🔗 Share this article California's Governor Rejects Parole for Cult Member Patricia Krenwinkel Gavin Newsom again denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has spent more than five decades in prison for her involvement in the 1969 murders masterminded by the cult leader. Parole Reversal Sparks Criticism Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the elderly suitable for release, Newsom overturned the ruling and declared that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unacceptable risk to the public if released from prison at this time.” This marks the second time the governor has blocked her parole, and the decision was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the abuse she endured from Manson. “Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has nothing to do with the record of how much she’s changed or the danger she presents,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the facts and the controlling law.” Background of the Murders The inmate was twenty-one when the Manson cult committed the murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of multiple 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 turned her life around, supporters and attorneys have reported. She has obtained higher education and her behavior record is clean, her attorney said, which was a key factor the parole board recommended her for release. The inmate has shown regret for her role in the crimes. In 2022, she said: “I want to say my deep regret I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to live amends … [and] focus on self-improvement.” Past Abuse and Reform An earlier inquiry by the authorities found she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her attorney said in a statement, stating that she has developed her “own identity, self-reliance, and moral compass”. Other Cases Newsom has previously denied parole for other cult members. Another follower was released from state custody in 2023 after over five decades when a court of appeals overturned the governor's ruling to block her parole.