Manson Family Member Overjoyed by Recent Developments

After spending over 50 years behind bars for her involvement in the Manson family’s notorious murder spree, Leslie Van Houten is on the verge of being granted parole. The 73-year-old is set to be released from prison in the coming weeks, according to her attorney, Nancy Tetreault. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who had previously opposed her release, has indicated that he will not further contest it. This follows a California appeals court’s decision to overturn Newsom’s previous efforts to block Van Houten’s parole.

Former Governor Jerry Brown had also tried to prevent Van Houten’s release. Throughout the years, she has appeared before the state’s Board of Parole Hearings more than 20 times, with the board approving her release on five occasions since 2016. A spokesperson for Governor Newsom expressed disappointment with the appeals court’s decision but stated that further legal action is unlikely to succeed. They acknowledged the ongoing impact of the Manson family’s crimes on the victims’ families and all Californians.

Van Houten, whose original death sentence was overturned, has been serving a life sentence in state prison. On August 10, 1969, she and other members of the Manson family killed Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in their home. The appeals court deemed her rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends, and good behavior in prison as reasons for her release.

According to Tetreault, Van Houten will spend about a year in a halfway house after her release to readjust to life outside prison. Tetreault assures the public that they have no reason to fear Van Houten’s release, which will occur after a final behavioral hearing. She emphasizes that there is nothing in Van Houten’s current record to suggest that she poses a danger to society. As Tetreault describes her, Van Houten is an elderly woman who is “quite sweet.” (Read more Leslie Van Houten stories.)