Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel recommended for parole for third time in four years
A California parole panel preliminarily granted parole to Patricia Krenwinkel, 78, at her 18th hearing. The decision is not final and must be reviewed by the parole board and Gov. Gavin Newsom, who reversed her last two grants.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Patricia Krenwinkel, 78, a former follower of Charles Manson serving a life sentence for the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders, was preliminarily granted parole on Tuesday (6 October 2026) at her 18th subsequent suitability hearing, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). New York PostR “Krenwinkel, 78, was preliminarily granted parole Tuesday at her 18th subsequent suitability hearing, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.” Read at New York Post ↗ Fox NewsR “Krenwinkel, 78, was recommended for parole Tuesday for the third time in four years” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1The CDCR said all grants of parole are proposed decisions that become final only after review by the Board of Parole Hearings and the governor. New York PostR ““All grants of parole are proposed decisions and become final only after a thorough and comprehensive review by the Board of Parole Hearings and the Governor,'” CDCR officials said in a statement.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The board has 120 days to review the decision. Because the conviction is for murder, the governor then has 30 more days to let it stand or reverse it. If the governor reverses it, she would get another hearing within 18 months of Tuesday's. New York PostR “The preliminary decision in Krenwinkel’s case is subject to a 120-day review by the Board of Parole Hearings. Because she was convicted of murder, the governor then has an additional 30 days to review the decision”“Krenwinkel would be scheduled for another hearing within 18 months of Tuesday’s hearing, according to CDCR.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 2Krenwinkel was convicted in 1971 of seven counts of first-degree murder for the August 1969 killings of actress Sharon Tate, Thomas Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski and Steven Parent, and of grocers Leno and Rosemary LaBianca the next night. She was originally sentenced to death, but the sentence became life in prison after California's death penalty system was invalidated in 1972. New York PostR “Krenwinkel was convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder in 1971” Read at New York Post ↗ Fox NewsR “Originally sentenced to death, Krenwinkel had her punishment reduced to life in prison after California's death penalty system was invalidated in 1972.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2Parole panels also recommended her release in May 2022 and May 2025, and Gov. Gavin Newsom reversed both decisions; the latest reversal came on 13 October 2025. New York PostR “Krenwinkel was most recently granted parole May 30, 2025, but Gov. Gavin Newsom reversed the decision Oct. 13, 2025.” Read at New York Post ↗ Fox NewsR “State records show Krenwinkel was previously recommended for parole in May 2022 and May 2025, but Newsom reversed both decisions” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2In the 2025 reversal, Newsom credited her efforts to improve herself, including college degrees and an excellent disciplinary record, but wrote that she "currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time." According to Fox News, he also found she lacked insight and tended to blame others. New York PostR “Newsom commended Krenwinkel for her “efforts to improve herself in prison,” including earning multiple college degrees and maintaining “an excellent disciplinary history.”” Read at New York Post ↗ Fox NewsR “cited concerns about her self-awareness and tendency to blame others for her actions” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1Her attorney, Keith Wattley, disputed those findings after the 2025 reversal. He called her the longest-incarcerated woman in the United States, said she had committed to healing and mentoring younger women, and argued she no longer poses an unreasonable risk and deserves parole. Fox NewsR “Krenwinkel's attorney, Keith Wattley, disputed those findings after Newsom's October 2025 reversal.”“"Patricia's record meets that standard. She deserves to be paroled," he said.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Krenwinkel remains at the California Institution for Women in Corona, where she entered the state prison system on 28 April 1971. Fox News said it had asked Wattley, the CDCR and Newsom's office for comment. Fox NewsR “she remains at the California Institution for Women in Corona, where she is serving a life sentence after entering the state prison system on April 28, 1971.”“Fox News Digital reached out to Wattley, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Newsom's office for comment.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report the preliminary grant as a repeat of a pattern in which Newsom has blocked her release. Fox News casts it as setting up another 'clash' with Newsom.
- Emphasis
- The New York Post stresses the CDCR review process and timeline. Fox News stresses Newsom's earlier reversals, the brutality of the killings and the attorney's response.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet reports comment from the victims' families or from Newsom's office on the new decision. Fox News says it had asked for comment.
- Charged language
- “Manson killer”“potential showdown”“another potential clash”
- For example
-
“Manson killer Patricia Krenwinkel granted parole again after nearly 6 decades behind bars” — New York Post
“setting up another potential showdown with California Gov. Gavin Newsom” — Fox News
What every side reports
- Krenwinkel, 78, was recommended for parole on Tuesday, a preliminary decision that is not final.
- Newsom reversed her 2022 and 2025 parole grants.
- She was convicted over the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders and her death sentence was reduced to life.
Where accounts differ
-
How far along Sharon Tate's pregnancy was
- Right
- The New York Post says she was seven months pregnant; Fox News says eight months pregnant.
-
Time served
- Right
- The New York Post says 'nearly 6 decades'; Fox News says 'more than 55 years'.
Patricia Krenwinkel person
Her attorney says she has spent over five decades on rehabilitation, earned degrees and mentored younger women, and that she meets the standard for release. She is not quoted directly.
“Wattley argued that Krenwinkel no longer poses an unreasonable risk to public safety.” — Fox News
Gavin Newsom person
In his 2025 decision, Newsom acknowledged her rehabilitation but found she still posed an unreasonable danger. He has not commented on the new recommendation in the coverage.
“I find the evidence shows that she currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time. Therefore, I reverse the decision to parole Ms. Krenwinkel,”” — New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
-
Manson killer Patricia Krenwinkel granted parole again after nearly 6 decades behind bars
Neutral Procedural account built around the CDCR statement, the review timeline and Newsom's earlier reversal.
-
Mixed Frames the grant as a possible renewed standoff with Newsom, with detail on the crimes and her attorney's rebuttal.
- 8 Oct 01:27 First New York PostR Manson killer Patricia Krenwinkel granted parole again after nearly 6 decades behind bars
- 9 Oct 12:00 +34h 33m Fox NewsR Charles Manson follower tied to Sharon Tate murders gets recommended for parole after 55 years in prison
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.