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The governor has once more refused parole for the convicted inmate, who has served over five decades in prison for her involvement in the notorious murders masterminded by Charles Manson.

Parole Reversal Draws Backlash

Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the 77-year-old fit for freedom, Newsom reversed the ruling and declared 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 her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the abuse she suffered from Manson.

“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has no connection to the record of her transformation or the risk she presents,” stated Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the facts and the controlling law.”

Case History of the Murders

The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult carried out the killings of actor Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of multiple counts of first-degree murder for their roles in the attack.

Life Behind Bars

Over many years in prison – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team stated. She has earned college degrees and her conduct is spotless, her attorney noted, which was one of the reasons the parole board recommended her for release.

Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her actions in the offenses. Previously, she said: “I want to say my deep regret I am for the harm and anguish that I caused when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”

Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation

A 2017 investigation by the authorities revealed she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her lawyer noted, stating that she has found her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”.

Similar Instances

The governor has previously blocked release for other cult members. Leslie Van Houten was freed from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a court of appeals reversed the governor's ruling to deny her release.