Charles Manson Follower Convicted in 1969 Sharon Tate Murders Granted Parole Again
Patricia KrenwinkelCredit: AP Photo/Reed Saxon
Patricia Krenwinkel, one of the most notorious Charles Manson family members, has been granted parole in California
The 78-year-old was convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder in 1971
Krenwinkel has twice been granted parole but has had her release reversed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2022 and again in 2025
Patricia Krenwinkel, one of the most notorious followers of Charles Manson, has been granted parole.
The 78-year-old Krenwinkel has been imprisoned in California since 1971 when she was convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder for her role in the infamous 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders, according to The Los Angeles Times, NBC Los Angeles, and local KCRA.
Krenwinkel was preliminarily approved for parole during her latest hearing on Oct. 6, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records reviewed by PEOPLE.
The Manson devotee was previously granted parole twice in 2022 and 2025 before California Gov. Gavin Newsom stepped in to reverse her release, records show. The Times reports that Krenwinkel is set to soon be granted her freedom unless the governor or full state parole board intervene once again.
NBC Los Angeles reports that Krenwinkel’s release will be up for a 120-day review by the state’s parole board, while Gov. Newsom has 30 additional days beyond that to decide whether to deny her release again.
Patricia KrenwinkelCredit: Bettmann
Krenwinkel was convicted in 1971 alongside Charles Manson and fellow Manson family members Susan Atkins and Leslie Van Houten for taking part in the Aug. 9, 1969 killings of actress Sharon Tate, Thomas Jay Sebring, Abigail Ann Folger, Wojciech Frykowski and Steven Earl Parent. Married couple Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were also killed at their home by the Manson family members the next day.
However, Krenwinkel has reportedly displayed good behavior throughout her more than five decades behind bars. While incarcerated, she has allegedly maintained a perfect prison record, received a bachelor’s degree in human services, played on the prison volleyball team and given dance lessons, per CieloDrive.com.
Newsom commended Krenwinkel for her rehabilitation efforts in 2025, when he last denied her release. The governor reportedly said the threat to the public remained an outweighing risk when compared with granting Krenwinkel her freedom.
Patricia KrenwinkelCredit: AP Photo
Since Manson Family member Susan Atkins’ death behind bars in 2009, Krenwinkel has become California’s longest-serving female inmate, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Manson Family members Van Houten, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, Mary Brunner, Steven Grogan and Ruth Ann Moorehouse have since been released on parole.
Meanwhile, Watson, 80, has also been long denied parole and was set to have his latest parole hearing this month. Records show he waived his right to a parole hearing until 2029.
Kenneth Beausoleil, 79, was denied parole in July and also isn’t due for another hearing until 2029, while Bruce Davis, whose parole was denied twice and rescinded once last year by Gov. Newsom, has his next parole hearing on Dec. 9.
Charles Manson died in Nov. 2017 while still in prison.
Source: Crime