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The governor again rejected release for the convicted inmate, who has spent over five decades in prison for her role in the 1969 murders masterminded by Charles Manson.

Parole Reversal Sparks Criticism

Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the elderly fit for release, the governor overturned the decision and stated that the inmate “currently represents an unreasonable danger to society if released from custody at this time.”

It was the second instance the governor has prevented her parole, and the decision was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and overlooked the mistreatment she endured from the cult figure.

“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has nothing to do with the record of how much she’s changed or the risk she presents,” said Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the facts and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Crimes

Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson cult carried out the murders of actor Sharon Tate and four others, including socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered 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 roles in the crimes.

Life Behind Bars

In her decades in prison – Krenwinkel is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys have reported. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her behavior record is spotless, legal counsel said, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.

The inmate has shown regret for her role in the crimes. In 2022, she said: “I wish to express how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.”

Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation

A 2017 investigation by the authorities revealed she endured abuse in multiple forms by the cult leader, her lawyer noted, adding that she has found her “own identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.

Other Cases

Newsom has previously denied release for other cult members. Leslie Van Houten was released from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a court of appeals overturned the governor’s decision to block her parole.