California's Governor Rejects Parole for Cult Member Longtime Inmate
The governor again refused release for the convicted inmate, who has served over five decades in prison for her involvement in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by the cult leader.
Parole Reversal Draws Criticism
Months after the state parole panel deemed the 77-year-old fit for release, the governor reversed the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from custody at this time.”
This marks the second instance Newsom has blocked her parole, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the abuse she endured from Manson.
“The governor's decision of her parole approval has nothing to do with the evidence of how much she’s changed or the risk she poses,” stated her attorney, her legal counsel. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the facts and the governing regulations.”
Background of the Murders
Krenwinkel was 21 when the Manson cult committed the murders of actor Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of multiple 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 incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys stated. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, legal counsel noted, which was one of the reasons the parole board recommended her for release.
Krenwinkel has shown regret for her role in the crimes. 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 strive daily to live amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”
Previous Mistreatment and Reform
An earlier inquiry by the parole board found she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her lawyer said in a statement, stating that she has found her “personal identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.
Other Cases
The governor has previously denied parole for other former cult members. Another follower was released from California prison in 2023 after over five decades when a court of appeals overturned the governor’s decision to block her parole.