California's Governor Again Denies Early Release for Cult Member Longtime Inmate
Gavin Newsom has once more rejected parole for the convicted inmate, who has served more than half a century behind bars for her role in the notorious murders masterminded by the cult leader.
Parole Reversal Sparks Backlash
Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the elderly suitable for release, Newsom overturned the ruling and declared that the inmate “currently represents an unacceptable risk to society if released from custody at this time.”
It was the second instance Newsom has blocked her parole, and the move was met with sharp criticism from her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “political motives over human considerations” and overlooked the abuse she endured from the cult figure.
“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has nothing to do with the record of her transformation or the danger she poses,” stated her attorney, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the facts and the governing regulations.”
Background of the Murders
Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson's followers carried out the killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others, among them heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the following night murdered Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder for their involvement in the crimes.
Prison Transformation
In her decades behind bars – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving incarcerated woman – she has turned her life around, friends and her legal team have reported. Krenwinkel has obtained higher education and her conduct is spotless, legal counsel noted, which was a key factor the panel supported her parole.
The inmate has expressed remorse for her role in the offenses. Previously, she stated: “I want to say my deep regret I am for the harm and anguish that I created when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to make amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”
Past Abuse and Rehabilitation
A 2017 investigation by the authorities revealed she experienced abuse in multiple forms by the cult leader, her attorney said in a statement, stating that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”.
Similar Instances
The governor has previously blocked parole for other cult members. Another follower was freed from state custody in recent years after over five decades when a state appeals court reversed the governor’s decision to block her parole.
