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California Governor Gavin Newsom has denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, a former member of the notorious Manson Family, ensuring she remains incarcerated. The decision, announced on October 13, overturns a previous recommendation by the parole board for her release.
Governor Newsom cited concerns about Krenwinkel’s potential threat to society, describing her as an “unreasonable danger.” According to CBS News, he emphasized that she has not yet demonstrated the necessary insight to guarantee public safety upon release.
Despite acknowledging Krenwinkel’s efforts in self-improvement—such as furthering her education, gaining vocational skills, and participating in service dog training—Newsom concluded these steps were insufficient for her parole.
Supporting his decision, Newsom referenced a psychological evaluation that highlighted Krenwinkel’s “deficits in self-awareness” and a tendency to “externalize blame” for her past actions. This assessment, reported by Fox News, played a significant role in the governor’s consideration.
Pointing to a finding from a psychologist who evaluated Krenwinkel, he said, she had “some deficits in self-awareness” and had a “tendency to externalize blame for her prior transgressions,” according to the decision also obtained by Fox News.
Who is Patricia Krenwinkel?
Krenwinkel was one of cult leader Charles Manson’s most devoted followers and participated in a bloody two-day killing spree in 1969 that left seven dead including pregnant actress Sharon Tate, her friends and unsuspecting couple Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.
Convicted in 1971 of seven counts of first-degree murder, Krenwinkel was originally sentenced to death, however, her sentence was later commuted to life in prison after the state briefly ruled the death penalty to be unconstitutional.
A parole board has twice recommended her release, most recently in May, but Newsom has intervened both times to deny her parole.
In his 2002 decision, Newsom praised her for demonstrating “positive institutional conduct” and “effusive remorse for her leadership role in the Family,” but he concluded that she should not be released.
“While Ms. Krenwinkel has matured in prison and engaged in commendable rehabilitative efforts,” he wrote at the time, “her efforts have not sufficiently reduced her risk for future dangerousness.”
Krenwinkel was present the night Manson’s followers, including Charles “Tex” Watson and Susan Atkins, broke into the home of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and brutally killed her and others at her Cielo Drive property in Los Angeles’ Benedict Canyon.
Krenwinkel is believed to have chased down coffee heiress Abigail Folger and stabbed her 28 times in the yard, according to Newsom’s 2022 ruling. The group also killed Steven Parent, Wojiciech Frykowski, and Jay Sebring before using the victims’ blood to write “pig” on the front door.
The next night, Watson, Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten continued their murderous spree, under the direction of Manson, at the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. The couple was brutally stabbed before the word “war” was carved into Leno’s stomach.
Since her arrest, Krenwinkel has spoken about the power Manson had over her and the others.
As she told parole officials in 2022, according to NPR, “I had just totally allowed myself to just start absolutely becoming devoid of any form of morality or real ethics.”
Krenwinkel’s Attorney Opposes Newsom’s Decision
After Newsom’s decision to keep her in prison, Krenwinkel’s attorney Keith Wattley spoke out.
“Patricia Krenwinkel is the longest-incarcerated woman in the United States,” Wattley said in a statement obtained by Fox News. “For more than five decades, she has committed to deep healing and rehabilitation, earning degrees, counseling others and becoming a mentor to younger women inside.”
He argued that she no longer poses an “unreasonable risk to public safety” and believed she should be released as a result.
In light of the governor’s decision, Krenwinkel will continue to carry out her sentence at the California Institution for Women.
