SACRAMENTO (KABC) — Governor Gavin Newsom has rejected parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, a follower of Charles Manson responsible for the murder of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others in a Benedict Canyon home in August 1969.
ABC News learned Newsom signed a reversal to the decision to grant parole Monday night.
In his decision, Newsom explained that after reviewing the evidence, he believes it indicates Krenwinkel still poses an unreasonable risk to society if released from prison now. Consequently, he has overturned the parole board’s decision to grant her release.
The same thing happened in 2022 when Newsom blocked the parole of Krenwinkel, saying she was still too much of a public safety risk to be freed.
As reported by ABC News, during an interview for IMPACT x Nightline, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman expressed agreement with Newsom’s decision, stating that Krenwinkel has not fully accepted responsibility for her actions.
Krenwinkel’s attorney, Keith Wattley, released a statement, saying Newsom “has unfortunately chosen politics over people.”
“Even worse, he directly violated the law requiring him to give ‘great weight’ to the fact that Pat is a documented survivor of domestic violence,” said Wattley. “His silence on this crucial aspect of the case is an affront to survivors everywhere, particularly during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”
Krenwinkel, 77, became the state’s longest-serving female inmate when fellow Manson follower Susan Atkins died of cancer in prison in 2009.
ABC News contributed to this report.
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