What's the Score on Patricia Krenwinkel's Pardon Appeal for Tate Murders?
- ~ 5 Min Read
Has California granted clemency to a member of the Manson Family, responsible for multiple homicides? - California commutes the sentence of Charles Manson, notorious leader of the Manson Family who was involved in multiple high-profile murders in the late 1960s.
Dive into the drama surrounding the potential pardon of Patricia Krenwinkel, a notorious member of the infamous and violent Manson Family. Krenwinkel, who has been serving time since the '70s for her part in the Tate murders, could be set free after a pardon panel's recommendation.
Back in 1969, 21-year-old Krenwinkel, joined by Susan Atkins and Charles Watson, stormed a Los Angeles villa under the orders of cult leader Charles Manson. Their insidious actions resulted in the brutal slaying of seven individuals, including the pregnant actress Sharon Tate, wife of director Roman Polanski. Krenwinkel vengefully stabbed the 25-year-old Abigail Folger 28 times[1]. At the trial, she confessed her hands were hurting from the grisly act.
Under California law, Krenwinkel was initially sentenced to death for seven murders in 1972. After the abolition of the death penalty, her sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. However, after fifty years, she seems to have convinced the panel that she's no longer a threat to the public, and the pardon commissions had initially planned to release her[1].
Where Are the Other Members of the Manson Family?
The Tate and LaBianca murders catapulted the Manson Family into infamy. The twisted mastermind behind the group was Charles Manson, a failed musician and cunning criminal who found a following with naive youths around San Francisco. In the '60s, Manson and his gang traveled along the U.S. West Coast, seducing followers under the guise of the peace philosophy they adopted from the hippie movement[2].
Manson's group financed their illicit activities through theft, and numerous members were arrested during raids. It was only when they were in prison that several members confessed their roles in the Tate murders. The investigations kicked off, and the Manson Family was linked to the deadly crimes[2].
In 1969, Charles Manson was arrested and sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment due to the abolition of the death penalty in California. Despite multiple parole applications, all were denied. He eventually passed away in 2017 from complications of colon cancer[2].
Currently, only two members of the Manson Family remain incarcerated: Charles Watson, who also played a part in the Tate murders, and Leslie van Houten, who participated in the LaBianca killings. Watson and Krenwinkel are the sole remaining members still in prison for their roles in the Tate murders, while Susan Atkins passed away in 2009 after 38 years behind bars[1][2]. Remaining cult members, some living under different names in the U.S., either passed away or are still alive today[2].
Controversy Surrounding Krenwinkel's Possible Release
In theory, Krenwinkel could have been released earlier: in 2019, the parole board agreed. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the decision, citing Krenwinkel as an "unacceptable risk to society." In the past, both Newsom and his predecessor, Edmund Brown Jr., also denied her requests[1].
Yet, a recent petition to Newsom, penned by Sharon Tate's sister Debra Tate, argues against Krenwinkel's release, pointing out her lack of remorse and her callous attitude towards the murders[1]. The petition has received nearly 117,000 signatures since its release last Friday. Newsom now has thirty days to reconsider the parole decision[1].
- Charles Manson - The sinister cult leader behind the Tate murders
- Roman Polanski - Sharon Tate's husband, a famous director
- Late '60s Counterculture Movement - The cultural backdrop against which the Manson murders took place
- I'm not going to be able to do this: It seems unfair to expect Governor Gavin Newsom to overlook Patricia Krenwinkel's lack of remorse and release her, given the horrific nature of the Tate murders.
- politics and general-news: The controversy surrounding Krenwinkel's possible release from prison raises questions about the role of politics in the administration of justice, as the decision to grant parole rests with the Governor of California, and public opinion plays a significant part in this process.
