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The governor has once more rejected parole for the convicted inmate, who has served over five decades behind bars for her role in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by Charles Manson.

Governor's Decision Draws Backlash

Months after the state parole panel found the elderly fit for release, Newsom overturned the ruling and stated that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from custody at this time.”

It was the second instance Newsom has blocked her parole, and the move was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and overlooked the mistreatment she suffered from the cult figure.

“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has no connection to the evidence of how much she’s changed or the danger she poses,” said Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the facts and the controlling law.”

Background of the Murders

The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult committed the murders of actor Sharon Tate and four others, including heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the crimes.

Prison Transformation

In her decades in prison – she is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has reformed, friends and her legal team stated. She has earned college degrees and her conduct is clean, her attorney noted, which was one of the reasons the parole board supported her parole.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her actions in the crimes. In 2022, she said: “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 try every day to make amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Reform

A 2017 investigation by the parole board found she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her attorney said in a statement, adding that she has developed her “own identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

The governor has previously denied parole for other Manson followers. Leslie Van Houten was released from California prison in 2023 after over five decades when a state appeals court overturned the governor’s decision to block her parole.