Gavin Newsom Blocks Parole for Cult Member Patricia Krenwinkel
The governor again refused parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than five decades behind bars for her involvement in the notorious murders orchestrated by Charles Manson.
Parole Reversal Draws Backlash
Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the elderly suitable for freedom, the governor overturned the ruling and declared that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unreasonable danger to the public if released from prison at this time.”
This marks the second time Newsom has blocked her parole, and the move was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “politics over people” and failed to consider the abuse she suffered from Manson.
“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has nothing to do with the evidence of how much she’s changed or the danger she poses,” said her attorney, her legal counsel. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the facts and the controlling law.”
Case History of the Crimes
The inmate was 21 when the Manson's followers committed the murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others, including heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. In 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of seven counts of first-degree murder for their involvement in the crimes.
Life Behind Bars
Over many years in prison – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving female prisoner – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team have reported. Krenwinkel has earned college degrees and her behavior record is clean, her attorney noted, which was a key factor the parole board supported her parole.
Krenwinkel has shown regret for her role in the crimes. In 2022, she said: “I wish to express how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I took the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] focus on being a better person.”
Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation
An earlier inquiry by the authorities revealed she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her lawyer noted, stating that she has found her “personal identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.
Similar Instances
Newsom has previously denied release for other cult members. Another follower was freed from California prison in 2023 after over five decades when a state appeals court overturned the governor’s decision to deny her release.
