🔗 Share this article California's Governor Rejects Early Release for Manson Follower Longtime Inmate Gavin Newsom again refused release for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent more than five decades in prison for her role in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by the cult leader. Parole Reversal Sparks Backlash Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the 77-year-old suitable for release, the governor reversed the decision and declared that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unreasonable danger to the public if released from custody at this time.” It was the second time Newsom has prevented her parole, and the decision was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she suffered from Manson. “Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has nothing to do with the record of her transformation or the risk she poses,” said her attorney, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the facts and the controlling law.” Background of the Crimes The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson cult carried out the killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of seven counts of murder charges for their involvement in the attack. Life Behind Bars Over many years behind bars – 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 behavior record is clean, her attorney noted, which was a key factor the panel recommended her for release. Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her role in the offenses. Previously, she stated: “I wish to express my deep regret I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I try every day to live amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.” Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, adding that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”. Other Cases Newsom has previously blocked parole for other former cult members. Another follower was freed from state custody in 2023 after 53 years when a state appeals court reversed the governor's ruling to block her parole.