Patricia Krenwinkel, who was part of Charles Manson’s infamous cult and was convicted for her role in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders, has received a recommendation for parole after more than 55 years in prison.
Now 78 years old, Krenwinkel has been recommended for parole for the third time in just four years. This situation might lead to another confrontation with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who previously denied her release on two occasions due to concerns that she could still pose a threat to the community.
The latest recommendation, confirmed through the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s records, comes less than a year after Newsom overturned a prior parole suggestion.
In his October 2025 decision, Newsom stated that Krenwinkel “lacks the requisite insight she needs to be safely released,” even while recognizing her attempts at rehabilitation over the decades.
He wrote, “When considered as a whole, the evidence shows that she currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time.”
Krenwinkel had been previously recommended for parole in May 2022 and May 2025, both of which were reversed by Newsom, keeping her incarcerated.
However, it’s important to note that this recommendation doesn’t automatically mean her release; the parole board still needs to finish its review, and only then will Newsom make a decision on whether to allow her to go free or deny it yet again.
As it stands, Krenwinkel is still at the California Institution for Women in Corona, serving her life sentence after entering the prison system on April 28, 1971.
At just 21 years old, Krenwinkel was involved in horrific incidents that claimed seven lives, including the pregnant actress Sharon Tate.
According to Newsom’s findings, Krenwinkel and fellow cult members fatally attacked Tate’s friend Abigail Folger and other victims during their murder spree. The next night, the group committed another double homicide involving Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, leaving disturbing messages at the crime scene.
Initially sentenced to death, Krenwinkel’s sentence was changed to life imprisonment after the state’s death penalty was deemed invalid in 1972.
Despite acknowledging Krenwinkel’s progress in terms of rehabilitation—like earning college degrees and mentoring fellow inmates—Newsom expressed worries about her self-awareness and her tendency to shift blame.
Krenwinkel’s attorney, Keith Wattley, pushed back against these claims following Newsom’s previous reversal in 2025. He pointed out that Krenwinkel is the longest-serving incarcerated woman in the U.S., and has dedicated herself to self-improvement and helping others while in prison.
Wattley asserted that Krenwinkel no longer presents an unreasonable risk to public safety and should be granted parole. He maintained that her record supports this claim, urging for her release.
