🔗 Share this article Gavin Newsom Blocks Parole for Cult Member Longtime Inmate The governor again denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, 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 Criticism Nearly five months after California’s parole board found the 77-year-old suitable for release, Newsom reversed the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unreasonable danger to the public if released from prison at this time.” It was the second instance Newsom has prevented her parole, and the decision was met with sharp criticism from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor opted for “politics over people” and failed to consider the abuse she endured from Manson. “The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has nothing to do with the evidence of how much she’s changed or the risk she presents,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the evidence and the governing regulations.” Case History of the Murders Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson's followers committed the killings of actress Sharon Tate and several others, including heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder for their roles in the crimes. Life Behind Bars In her decades in prison – she is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has reformed, friends and her legal team stated. She has obtained higher education and her behavior record is spotless, legal counsel said, which was a key factor the panel recommended her for release. Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her actions in the crimes. Previously, she said: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I created when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.” Past Abuse and Rehabilitation An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her attorney said in a statement, adding that she has developed her “personal identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”. Similar Instances Newsom has previously blocked release for other former cult members. Another follower was released from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a state appeals court overturned the governor’s decision to block her parole.