Latest news with #Krenwinkel
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- 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
14 hours ago
- 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.
NBC News
a day ago
- NBC News
Former Charles Manson follower is recommended for parole
A California state parole board recommended parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, a follower of the cult leader Charles Manson, on Friday for the second time. The decision will now have to be approved by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who denied Krenwinkel's first parole recommendation. The governor's review process can take up to 150 days following a parole hearing. The 77-year-old is serving a life sentence in the California Institution for Women for her role in the killings of pregnant actor Sharon Tate and four others in August 1969, as well as grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, the following night in what prosecutors have called Manson's attempt to start a race war. Krenwinkel was recommended for parole for the first time in May 2022, but Newsom denied clemency five months later, according to Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation inmate records. She was previously denied parole 14 times before then. Krenwinkel was 19 and working as a secretary when she met a 33-year-old Manson at a party, leaving her life behind to follow him because she believed they could have a romantic relationship, she said in 2016 testimony. Instead, she was abused by Manson and tried to flee, but was brought back each time and was often under the influence of drugs. Krenwinkel admitted to stabbing an heiress to a coffee fortune, Abigail Folger, multiple times on the night of Aug. 9, 1969, as well as participating in the killings of the LaBiancas the following night. During the LaBianca murders, she infamously wrote 'Helter Skelter' and other phrases on the wall in her victims' blood. She, along with other participants including Manson, were convicted and sentenced to death. However, their sentences were commuted to life with the possibility parole in 1972, after the death penalty was briefly ruled unconstitutional in California. Krenwinkel is now the state's longest-serving inmate. The California governor's office and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation did not immediately respond to NBC News' requests for comment.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Manson Family Member Recommended for Parole 55 Years After Grisly Murders
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A California prison panel has recommended Patricia Krenwinkel, a longtime imprisoned member of the Manson Family cult, who was convicted in the infamous 1969 Los Angeles murder spree, for parole on Friday. Newsweek has reached out to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California governor's office for comment via email on Sunday. Why It Matters Krenwinkel is the longest-serving female inmate in California prisons. She was a member of Charles Manson's "family," a devoted group living communally on an abandoned movie set in California. Manson was notorious for his ability to manipulate and control others, having quickly gained followers and convinced them to view him as a God-like figure, with testimonies emphasizing drug use and abuse. He led sermons, orchestrated orgies and fostered a cult-like environment, as well as directing his family members to kill. Members of the "Manson Family," including Krenwinkel, stabbed and killed several people, including actress Sharon Tate who was pregnant at the time. Krenwinkel first met Manson at a party when she was 19 years old and immediately left her life for him. What To Know During a four-hour hearing Friday, panel members of the California Board of Parole found that Krenwinkel, 77, poses a low risk of reoffending due to her age and decades of good behavior in prison, and recommended her for parole, according to CBS News' San Diego affiliate. Krenwinkel did not speak during the hearing, but several victims' family members, including Tate's younger sister, Debra Tate, spoke in opposition, according to CBS. Krenwinkel, a Los Angeles native, is incarcerated at the California Institution for Women, and has been denied parole over a dozen times, most recently by Newsom in 2022. She is serving a life sentence after being convicted of seven counts of murder in 1971. During her trial, she confessed to running down and repeatedly stabbing Abigail Anne Folger, who was at Tate's home that night, and assisted in killing the LaBiancas the following evening. She says Manson told her to do something "witchy," and so after stabbing the LaBiancas with a fork, she used the victims' blood to write "Death to Pigs," "Rise," and "Healter [sic] Skelter" on the walls. The disturbing murders were orchestrated by Manson, but not personally done by him. He died in prison in 2017. Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel is seen on March 13, 2020. Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel is seen on March 13, 2020. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation What People Are Saying California Governor Gavin Newsom said in reversal of Krenwinkel's parole in 2022: "Ms. Krenwinkel fully accepted Mr. Manson's racist, apocalyptical ideologies. 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... Beyond the brutal murders she committed, she played a leadership role in the cult, and an enforcer of Mr. Manson's tyranny. She forced the other women in the cult to obey Mr. Manson, and prevented them from escaping when they tried to leave" Debra Tate, Sharon Tate's younger sister, said during Friday's hearing: "Releasing her to society puts society at risk. I don't accept any explanation for someone who has had 55 years to think of the many ways they impacted their victims, but still does not know their names. My life, the victims' families are forever affected." Commissioner Gilbert Infante said during the hearing on Friday: "This decision does not minimize or forgive the criminal conduct or the loss your victims and their families have suffered. 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." What Happens Next The panel's recommendation now goes to the full California Board of Parole Hearings for review, which must occur within 120 days. If approved, Governor Gavin Newsom will have 150 days to affirm, reverse or take no action on the decision.
ABC News
2 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Former 'Manson family' member Patricia Krenwinkel, 77, recommended for parole over 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders
Patricia Krenwinkel, a former follower of cult leader Charles Manson who was convicted for her role in the murders of seven people during a two-day killing spree across Los Angeles in 1969, has been recommended for parole. It's the 16th time Krenwinkel has appeared before the parole board panel, and the second time parole has been recommended — the first being in 2022, before the decision was overturned by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Krenwinkel, 77, is California's longest-serving female prisoner, having originally been sentenced to death in 1971 for her role in the brutal "Helter Skelter" killings, which shocked America and shone a light on the dark side of 1960s hippie counterculture. Her sentence was commuted to life with the possibility of parole in 1972, when the state's Supreme Court ruled the death penalty was unconstitutional. In 1967, when Krenwinkel was 19, she met musician and small-time criminal Charles Manson at a party, leaving her job and apartment behind three days later to travel with him to San Francisco as she believed they might have a romantic relationship. During the next 18 months, she and several other young men and women followed Manson around the country, becoming known as "the Manson family" as they fell deeper under his influence, often with the aid of psychedelic drugs. She later said Manson abused her physically and emotionally during this time, including trafficking her to other men for sex, and she had tried to escape the group twice only to be brought back by other members of the "family". In 1969, Manson — once an aspiring pop star — convinced his followers he was receiving secret messages through the Beatles' White Album, informing him of a coming race war that his group could wait out underground, before emerging to rule the world. In what prosecutors labelled an attempt to ignite that race war, Manson instructed Krenwinkel and several other followers to enter the home of actress Sharon Tate and her husband, director Roman Polanski, and to kill anyone they found inside. His followers shot, beat and stabbed five people to death at the home that night — including Ms Tate, who was eight months pregnant at the time. The following night, Manson and his followers attacked Leno and Rosemary LaBianca at a different house chosen at random, stabbing them to death before Krenwinkel wrote "Healter Skelter" [sic], "Rise" and "Death to Pigs" on the walls with their blood. During their trial, Krenwinkel and two other young women involved in the murders drew press attention for smiling, laughing and singing as the proceedings took place, then for shaving their heads and carving the letter X into their foreheads as Manson had done. While she remained loyal to the cult leader throughout her trial and at the start of her prison sentence, over time she began to distance herself from him, going on to renounce her past actions and to speak out against his claim not to have ordered the murders. "[I'm] just haunted each and every day by the unending suffering my participation in murders caused," she told a parole hearing in 2016. The panel that recommended Krenwinkel be paroled acknowledged her perfect behaviour record over her 54 years in prison, and said she poses little risk of reoffending. Nevertheless, family members of her victims remain strongly opposed to any possible release, according to The New York Times. Debra Tate, Sharon's younger sister, told the newspaper she has been asking for face-to-face meetings with Manson family members for "many, many years" under a restorative justice framework, but "they've all refused". "They could have an opportunity to actually sit down face-to-face and say they're sorry, but they won't do it," she said. "When you refuse to talk and your victims' families are asking for it over and over again, isn't that yet another kind of torture?" The parole board panel's recommendation will not be the final word on Krenwinkel's fate. The decision will first be reviewed by the board's legal division, a process that could take up to 120 days. The governor will then be given the chance to reverse the decision, as he did in 2022, or send it back to the panel for further review. A similar decision by Mr Newsom to block the release of Manson family member Leslie Van Houten was overturned by a state appeals court in 2023, leading to Van Houten's release from prison. Krenwinkel is now one of two Manson cult members still behind bars over the 1969 killings, the other being Charles "Tex" Watson, 79, who coordinated the murders. Manson himself died behind bars in 2017 at the age of 83, having been convicted of ordering the killings.
