Manson Family killer Leslie Van Houten has been released after Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California announced he would not ask the state Supreme Court to block his parole recommendation.
Van Houten, 73, was convicted in 1971 of the brutal murder of Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary in August 1969. Van Houten later admitted that when the victim was stabbed by another member of the gang, he had put Rosemary’s head over her pillowcase. Manson Cult. Van Houten stabbed himself more than a dozen times, the Associated Press reported. report.
The LaBiancas were murdered a day after other members of the Manson Family murdered pregnant actress Sharon Tate and five others at their Cielo Drive home. The case has since been called the Helter-Skelter Murder.
California governor calls off Mansonist Leslie Van Houten’s parole protest https://t.co/SyLat7TOEt pic.twitter.com/F5F9spVIIJ
— New York Post (@nypost) July 9, 2023
Van Houten, who was 19 when convicted, spent more than 50 years in prison after his death sentence was commuted when California abolished the death penalty in 1972. Her parole came after the California Court of Appeals overturned Newsom’s verdict in May. To lock a convicted killer in prison.
“The governor is disappointed with the Court of Appeal’s decision to release Mr. Van Houten, but does not intend to take further action because further appeal efforts are unlikely to succeed,” said the governor’s office public relations director. Erin Mellon said. according to CBS news. “The California Supreme Court grants appeals in only a minority of cases and does not typically select cases based on these types of fact-specific determinations,” Mellon continued.
The court ruled that Van Houten would not be released on parole, citing “outstanding rehabilitation efforts, insight, remorse, a realistic parole plan, support from family and friends,” and favorable behavior reports while in prison. It has opted to reverse the decision, Fox News reported. report. (Related: Board recommends parole for Charles Manson follower who killed several people)
Van Houten’s attorney, Nancy Tetlow, said her client was “thrilled” and “overwhelmed” by the news of her impending release. “She’s just grateful people are acknowledging that she’s a different person than she was when she committed the murder,” Tetrow said, according to the newspaper.
The news wasn’t all that welcome to the LaBianca family, who were “heartbroken” by the decision.
“We were reminded of how many years my father and stepmother weren’t together,” Corey LaBianca, Reno LaBianca’s daughter, told The Associated Press.
“Neither my children nor my grandchildren have had the opportunity to get to know either of them. It was a huge void in my family.”
Van Houten is expected to be released in about two weeks after the parole board reviews her records and completes the paperwork for her release from the Corona Women’s Association of California. Van Houten will then learn how to adjust to life outside prison and will be taught basic skills such as using computers and debit cards, according to the Associated Press, and will spend a year in transitional facilities. Tetrow said.
