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San Francisco Chronicle
04-06-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
How a 77-year-old Manson follower has Newsom in familiar bind
Once again, a state parole board has found one of cult leader Charles Manson's followers – Patricia Krenwinkel – suitable for release after more than 56 years behind bars for her role in seven 1969 murders. And once again, Gov. Gavin Newsom must decide whether there is any evidence that Krenwinkel, 77, would pose any danger if released – and whether a decision to free her would affect his political future. The Board of Parole Hearings, whose members were appointed by the governor, voted Friday to grant parole to Krenwinkel, the state's longest-serving female prisoner. The board had ruled against her 14 times before recommending parole in 2022, but Newsom vetoed her release, saying she had not shown 'sufficient insight' into her crimes. The governor gave a similar explanation in 2022 for vetoing the parole of another Manson follower, Leslie Van Houten, whose release had been approved five times by the parole board since 2016 but blocked each time by Govs. Jerry Brown and Newsom. But a state appeals court ruled in 2023 that Newsom had failed to justify his conclusions that Van Houten, 73, lacked sufficient understanding of her actions and could still be dangerous after 54 years in prison. She was freed after the governor decided not to appeal the ruling. 'The only factor that can explain this veto (of Van Houten's parole) is political optics, and California law does not allow governors to veto people's parole because it will look bad,' said Hadar Aviram, a professor at UC College of the Law San Francisco and author of the 2020 book 'Yesterday's Monsters: The Manson Family Cases and the Illusion of Parole.' And she said the same thinking will most likely affect Newsom's upcoming decision on Krenwinkel, once the parole board's decision becomes final in 120 days. 'What does he think people have an appetite for in this political reality?' Aviram asked, noting California voters' approval last November of Proposition 36, which increased some sentences for drug crimes. 'It costs him nothing to oppose (her release). In the worst-case scenario, the court overrules him again and she gets out.' Manson ordered seven of his followers, including the 21-year-old Krenwinkel and two other young women, to kill nine people in three gruesome attacks in the Benedict Canyon area of Los Angeles in July and August 1969. During her trial, Krenwinkel admitted chasing Abigail Folger, heiress of the Folger coffee family, and stabbing her 25 times in the home of actress Sharon Tate, another murder victim, and then helping to kill grocery store executive Leno Bianca and his wife, Rosemary, and using their blood to scrawl 'Death to pigs' on a wall. Convicted of seven murders, Krenwinkel was sentenced to death along with Manson and three others in 1971. But the sentences were reduced to life with the possibility of parole after the California Supreme Court overturned the state's death penalty law in 1972. The voters passed a new law in 1977 making capital crimes punishable by death or life in prison without the possibility of parole, but those sentenced under the earlier law, including Krenwinkel, remained eligible for parole. Another ballot measure, approved by the voters in 1988, authorized the governor to veto decisions by the parole board. In prison, Krenwinkel has a clean disciplinary record, earned a college degree and has taken part in community-service programs, working to support other inmates with mental illnesses. At her 2022 parole hearing, she said that after dropping out of school and becoming an infatuated member of Manson's so-called family at age 19, 'I allowed myself to just start absolutely becoming devoid of any form of morality or real ethics.' In a statement released by Krenwinkel's lawyers, Jane Dorotik, a former inmate and now part of the support group California Coalition for Women Prisoners, said, 'Those of us who served time with her came to know her as a thoughtful, gentle, and kind person – someone deeply dedicated to creating a safe, caring environment.' Relatives of the murder victims have not been persuaded. 'I beg the board to consider parole for Patricia Krenwinkel only when her victims are paroled from their graves,' Anthony Demaria, a nephew of victim Jay Sebring, testified at one of her hearings. And Patrick Sequeira, a prosecutor in the murder cases, told the board that if Krenwinkel 'truly understood her crimes and the horrific nature of it, she wouldn't be here at a parole hearing. She would just accept a punishment.' Not so, said her lead attorney, Keith Wattley, executive director of UnCommon Law, an Oakland-based firm that represents inmates seeking parole. 'Pat has fully accepted responsibility for everything she did, everything she contributed to, every twisted philosophy she embraced and endorsed and, most importantly, every life she destroyed by her actions in 1969,' Wattley said in a statement after the board's latest decision. 'Now it's the Governor's turn to show that he believes in law and order when the law requires a person's release despite public outcry.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A Former Charles Manson Follower Was Just Recommended for Parole
Former Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel was recommended for parole on Friday, May 30 She was convicted on seven counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Sharon Tate, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Steven Earl Parent, Jay Sebring, Leno LaBianca and Rosemary LaBianca "Pat has fully accepted responsibility for everything she did, everything she contributed to, every twisted philosophy she embraced and endorsed and, most importantly, every life she destroyed by her actions in 1969," Keith Wattley, Patricia Krenwinkel's parole attorney, saidPatricia Krenwinkel, a one-time follower of cult leader Charles Manson, was recommended for parole on Friday, May 30. The California state parole board found Krenwinkel's risk of reoffending to be low, according to CBS. "This decision does not minimize or forgive the criminal conduct or the loss your victims and their families have suffered," Commissioner Gilbert Infante said, per CBS8. "At the time of these crimes, you exhibited all the hallmark features of youth. When we look at subsequent growth, you have made strides, and this is evidenced in the work you have done." The panel's decision must now be reviewed by the Board of Parole Hearings and then Governor Gavin Newsom, which can take up to 150 days. Krenwinkel was 21 when she and Manson's followers went on a two-day murder spree killing pregnant actor Sharon Tate, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Steven Earl Parent and Jay Sebring in August 1969 — as well as grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, the next night in what prosecutors called Manson's attempt to start a race war. Krenwinkel, now 77, testified that she stabbed Folger 28 times, per the New York Times. She later helped kill the LaBiancas the following night and wrote in blood on the walls, 'Death to Pigs,' according to the Times. She was convicted on seven counts of first-degree murder in April 1971 and sentenced to death. She was resentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 1972 after the death penalty in California was deemed unconstitutional. Krenwinkel, the longest-serving female inmate in the California prison system, first became eligible for parole in 1976. She has had 16 appearances before the state parole board. In 2022, Newsom overruled the recommendation by the Board of Parole Hearings for her release after citing that Krenwinkel still posed 'an unreasonable danger to society if paroled at this time.""Ms. Krenwinkel fully accepted Mr. Manson's racist, apocalyptical ideologies," Newsom said, per The Associated Press. "Ms. Krenwinkel was not only a victim of Mr. Manson's abuse. She was also a significant contributor to the violence and tragedy that became the Manson Family's legacy." Jay Sebring's nephew Anthony DiMaria spoke out at Friday's hearing. "Patricia Krenwinkel is not a follower, nor is she a victim," said DiMaria, according to CBS8. "She is a cold-blooded killer of eight people. The more accurate number is eight, as I include the murder of Tate's unborn son. Krenwinkel obliterated the rights of all of her victims. Charles Manson did not write Helter Skelter in blood. Patricia Krenwinkel did. She is the author of blood-smeared messages that terrified the world. Parole Patricia Krenwinkel once her victims are paroled from their graves." Keith Wattley, Krenwinkel's parole attorney, said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that the inmate should be released. "After 56-and-a-half years of incarceration with no rule violations, with substantial change in who she is, and with the last nine psychological evaluators over the past 40 years agreeing that Pat is no longer a risk, it's time to make the possibility of parole a reality," he said. "Pat has fully accepted responsibility for everything she did, everything she contributed to, every twisted philosophy she embraced and endorsed and, most importantly, every life she destroyed by her actions in 1969," Wattley continued. "Pat has participated in extensive therapy and group counseling to address her experiences as both a perpetrator and survivor of violence, allowing her to understand how she was able to cause this tragedy and helping others along their own healing journeys. This case also shows what happens when we don't officially offer any healing-focused alternative to survivors of violent crime. Pat and I wish them peace, if they can ever experience it after the harm she caused." In response to the recommendation, Sharon Tate's sister, Debra, has started a petition to keep Krenwinkel from getting parole. "Society cannot allow this serial killer who committed such horrible, gruesome, random killings back out," she wrote. "I am asking for your help by letting the parole board know that you do not want to see her get released by signing this petition." It has gained 116,790 signatures as of Monday morning. Manson died in prison in 2017. Read the original article on People
New York Post
02-06-2025
- New York Post
Manson family killer Patricia Krenwinkel recommended for parole 56 years after infamous murders
One of Charles Manson's accomplices has been recommended for parole after serving decades in prison for her role in the 1969 murders of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six others in California. A state parole board has again recommended the release of Patricia Krenwinkel, who is the longest-serving female inmate in the state. Advertisement At 77, Krenwinkel is still serving a life sentence at the California Institution for Women for her role in one of America's most notorious killing sprees. She was convicted on seven counts of first-degree murder in 1971. 4 A state parole board has again recommended the release of Patricia Krenwinkel. AP Krenwinkel was just 19 years old when she abandoned her life as a secretary in California to follow Charles Manson, the charismatic cult leader who has since transformed into one of history's darkest and most mysterious figures. Advertisement Drawn in by promises of love and spiritual enlightenment, Krenwinkel instead became a key figure in one of the most infamous crimes in American history. Krenwinkel personally stabbed heiress Abigail Folger multiple times and then participated in the murders of grocery store owners Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, writing 'Helter Skelter' and other phrases on the walls in the victims' blood. Convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder, Krenwinkel was originally sentenced to death. 4 Krenwinkel is the longest-serving female inmate in California. AP Advertisement But in 1972, her sentence was commuted to life in prison after California briefly abolished the death penalty. She has been incarcerated ever since. Over the years, Krenwinkel has expressed remorse and described years of psychological abuse at Manson's hands. She has stated she was under the influence of drugs and fear throughout her time in the cult. Nonetheless, her parole efforts have been repeatedly denied, with authorities citing the severity of her crimes. Advertisement In May 2022, Krenwinkel was recommended for parole for the first time, but the decision was reversed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Her most recent recommendation in 2024 now awaits approval, reigniting debate over justice, rehabilitation, and the enduring legacy of the Manson Family. 4 Charles Mason died in prison in 2017 at the age of 83. The recommendation came on Friday and must still pass several hurdles before being confirmed. It requires final approval from the full Board of Parole Hearings and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who denied a similar parole recommendation in 2022. That review process can take up to 150 days. According to state prison officials, she had previously been denied parole 14 times. Charles Mason died in prison in 2017 at the age of 83. Manson, whose name to this day is synonymous with unspeakable violence and madness, died of natural causes at Kern County hospital, according to a California Department of Corrections statement. Advertisement Manson — who exerted a form of mind control over his mainly female followers — had been in prison for four decades. In the 1960s, he surrounded himself with runaways and disaffected youths and then sent them out to butcher members of Hollywood's elite. 4 Over the years, Krenwinkel has expressed remorse and described years of psychological abuse at Manson's hands. Bettmann Archive Prosecutors said Manson and his followers were trying to incite a race war he dubbed Helter Skelter, taken from the Beatles song of the same name. The Polanski house in Beverly Hills was targeted because it represented Manson's rejection by the celebrity world and society, according to one of the Family member's statements. Advertisement Manson considered himself the harbinger of doom regarding the planet's future. He was influenced not only by drugs such as LSD, but by art works and music of the time such as The Beatles song, Helter Skelter, from their White Album. He often spoke to members of his 'Family' about Helter Skelter, which he believed signified an impending apocalyptic race war. Advertisement He preached that the black man would rise up and start killing members of the white establishment, turning the cities into an inferno of racial revenge. Manson also had a strong belief in the notion of Armageddon from the Book of Revelations and looked into obscure cult churches such as the Church of the Final Judgement. His life continues to be a point of interest several decades after his macabre dealings in 1960s California.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Manson 'family' follower Patricia Krenwinkel recommenced for parole
By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -A California prisons panel on Friday recommended that Patricia Krenwinkel, serving a life sentence for her role in murdering seven people in a 1969 Los Angeles killing spree by followers of cult leader Charles Manson, be released on parole. The state Board of Parole Hearings found that Krenwinkel, 77, the longest-serving female inmate in California prisons, posed little risk of reoffending based on her age and a spotless behavior record while incarcerated, according to the CBS News affiliate in San Diego, KFMP-TV. The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed the finding of parole suitability, which came on Krenwinkel's 16th parole hearing, but gave no further details. The decision amounts to a proposal subject to review by the full state Board of Parole Hearings and the California governor for up to 150 days before it can become final. Even if the full board affirms the finding of parole suitability, the governor could reject it or send it back for further review. A May 2022 parole board panel recommendation to free Krenwinkel was reversed by Governor Gavin Newsom in August of that year. Krenwinkel, incarcerated at the California Institution for Women, appeared with her lawyer during Friday's four-hour hearing but did not address the commissioners, KFMP reported. Several victims' family members spoke in opposition to her release. Krenwinkel was convicted on seven counts of first-degree murder in 1971 for participating in a bloody two-night rampage whose victims included actress Sharon Tate, the 26-year-old wife of filmmaker Roman Polanski. Tate, then eight months pregnant, was slain with four friends, among them coffee heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, at the rented hillside house the actress and Polanski shared in the Benedict Canyon area of Los Angeles. Polanski was in Europe at the time. The following night grocery owner Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary were stabbed to death in their home, where the words "Death to Pigs" and "Healter Skelter," a misspelled reference to the Beatles song "Helter Skelter," were found scrawled in the victims' blood at the crime scene. Although Manson did not personally kill any of the seven victims, he was found guilty of ordering their murders as part of a delusional plot to ignite a race war. He, Krenwinkel and other members of his so-called "family" of hippies, runaways and misfits, including Leslie Van Houten, Susan Atkins and "Tex" Watson, were originally sentenced to death. Their sentences were commuted to life in prison after the California Supreme Court abolished capital punishment in the state in 1972. Manson died in prison at age 83 in 2017. Van Houten was released from prison on parole in 2023 after spending 53 years behind bars. Newsom had rejected her parole recommendation but was overruled by a California appeals court. The governor could have petitioned the state Supreme Court to review the case but opted not to, deciding that further efforts to keep Van Houten locked up were unlikely to succeed. (Reporting Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by William Mallard)
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gavin Newsom could write the ending to the Menendez brothers' saga
SACRAMENTO, California — Erik and Lyle Menendez's shot at freedom could soon be hurtling toward California Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk, creating a conundrum for a leader with less than two years left in his term to solidify his legacy and grow his national profile. A Los Angeles County judge last week gave the Menendez brothers the opportunity to seek parole after they were convicted in 1996 of brutally killing their parents in 1989 and sentenced to life behind bars. Their story — in particular, allegations that their father was sexually abusive — captured the national imagination after it was featured in a documentary and a Netflix drama series. If the parole board recommends their release, Newsom would determine whether to let that assessment stand — a decision fraught with strange politics. On one hand, California has swung into a 'lock 'em up' era, with voters overwhelmingly approving tougher penalties on drug and theft crimes and ousting progressive district attorneys in Los Angeles and Oakland. On the other hand, the abuse revelations and a national obsession with true crime has galvanized a rallying cry for the brothers, including pleas from Kim Kardashian and other high-profile figures. The governor has become unusually involved in the case in recent months. He's discussed the brothers on his podcasts and has cited the example as he reworks the state's clemency process. In late February, he asked the Board of Parole Hearings for a clemency assessment on the brothers — and later said he did so, in part, 'to help inform the judge in the resentencing.' Newsom was relatively tight-lipped about his stance on the case when asked about it during a news conference a day after the ruling, though he was quick to note he would make his own decision. 'I won't deal with a hypothetical, because I read the parole reports,' he said, adding, 'I reject the parole board's recommendations often.' He then praised the board members' judgment and said he tends to sign off on most of the parole decisions he receives, given the 'relatively small percentage of parole applications they actually approve.' The state's parole board hears the two cases Aug. 21-22, Newsom's office confirmed. If it recommends the brothers' release, Newsom would receive the case within about four months, after a legal review, and have 30 days to make a decision. The groundswell of support for the brothers' parole is notable as many Californians and their representatives take a harder line on criminal justice issues. In recent years, state proposals that would have allowed more resentencing opportunities for inmates serving life in prison without parole have failed to make it out of the Capitol, while Democrats have advanced bills to crack down on retail theft. Shortly before his failed reelection last fall, former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced he would push for the Menendez brothers to be resentenced. The two were under 26 at the time of their conviction, making them eligible for parole consideration. Nathan Hochman, who defeated Gascón in November, had a different view of the case from his progressive predecessor and argued against resentencing. But last week, Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic ultimately granted the brothers a chance at parole, saying Hochman hadn't shown they would threaten public safety if they were released. In the meantime, Menendez supporters will be making their case to Newsom. Mark Geragos, the brothers' attorney, said in an interview last week that meetings with the governor and family members are 'absolutely' possible. 'I think it'll be a more robust [presentation], but certainly [will] include the presentation that was made to Judge Jesic,' he said. Geragos plans to play up the brothers' participation in prison initiatives, with Erik being involved in hospice work and Lyle taking part in a green space program. He wants their work to show that 'when they had no hope, they still made the right decisions.' This isn't Newsom's first high-profile parole decision. In 2022, he denied parole for Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan against the board's recommendation. The governor in 2023 dropped his objection to the parole of Manson family member Leslie Van Houten after a state appeals court ruled in favor of her release. Newsom has discussed the Menendez case at various points on his podcasts. During an October episode of 'Politickin',' he said his kids had been asking him about the Menendez brothers. 'I'm like, 'How the hell do you know about the Menendez brothers?'' he said. 'Because it's really lit up TikTok and Instagram and the chat rooms. And as a consequence, the conversations are … about conversations we didn't really have when we were kids about sexual assault and conversations around sentencing.' The governor added there was 'obviously some new compelling evidence that was introduced.' The word 'compelling' stood out to Joe Rodota, a writer and political consultant who wrote a play about former Gov. Pat Brown and the 1960 execution of Caryl Chessman. That case drew protests from opponents of capital punishment and a massive lobbying effort from the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt and Ray Bradbury. 'I thought that tipped his hand,' Rodota said. The parole board's involvement actually takes some pressure off the governor, he said, though he added that it's 'hard to tell' what his motivations will be. 'Is it legacy, is it short term?' he asked. 'Is he trying to present a picture of himself to people, or is he simply trying to execute the function of the office?' Like this content? 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