Gavin Newsom Again Denies Parole for Cult Member Longtime Inmate
Gavin Newsom has once more rejected release for the convicted inmate, who has served over half a century in prison for her role in the 1969 murders orchestrated by Charles Manson.
Parole Reversal Sparks Criticism
Months after California’s parole board deemed the 77-year-old suitable for release, the governor overturned the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently represents an unreasonable danger to society if freed from prison at this time.”
It was the second time Newsom has prevented her release, and the move was met with sharp criticism from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the abuse she endured from Manson.
“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of how much she’s changed or the danger she presents,” said Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It is 100% 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 actress Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of seven counts of murder charges for their involvement in the attack.
Life Behind Bars
Over many years in prison – she is California’s longest serving female prisoner – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys stated. She has earned college degrees and her conduct is spotless, her attorney noted, which was one of the reasons the parole board supported her parole.
The inmate has expressed remorse for her actions in the crimes. In 2022, she stated: “I wish to express how terribly sorry I am for the harm and anguish that I created when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”
Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation
An earlier inquiry by the parole board found she experienced abuse in multiple forms by the cult leader, her attorney noted, stating that she has found her “personal identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.
Similar Instances
The governor has previously denied release for other cult members. Another follower was freed from California prison in 2023 after 53 years when a state appeals court reversed the governor’s decision to deny her release.
