A Charles Manson follower whose capture more than five decades ago played out on the streets of Mobile has moved a step closer to freedom.
A California parole panel recommended release for Patricia Krenwinkel, according to the Associated Press — the panel acted Thursday, more than 50 years after she and other Manson followers carried out two of the most infamous killings in American history.
The Mobile Connection
Krenwinkel’s path crossed with Mobile twice. She spent a semester at Spring Hill College before meeting Manson at age 18 through her half sister. And when Los Angeles police were hunting for her after the 1969 murders, they contacted then-Mobile Police Chief James Robinson, who located and arrested her while she was staying with relatives in Mobile, according to the book “Helter Skelter.”
Family members described the young Krenwinkel as a well-behaved, studious child who enjoyed school and church activities and had never been in trouble before falling under Manson’s influence.
What Comes Next
Krenwinkel helped kill pregnant actor Sharon Tate and four others in 1969, and grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary the following night. One victim’s blood was used to write “Helter Skelter” on a wall at the scene.
The parole recommendation for Krenwinkel, now 74, is expected to reach California Gov. Gavin Newsom within five months for a final decision. Newsom has previously rejected parole for other Manson followers; Manson himself died in prison in 2017.