Gavin Newsom Again Denies Parole for Cult Member Patricia Krenwinkel
The governor again refused release for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than half a century behind bars for her involvement in the 1969 murders orchestrated by Charles Manson.
Governor's Decision Draws Criticism
Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the elderly fit for freedom, the governor overturned the decision and declared that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unacceptable risk to society if released from prison at this time.”
It was the second instance Newsom has blocked her release, and the decision was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who claimed the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and overlooked the mistreatment she suffered from Manson.
“The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of how much she’s changed or the danger she poses,” stated her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the facts and the controlling law.”
Case History of the Murders
Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson's followers carried out the killings of actor Sharon Tate and four others, including socialite Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their involvement in the crimes.
Life Behind Bars
In her decades in prison – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys have reported. She has earned college degrees and her behavior record is clean, her attorney noted, which was a key factor the panel supported her parole.
The inmate has expressed remorse for her actions in the offenses. In 2022, she said: “I want to say my deep regret I am for the harm and anguish that I caused when I took the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.”
Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation
An earlier inquiry by the authorities revealed she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her attorney noted, stating that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”.
Similar Instances
The governor has previously blocked parole for other cult members. Another follower was freed from state custody in recent years after over five decades when a court of appeals reversed the governor’s decision to block her parole.
