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Gavin Newsom has once more refused release for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than five decades in prison for her involvement in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by the cult leader.

Governor's Decision Sparks Criticism

Months after the state parole panel found the 77-year-old fit for release, Newsom reversed the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently poses an unacceptable risk to the public if freed from custody at this time.”

This marks the second time the governor has blocked her parole, and the decision was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who argued the governor opted for “politics over people” and failed to consider the mistreatment she endured from the cult figure.

“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has no connection to the evidence of how much she’s changed or the danger she poses,” said her attorney, her legal counsel. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the facts and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Murders

The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson cult carried out the killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others, including heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the attack.

Prison Transformation

Over many years behind bars – she is California’s longest serving female prisoner – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys have reported. She has earned college degrees and her behavior record is spotless, her attorney said, which was a key factor the parole board recommended her for release.

Krenwinkel has shown regret for her actions in the crimes. In 2022, she said: “I want to say my deep regret I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I took the lives that I did … I strive daily to live amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”

Past Abuse and Reform

An earlier inquiry by the authorities revealed she endured abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her lawyer noted, adding that she has developed her “personal identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”.

Other Cases

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