Leslie Van Houten, a follower of the notorious killer Charles Manson, has been released from a California prison after spending more than 53 years behind bars for her involvement in the Manson family killings.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has confirmed that Van Houten, who is now over 70 years old, has been "released to parole supervision." She will serve a maximum parole term of three years, with a parole discharge review scheduled after one year.
Van Houten was convicted in 1971 and given concurrent sentences of seven years to life. She played a role in the 1969 murders of supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, at their Los Angeles home. Van Houten admitted to holding Rosemary LaBianca down with a pillowcase while others stabbed her. She also stabbed the woman herself. The group then proceeded to smear the victims' blood on the walls.
Despite being recommended for parole five times between 2016 and 2023, Van Houten's release was previously denied by California Governors Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom. However, on July 7, 2023, Newsom announced that he would not contest a state appeals court ruling that called for Van Houten's release. Newsom's office expressed disappointment with the decision but deferred to the court of appeals.
Erin Mellon, the spokesperson for Governor Newsom, stated, More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal offenses, the victims families still feel the impact, as do all Californians. Governor Newsom reversed Ms. Van Houtens parole grant three times since taking office and defended against her challenges of those decisions in court.
Mellon added, The Governor is disappointed by the Court of Appeals decision to release Ms. Van Houten but will not pursue further action as efforts to further appeal are unlikely to succeed. The California Supreme Court accepts appeals in very few cases, and generally does not select cases based on this type of fact-specific determination.
Cory LaBianca, the daughter of Leno LaBianca, expressed her heartbreak over Van Houten's release, stating, "I am once again reminded of all the years that we have not had my father and my stepmother with us. My children and my grandchildren never got an opportunity to get to know either of them, which has been a huge void for my family."
Charles Manson, the leader of the Manson family, died in prison of natural causes in 2017.
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