Gavin Newsom Rejects Early Release for Manson Follower Longtime Inmate

The governor again rejected parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than half a century in prison for her role in the 1969 murders orchestrated by Charles Manson.

Parole Reversal Sparks Backlash

Months after the state parole panel found the 77-year-old suitable for release, the governor reversed the ruling and stated that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unreasonable danger to society if freed from custody at this time.”

It was the second time the governor has blocked her parole, and the move was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” 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 how much she’s changed or the danger she presents,” said her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the evidence and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Murders

The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson's followers carried out the murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, 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 in prison – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys stated. She has earned college degrees and her conduct is clean, legal counsel said, which was a key factor the panel recommended her for release.

The inmate has expressed remorse for her actions in the crimes. In 2022, she stated: “I want to say my deep regret 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] work toward being a better person.”

Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation

A 2017 investigation by the parole board found she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her attorney noted, stating that she has found her “own identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.

Similar Instances

The governor has previously blocked parole for other former Manson followers. Another follower was released from state custody in 2023 after 53 years when a court of appeals reversed the governor's ruling to deny her release.