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The governor has once more refused parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than five decades in prison for her role in the notorious murders orchestrated by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Sparks Backlash

Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the 77-year-old suitable for freedom, the governor reversed the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unreasonable danger to society if freed from prison at this time.”

It was the second instance the governor has prevented her parole, and the move was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who argued the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she endured from the cult figure.

“The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has nothing to do with the evidence of her transformation or the danger she presents,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the facts and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Crimes

The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult committed the murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder for their roles in the attack.

Life Behind Bars

In her decades behind bars – she is California’s longest serving female prisoner – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team have reported. She has earned college degrees and her behavior record is spotless, her attorney said, which was one of the reasons the panel recommended her for release.

Krenwinkel has shown regret for her actions in the crimes. In 2022, she stated: “I wish to express 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 self-improvement.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the parole board found she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her lawyer noted, stating that she has developed her “own identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

Newsom has previously denied release for other cult members. Leslie Van Houten was released from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a state appeals court overturned the governor's ruling to block her parole.