California Governor Allows Parole for Charles Manson Follower, Leslie Van Houten
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that he will not block the release of Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten. This decision paves the way for Van Houten’s release after serving 53 years in prison for her involvement in two infamous murders.
In a statement from the governor’s office, it was revealed that it is unlikely the state’s high court would consider an appeal to keep Van Houten behind bars. Governor Newsom expressed his disappointment with this outcome, acknowledging the lasting impact these brutal killings have had on the victims’ families.
Now in her 70s, Van Houten has been serving a life sentence for assisting Manson and other cult followers in the 1969 murders of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife, Rosemary. The parole board is set to review her record and process the necessary paperwork for her release from the California Institution for Women in Corona. If everything goes according to plan, Van Houten could be freed within the next two weeks.
Van Houten has been recommended for parole five times since 2016, but her release has been rejected by both Governor Newsom and former Governor Jerry Brown. However, a state appeals court ruled in May that Van Houten should be released, citing her “extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends,” and positive behavior reports during her time in prison.
According to her attorney, Nancy Tetreault, Van Houten is thrilled and overwhelmed by the news. Tetreault also mentioned that after her release, Van Houten will spend around a year in a halfway house, where she will learn basic life skills such as using an ATM and navigating modern technology.
The LaBiancas were killed by Van Houten and other Manson followers in August 1969. Van Houten held Rosemary LaBianca down with a pillowcase over her head while others stabbed her, before proceeding to stab her herself multiple times. Cory LaBianca, Leno LaBianca’s daughter, expressed her heartbreak over the decision, as her father and stepmother were taken away too soon, leaving a void in her family.
It is important to note that the LaBianca murders took place the day after Manson’s followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others. Van Houten did not participate in the Tate killings. Manson himself died in prison in 2017 at the age of 83.
As the news of Van Houten’s potential release spreads, it has ignited discussions about parole, rehabilitation, and the long-lasting impact of violent crimes on victims’ families. The parole board’s decision to recommend her release has raised questions about the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process and the gravity of the crimes committed.