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Gavin Newsom has once more refused parole for the convicted inmate, who has served more than five decades in prison for her involvement in the 1969 murders masterminded by Charles Manson.

Governor's Decision Draws Backlash

Months after California’s parole board found the elderly suitable for release, the governor reversed the decision and declared that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unreasonable danger to the public if released from custody at this time.”

This marks the second time Newsom has blocked her parole, and the move was met with sharp criticism from her legal representative, who argued the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the abuse she suffered from the cult figure.

“Newsom’s reversal of Pat’s grant has nothing to do with the record of how much she’s changed or the risk she presents,” stated Keith Wattley, her legal counsel. “It is 100% political, directly contrary to the facts and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Murders

The inmate was 21 when the Manson's followers committed the killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others, including heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of seven counts of murder charges for their involvement in the attack.

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 clean, legal counsel said, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.

The inmate has shown regret for her actions in the offenses. In 2022, she said: “I want to say my deep regret 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] work toward being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the parole board revealed she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by the cult leader, her attorney noted, stating that she has developed her “own identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.

Similar Instances

Newsom has previously blocked parole for other former cult members. Leslie Van Houten was freed from California prison in recent years after over five decades when a state appeals court overturned the governor's ruling to block her parole.