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The governor again rejected release for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than five decades in prison for her involvement in the 1969 murders orchestrated by Charles Manson.

Parole Reversal Sparks Backlash

Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the elderly suitable for freedom, the governor overturned the decision and declared that the inmate “currently represents an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time.”

It was the second time Newsom has prevented her release, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the abuse she suffered from Manson.

“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has no connection to the evidence of her transformation or the risk she presents,” stated Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the evidence and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Crimes

Krenwinkel was 21 when the Manson's followers carried out the killings of actor Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening killed Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. In 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the crimes.

Prison Transformation

In her decades behind bars – she is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys have reported. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her conduct is clean, legal counsel noted, which was one of the reasons the parole board supported her parole.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her role in the crimes. Previously, she stated: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I ended the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.”

Past Abuse and Reform

An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she experienced abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her attorney noted, adding that she has found her “personal identity, independence, and moral compass”.

Other Cases

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