Leslie Van Houten, a former follower of cult leader Charles Manson, has been released from a California prison after serving 53 years of a life sentence for her involvement in two infamous murders. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed that Van Houten, now 73 years old, has been released and placed under parole supervision.
This decision comes after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he would not contest a state appeals court ruling granting Van Houten parole. Van Houten was sentenced to life in prison for assisting Manson’s followers in carrying out the 1969 murders of Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary.
Van Houten was originally sentenced to death, but her sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment when California’s death penalty law was overturned in 1972. Despite subsequent attempts to reinstate the death penalty, it did not apply retroactively to Van Houten’s case.
The murders of the LaBiancas occurred the day after Manson’s followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others. Van Houten did not participate in the Tate killings but described her role in holding down Rosemary LaBianca as others stabbed her.
Van Houten is expected to spend around a year at a halfway house as she adjusts to a world drastically changed by technology over the past 50 years. Her attorney, Nancy Tetreault, stated that Van Houten will need to learn to navigate the internet and adapt to cashless transactions. Despite the challenges, Van Houten, who earned degrees in counseling during her time in prison, hopes to find employment soon.
After a parole hearing in July 2020, Van Houten was deemed suitable for parole. However, her release was initially blocked by Governor Newsom, who believed she still posed a threat to society. Van Houten appealed the decision, and the Second District Court of Appeal ultimately overturned Newsom’s rejection in a 2-1 ruling, noting her rehabilitation efforts and support systems.
While some members of the LaBianca family expressed their disappointment over Van Houten’s potential release, citing the continued impact of the Manson cult’s brutal killings, the court decision stood. Manson died in prison in 2017, and other convicted Manson family members, including Charles “Tex” Watson and Patricia Krenwinkel, have been repeatedly denied parole. Susan Atkins, another follower, died in prison in 2009.
Van Houten’s release raises debates about the nature of rehabilitation and the appropriate punishment for individuals involved in heinous crimes. It also highlights the enduring fascination with and impact of the Manson family’s crimes on American society.