California's Governor Rejects Parole for Manson Follower Longtime Inmate
Gavin Newsom has once more refused parole for the convicted inmate, who has served over five decades behind bars for her involvement in the 1969 murders orchestrated by Charles Manson.
Governor's Decision Sparks Backlash
Nearly five months after the state parole panel deemed the elderly suitable for freedom, Newsom overturned the ruling and stated that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unacceptable risk to the public if freed from custody at this time.”
This marks the second instance the governor has prevented her parole, and the move was met with sharp criticism from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who claimed the governor chose “politics over people” and overlooked the abuse she endured 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 her attorney, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the facts and the controlling law.”
Background of the Crimes
Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson's followers carried out the murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of seven counts of murder charges for their roles in the crimes.
Life Behind Bars
Over many years in prison – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys stated. She has earned college degrees and her behavior record is spotless, her attorney said, which was one of the reasons the parole board recommended her for release.
Krenwinkel has shown regret for her role in the offenses. Previously, she said: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for the harm and anguish that I created when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to live amends … [and] focus on being a better person.”
Past Abuse and Rehabilitation
A 2017 investigation by the authorities found she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her lawyer said in a statement, stating that she has developed her “personal identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.
Other Cases
Newsom has previously blocked release for other former cult members. Another follower was released from state custody in recent years after 53 years when a state appeals court reversed the governor's ruling to deny her release.
