Leslie Van Houten, a former Charles Manson follower, is expected to be released on parole in the next few weeks after serving more than 52 years in state prison for her involvement in the 1969 slayings of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. This comes after Governor Gavin Newsom decided not to challenge a court ruling that deemed Van Houten eligible for parole. Although the victims’ families and many Californians still feel the impact of these brutal crimes, the governor will not pursue further action as further appeals are unlikely to succeed.
Van Houten’s attorney, Nancy Tetreault, expressed her client’s excitement at the prospect of being released. However, Cory LaBianca, the daughter of one of the victims, has consistently opposed Van Houten’s release, believing that she should be held responsible for her role in the slayings. Despite Van Houten’s accomplishments in prison, such as earning degrees and facilitating reconciliation sessions, LaBianca maintains that keeping her behind bars is the least that can be done for someone who has committed a crime against another human being.
The LaBianca murders occurred shortly after the infamous Manson Family killings, where five people, including actress Sharon Tate, were murdered. Van Houten was convicted of murder and conspiracy for her involvement in the killings of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. The recent court ruling acknowledged Van Houten’s rehabilitative efforts, remorse, parole plans, and support system, ultimately overturning the governor’s previous decision to deny her parole.
In a dissenting opinion, one of the justices argued that Van Houten lacked insight into her crimes and posed a current danger, supporting the governor’s initial decision to deny parole. However, Newsom’s concern is that Van Houten has not fully come to terms with the factors that led her to participate in such heinous acts and must continue her journey of understanding before being safely released.
Despite the impending release, Van Houten remains incarcerated at the California Institution for Women in Corona.
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