A California prisons panel has recommended releasing Patricia Krenwinkel, 77, who is serving a life sentence for her role in the 1969 Los Angeles killing spree by followers of cult leader Charles Manson. The state Board of Parole Hearings found that Krenwinkel poses little risk of reoffending due to her age and clean behavior record while incarcerated.
The decision comes on Krenwinkel’s 16th parole hearing, but it still needs review by the full state board and the governor for up to 150 days before becoming final. If the governor affirms the finding or rejects it, his decision can be appealed.
Krenwinkel was convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder in 1971 for participating in a bloody two-night rampage that claimed the lives of actor Sharon Tate and several others. Manson was found guilty of ordering their murders but did not personally kill anyone.
A May 2022 parole board recommendation to free Krenwinkel was rejected by Governor Gavin Newsom, who later had a California appeals court overturn his decision on Leslie Van Houten’s release in 2023. This time, the board recommends releasing Krenwinkel based on her age and behavior record, despite opposition from victims’ family members.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/31/manson-family-member-patricia-krenwinkel-recommended-for-parole