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The governor again denied release for the convicted inmate, who has served over five decades behind bars for her role in the 1969 murders orchestrated by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Sparks Criticism

Nearly five months after the state parole panel deemed the elderly fit for freedom, the governor overturned the ruling and declared that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unacceptable risk 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 argued the governor chose “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the abuse she suffered from Manson.

“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of her transformation or the danger she presents,” stated her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the evidence and the controlling law.”

Background of the Crimes

The inmate was 21 when the Manson's followers committed the killings of actress Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of seven counts of murder charges for their roles in the attack.

Prison Transformation

In her decades in prison – she is California’s longest serving female prisoner – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys stated. Krenwinkel has earned college degrees and her conduct is clean, her attorney noted, which was one of the reasons the panel 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] work toward being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

A 2017 investigation by the parole board found she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her attorney said in a statement, adding that she has found her “own identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

Newsom has previously denied release for other Manson followers. Another follower was freed from California prison in recent years after 53 years when a state appeals court reversed the governor's ruling to deny her release.