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The governor has once more denied parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than half a century behind bars for her involvement in the 1969 murders masterminded by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Sparks Backlash

Months after California’s parole board found the elderly fit for freedom, Newsom overturned the ruling and stated that the inmate “currently poses an unreasonable danger to the public if released from custody at this time.”

It was the second instance Newsom has prevented her parole, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and failed to consider the mistreatment she suffered from Manson.

“The governor's decision of her parole approval has nothing to do with the record of how much she’s changed or the risk she presents,” stated Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the facts and the controlling law.”

Case History of the Murders

The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson cult carried out the murders of actress Sharon Tate and several others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the attack.

Prison Transformation

Over many years behind bars – she is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – 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 a key factor the panel recommended her for release.

Krenwinkel has shown regret for her role in the offenses. Previously, she said: “I wish to express my deep regret I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the authorities found she endured abuse in multiple forms by the cult leader, her attorney said in a statement, adding that she has developed her “personal identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.

Similar Instances

Newsom has previously blocked release for other cult members. Leslie Van Houten was released from state custody in 2023 after 53 years when a state appeals court reversed the governor’s decision to block her parole.