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Gavin Newsom again rejected parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than five decades behind bars for her role in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Draws Criticism

Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the elderly fit for release, Newsom overturned the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unreasonable danger to society if freed from prison at this time.”

It was the second time Newsom has blocked her parole, and the decision was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the mistreatment she suffered from the cult figure.

“The governor's decision of her parole approval has no connection to the evidence of her transformation or the danger she presents,” said her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the evidence and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Crimes

The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult carried out the murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder for their roles in the attack.

Prison Transformation

In her decades behind bars – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys stated. She has earned college degrees and her behavior record is spotless, legal counsel noted, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.

The inmate has shown regret for her role in the offenses. Previously, she stated: “I wish to express how terribly sorry I am for the harm and anguish that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

A 2017 investigation by the authorities found she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her attorney said in a statement, stating that she has developed her “personal identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

Newsom has previously blocked parole for other former cult members. Leslie Van Houten was freed from California prison in recent years after 53 years when a court of appeals overturned the governor’s decision to block her parole.