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Gavin Newsom has once more rejected parole for the convicted inmate, who has served over five decades in prison for her role in the notorious murders masterminded by Charles Manson.

Parole Reversal Draws Backlash

Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the elderly suitable for release, the governor reversed the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unacceptable risk to society if freed from custody at this time.”

It was the second time Newsom has prevented her release, and the move was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who claimed the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the mistreatment she endured from Manson.

“The governor's decision of her parole approval has nothing to do with the evidence of her transformation or the risk she presents,” stated Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the facts and the controlling law.”

Case History of the Crimes

Krenwinkel was 21 when the Manson's followers committed the murders of actor Sharon Tate and several others, including socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder for their involvement in the attack.

Life Behind Bars

In her decades behind bars – she is the state's most senior female prisoner – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys have reported. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, legal counsel noted, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.

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

Previous Mistreatment and Reform

A 2017 investigation by the authorities found she experienced abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, adding that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

Newsom has previously denied release for other cult members. Another follower was released from California prison in recent years after 53 years when a state appeals court reversed the governor's ruling to block her parole.