Gavin Newsom Again Denies Early Release for Cult Member Patricia Krenwinkel
Gavin Newsom again denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served over half a century in prison for her role in the 1969 murders masterminded by the cult leader.
Parole Reversal Sparks Criticism
Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the 77-year-old suitable for release, the governor overturned the decision and declared that the inmate “currently poses an unreasonable danger to the public if released from prison at this time.”
It was the second time the governor has blocked her parole, and the move was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who claimed the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the mistreatment she suffered from Manson.
“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has no connection to the evidence of how much she’s changed or the danger she presents,” stated her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the evidence and the controlling law.”
Background of the Murders
Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson's followers committed the murders of actress Sharon Tate and several others, including heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder for their involvement in the crimes.
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 stated. She has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, legal counsel said, which was a key factor the panel supported her parole.
Krenwinkel has shown regret for her role in the crimes. In 2022, she stated: “I want to say my deep regret I am for the harm and anguish that I caused when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”
Past Abuse and Reform
An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she experienced abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, adding that she has found her “personal identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.
Similar Instances
Newsom has previously blocked release for other former cult members. Another follower was freed from California prison in 2023 after 53 years when a court of appeals reversed the governor’s decision to deny her release.
