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Gavin Newsom has once more refused parole for the convicted inmate, who has served more than five decades in prison for her involvement in the 1969 murders masterminded by Charles Manson.

Parole Reversal Draws Criticism

Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the elderly fit for release, Newsom overturned the decision and stated that the inmate “currently represents an unacceptable risk to society if released from prison at this time.”

This marks the second instance the governor has blocked her release, and the decision was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor chose “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she endured from Manson.

“The governor's decision of her parole approval has nothing to do with the record of how much she’s changed or the risk she presents,” stated her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the evidence and the controlling law.”

Case History of the Murders

Krenwinkel was 21 when the Manson cult committed the murders of actor Sharon Tate and four others, including socialite Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening killed Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of seven counts of murder charges for their roles in the crimes.

Prison Transformation

In her decades in prison – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys stated. She has obtained higher education 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 role in the offenses. In 2022, she said: “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 strive daily to live amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”

Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation

A 2017 investigation by the authorities found she experienced abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her attorney noted, stating that she has developed her “personal identity, independence, and moral compass”.

Other Cases

The governor has previously denied release for other former cult members. Another follower was freed from California prison in 2023 after 53 years when a state appeals court overturned the governor’s decision to deny her release.