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The governor again refused parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent more than five decades behind bars for her role in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by Charles Manson.

Parole Reversal Sparks Backlash

Nearly five months after the state parole panel found the 77-year-old suitable for freedom, Newsom reversed the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unacceptable risk to the public if released from custody at this time.”

It was the second instance Newsom has blocked her parole, and the move was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who argued the governor chose “politics over people” and overlooked the abuse she suffered from the cult figure.

“The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of how much she’s changed or the risk she presents,” said Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, in opposition to the facts and the governing regulations.”

Background of the Murders

The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult committed the killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others, including socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the following night killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. By 1971, she and fellow cult members were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the crimes.

Life Behind Bars

In her decades behind bars – she is the state's most senior female prisoner – she has turned her life around, supporters and attorneys have reported. Krenwinkel has earned college degrees and her conduct is clean, her attorney noted, which was one of the reasons the panel supported her parole.

Krenwinkel has shown regret for her actions in the offenses. Previously, she said: “I wish to express how terribly sorry I am for the harm and anguish that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to live amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

A 2017 investigation by the authorities revealed she experienced abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her lawyer noted, stating that she has developed her “personal identity, self-reliance, and ethical guidance”.

Other Cases

Newsom has previously blocked release for other former cult members. Another follower was freed from California prison in recent years after 53 years when a court of appeals overturned the governor's ruling to deny her release.