Patricia Krenwinkel, the 76-year-old Charles Manson disciple who has spent more than five decades behind bars for her participation in the infamous 1969 Sharon Tate murders, has been denied parole once again.
During a tense hearing at the California Institution for Women in Corona, parole commissioners determined that Krenwinkel still poses "an unreasonable danger to society" despite her advanced age and claims of rehabilitation.
The Night That Shocked America
Krenwinkel was just 21 years old when she participated in the brutal killings that would become synonymous with the dark underbelly of 1960s counterculture. On August 9, 1969, she joined other Manson Family members in attacking the home of actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant at the time.
The horrific crime scene included the murders of Tate and four others: coffee heiress Abigail Folger, celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring, Polish filmmaker Wojciech Frykowski, and teenager Steven Parent.
A Life of Manipulation and Violence
Krenwinkel's journey into Manson's murderous cult began when she met the charismatic leader in 1967. Prosecutors argue she quickly became one of his most devoted followers, willingly participating in the planned attacks that Manson believed would ignite a race war he called "Helter Skelter."
Just one night after the Tate murders, Krenwinkel participated in another gruesome killing spree, taking the life of supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary.
Decades of Prison Life and Reflection
Now serving a life sentence, Krenwinkel has become one of California's longest-serving female inmates. During her parole hearing, she expressed remorse for her actions, stating she remains "terribly sorry" for the pain she caused.
However, prosecutors and victims' families vehemently opposed her release, arguing that the sheer brutality of the crimes warranted her continued imprisonment regardless of her age or behaviour in prison.
The Enduring Legacy of Trauma
Doris Tate, Sharon Tate's mother who became a victims' rights advocate before her death, once described the ongoing pain caused by the murders. The Tate family's opposition to parole for any Manson Family members has been consistent through multiple hearings over the decades.
This latest denial means Krenwinkel, now grey-haired and using a walking frame, will remain behind bars for at least another three years before she can petition for release again.
The decision brings some closure to families who have lived with the trauma of these iconic crimes for 55 years, ensuring one of America's most notorious murderers remains where she belongs.
