Public Safety
Parole panel again finds Patricia Krenwinkel suitable for release
The proposed parole decision for the former Manson follower now faces state review; Krenwinkel remains incarcerated.
A California parole panel again found Patricia Krenwinkel suitable for release at an October 6 hearing, nearly six decades after her conviction for participating in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders in Los Angeles.
Decision: Preliminary finding of parole suitability
Hearing: October 6, 2026
Status: Subject to Board of Parole Hearings and gubernatorial review
Custody: Krenwinkel remains incarcerated
Release is not immediate
The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed that the decision came during Krenwinkel’s 18th subsequent suitability hearing. Parole grants are proposed decisions until they complete the board’s legal review and the governor’s review.
Gov. Gavin Newsom reversed earlier parole recommendations for Krenwinkel in 2022 and 2025. This is the third time a panel has found her suitable for release.
Long-running case
Krenwinkel, 78, was convicted in 1971 of seven counts of first-degree murder for her role in the Tate-LaBianca killings. Her attorney cited her prison record, education and rehabilitation in support of release, while victims’ relatives have continued to oppose parole. The new finding does not erase the convictions or end the state review process.
Official hearing record: California Board of Parole Hearings →
Original reporting: The Guardian →