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The governor again refused release for the convicted inmate, who has served more than half a century in prison for her involvement in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Sparks Criticism

Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the elderly fit for freedom, the governor overturned the ruling and declared that the inmate “currently poses an unreasonable danger to the public if released from prison at this time.”

It was the second time Newsom has blocked her release, 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 suffered from the cult figure.

“The governor's decision of her parole approval has nothing to do with the record of her transformation or the danger she poses,” said her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the facts and the controlling law.”

Case History of the Crimes

The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson's followers carried out the murders of actor Sharon Tate and four others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of seven counts of murder charges for their involvement in the crimes.

Prison Transformation

In her decades behind bars – she is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team have reported. She has earned college degrees and her conduct is spotless, legal counsel said, which was a key factor the panel supported her parole.

The inmate has expressed remorse for her actions in the offenses. Previously, she said: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to live amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Previous Mistreatment and Reform

A 2017 investigation by the parole board found she endured abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, stating that she has found her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”.

Other Cases

The governor has previously blocked release for other former cult members. Another follower was freed from California prison in 2023 after over five decades when a state appeals court overturned the governor’s decision to deny her release.