Patricia Krenwinkel—once Manson’s obedient soldier, now 77 years old—is once again seeking freedom. And once again, California said no. Governor Gavin Newsom reversed her parole for the second time, citing her shallow insight into the brutal murders she committed in 1969.
In this piece, we dig into the real reason Krenwinkel remains behind bars. It’s not about her age or her behavior in prison. It’s about accountability. Insight. The inability to fully explain how she became capable of chasing down a bleeding woman and stabbing her 28 times—not in a frenzy, but as part of a mission.
We walk through the murders, the ideology, the performative bloodshed—and why, despite decades of rehabilitation, some crimes must carry a permanent consequence.