California Parole Board Recommends Release for 78-Year-Old Manson Follower Patricia Krenwinkel

Key points

• Krenwinkel was preliminarily granted parole on Tuesday at her 18th suitability hearing, marking the third time the board has recommended her release.
• The decision is not final; it requires a 120-day review by the Board of Parole Hearings and a 30-day review by Governor Newsom, who has the authority to reverse the grant.
• Newsom reversed Krenwinkel’s parole in 2022 and 2025, acknowledging her rehabilitation but citing concerns about public safety and insufficient insight into her criminal behavior.
• Krenwinkel’s attorney, Keith Wattley, argues that nine consecutive psychological evaluations have found her to be a low risk and that the governor is yielding to political pressure.
• Debra Tate, sister of victim Sharon Tate, has opposed Krenwinkel’s release, citing the lack of remorse and the gruesome nature of the crimes, including writing 'Death to Pigs' in victim blood.

Background

Krenwinkel was convicted in 1971 for seven counts of first-degree murder related to the 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings. Her original death sentence was commuted to life in prison following a 1972 California Supreme Court ruling that invalidated death sentences. She has been imprisoned longer than any other woman in California. In 2023, fellow Manson follower Leslie Van Houten was released after an appeals court overruled Newsom’s denial of her parole. Other Manson followers, including Charles Manson and Susan Atkins, have died in custody, while Bruce Davis died in September 2026.

How outlets are covering it

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Krenwinkel’s legal team emphasize her decades of rehabilitation, clean disciplinary record, and low risk assessments, arguing that the parole process should be grounded in evidence rather than politics. In contrast, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office and victims’ families, particularly Debra Tate, oppose her release, citing the brutality of the crimes and the need for continued accountability. The Guardian and Los Angeles Times highlight the tension between the parole board’s findings and the governor’s authority, noting that Newsom has previously reversed similar decisions. LAmag notes that Krenwinkel’s release could make her the second Manson follower to be freed, following Van Houten, and emphasizes the political implications of the governor’s potential veto.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing debates about the parole process for elderly inmates convicted of high-profile crimes, the balance between rehabilitation and public safety, and the role of political pressure in judicial decisions. Krenwinkel’s case also underscores the broader issue of elderly prisoners in the US, with growing concern about the number of individuals serving long sentences for crimes committed decades ago.

What to watch

The parole decision will be reviewed by the Board of Parole Hearings over the next 120 days, followed by a 30-day review by Governor Newsom. If Newsom reverses the decision, Krenwinkel will be scheduled for another hearing within 18 months. Her attorneys are urging the governor to allow the decision to stand, while victims’ families and prosecutors are expected to oppose her release.