Gavin Newsom Again Denies Parole for Cult Member Patricia Krenwinkel

The governor again rejected release for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served more than half a century in prison for her involvement in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by the cult leader.

Governor's Decision Draws Backlash

Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the 77-year-old suitable for freedom, Newsom reversed the decision and declared that the inmate “currently represents 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 strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the abuse she endured from Manson.

“The governor's decision of her parole approval has no connection to the evidence of her transformation or the risk she presents,” said her attorney, her legal counsel. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the facts and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Crimes

The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson cult committed the killings of actor Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the attack.

Prison Transformation

In her decades behind bars – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has reformed, friends and her legal team stated. She has earned college degrees and her behavior record is spotless, her attorney said, which was a key factor the panel supported her parole.

The inmate has expressed remorse for her role in the crimes. In 2022, she stated: “I wish to express my deep regret I am for the harm and anguish that I created when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to live amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her lawyer noted, adding that she has found her “own identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

Newsom has previously blocked release for other former cult members. Another follower was released from California prison in 2023 after 53 years when a state appeals court reversed the governor’s decision to block her parole.