California Prison Releases Manson Follower Leslie Van Houten

Leslie Van Houten, a former member of Charles Manson's cult, has been released on parole after 53 years in prison.

Leslie Van Houten, a former member of Charles Manson's notorious "Manson family," has been released on parole after serving 53 years in prison for her involvement in the 1969 killing spree that shocked Los Angeles. This decision comes after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he would no longer oppose Van Houten's parole.

In May, a California appeals court ruled in favor of Van Houten's parole, stating that she was entitled to it. Although the governor had the option to appeal the decision to the California Supreme Court, it was determined that further efforts to oppose her release would be unlikely to succeed.

Van Houten, now 73 years old, is the first member of the Manson family to receive parole for her role in the seven murders that took place over consecutive nights in August 1969. According to her lawyer, Nancy Tetreault, Van Houten has been a model prisoner, actively participating in therapy for the past 40 years and showing significant personal growth.

Upon her release, Van Houten left the prison in Corona, California, and will reside in a confidential halfway house for a year. This transitional period aims to support her reintegration into society. Tetreault emphasizes that Van Houten is a changed person, highlighting her progress and rehabilitation during her time in prison.

At the age of 19, Van Houten was the youngest member of Manson's cult at the time of the murders. Despite being recommended for parole five times by the parole board since 2016, her release was denied three times by Governor Newsom and twice by his predecessor, Jerry Brown.

Charles Manson, who orchestrated the brutal killings, died in prison in 2017 at the age of 83. He manipulated his young and predominantly female followers to carry out the murders, including the infamous killing of actress Sharon Tate, with the intention of sparking a race war.

Van Houten was specifically convicted of fatally stabbing Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, in their Los Angeles home on August 10, 1969. Disturbing messages such as "Death to Pigs" and a misspelled reference to a Beatles song, "Healter Skelter," were found written in the victims' blood on the walls and refrigerator.

The previous night, Manson's followers broke into the home of Tate and her husband, filmmaker Roman Polanski, who was away at the time. Tate, who was eight months pregnant, along with four friends, were brutally murdered.

Leslie Van Houten's release on parole marks a significant development in the aftermath of the Manson family's heinous crimes. While her involvement in these horrific acts cannot be forgotten, her release raises questions about rehabilitation, the criminal justice system, and the capacity for personal growth and change.