Leslie Van Houten, a member of the Manson Family who was convicted of murder in 1971, is set to be released from prison after California Gov. Gavin Newsom dropped his opposition to her release. Van Houten has been in prison for more than 50 years, and she has been granted parole multiple times, but her release has been blocked by governors.
Van Houten was 19 years old when she participated in the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in Los Angeles. The Manson Family, a cult led by Charles Manson, believed that they were starting a race war, and they killed the LaBiancas as part of their plan. Van Houten stabbed Rosemary LaBianca 16 times, and she helped to write “pig” on the walls of the LaBianca home in blood.
Van Houten has said that she was brainwashed by Manson and that she deeply regrets her actions. She has been in prison for more than 50 years, and she has participated in numerous rehabilitation programs. She has also been a model prisoner, and she has received positive reviews from her parole officers.
In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom blocked Van Houten’s parole for the fifth time. However, in 2022, Newsom reversed his decision and said that he would not oppose her release. Van Houten is scheduled to be released from prison on September 1, 2023.
Van Houten’s release is likely to be controversial. Some people believe that she should never be released from prison, while others believe that she has served her time and should be given a second chance. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to release Van Houten is up to the parole board.
Other Manson Family Killers
In addition to Van Houten, several other members of the Manson Family have been convicted of murder and are currently in prison. These include:
- Charles “Tex” Watson: Watson was the leader of the group that killed Sharon Tate and four other people at her home in Los Angeles. He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
- Susan Atkins: Atkins was one of the people who killed Sharon Tate. She died in prison in 2009.
- Patricia Krenwinkel: Krenwinkel was also involved in the murders of Sharon Tate and the other victims. She is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
- Linda Kasabian: Kasabian was a member of the Manson Family who drove the car to Sharon Tate’s house on the night of the murders. She testified against the other members of the Family and was granted immunity from prosecution.
Charles Manson himself died in prison in 2017 at the age of 83.
The Manson Family murders were some of the most notorious crimes of the 1960s. They shocked the nation and continue to be a source of fascination and debate today.
