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Gavin Newsom has once more rejected release for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent over five decades in prison for her role in the 1969 murders orchestrated by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Draws Backlash

Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the 77-year-old suitable for freedom, Newsom reversed the decision and declared that the inmate “currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time.”

It was the second instance Newsom has prevented her release, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from her legal representative, who claimed the governor chose “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she endured from the cult figure.

“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of her transformation or the risk she presents,” stated her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the facts and the controlling law.”

Background of the Murders

Krenwinkel was 21 when the Manson's followers committed the killings of actress Sharon Tate and several others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of multiple 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 reformed, supporters and attorneys have reported. She has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, her attorney said, which was a key factor the panel supported her parole.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her role in the offenses. Previously, she stated: “I want to say my deep regret 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] focus on self-improvement.”

Past Abuse and Reform

A 2017 investigation by the authorities found she experienced abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her attorney noted, adding that she has found her “personal identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

Newsom has previously denied release for other Manson followers. Another follower was released from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a state appeals court reversed the governor’s decision to block her parole.