van Houten was freed from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a court of appeals reversed the governor’s decision to deny her release.