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Gavin Newsom has once more rejected parole for the convicted inmate, who has served over half a century in prison for her involvement in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by Charles Manson.

Governor's Decision Sparks Backlash

Months after California’s parole board found the 77-year-old suitable for freedom, the governor overturned the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently represents an unreasonable danger to society if released from custody at this time.”

This marks the second instance the governor has blocked her parole, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from her legal representative, who argued the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the abuse she suffered from Manson.

“The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has no connection to the evidence of how much she’s changed or the danger she presents,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the facts and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Crimes

The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult committed the killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others, among them socialite 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 found guilty of seven counts of first-degree murder for their involvement in the attack.

Prison Transformation

In her decades in prison – she is the state's most senior female prisoner – she has reformed, friends and her legal team have reported. She has earned college degrees and her behavior record is clean, her attorney said, which was one of the reasons the panel recommended her for release.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her role in the crimes. Previously, she said: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for the harm and anguish that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.”

Past Abuse and Reform

A 2017 investigation by the authorities revealed she experienced abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her lawyer noted, stating that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.

Similar Instances

Newsom has previously denied release for other former Manson followers. Leslie Van Houten was released from California prison in 2023 after 53 years when a court of appeals reversed the governor's ruling to block her parole.