Patricia Krenwinkel

Patricia Krenwinkel, born December 3, 1947, is an American convicted murderer and a former member of Charles Manson’s “Family.” She is one of the longest-incarcerated female inmates in California, having served over five decades for her role in the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders of 1969. Krenwinkel’s descent into criminality is a chilling example of the power of cult influence and the devastating consequences of unquestioning obedience.

Before joining the Manson Family, Krenwinkel was a seemingly ordinary young woman. She attended a Catholic high school and later worked as a clerical worker. However, she felt lost and adrift. In 1967, she met Charles Manson, who offered her a sense of belonging and purpose that she desperately craved. Captivated by his charisma and manipulative philosophies, she abandoned her former life and became a devoted follower.

Krenwinkel’s involvement in the Manson Family escalated rapidly. She embraced their unconventional lifestyle, including drug use and communal living at the Spahn Ranch, a dilapidated movie set near Los Angeles. Manson preached a warped ideology of an impending race war, which he termed “Helter Skelter,” inspired by the Beatles song. He convinced his followers that they were chosen to initiate this apocalyptic conflict.

On August 9, 1969, Krenwinkel participated in the horrific murders at the home of actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, and her guests: Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, and Steven Parent. Krenwinkel was directly involved in the brutal stabbing deaths of Folger and Frykowski. The following night, she was part of the group that murdered Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. She stabbed Rosemary LaBianca multiple times and used her blood to write messages on the walls, including “Rise” and “Death to Pigs.”

Following the arrests and trial, Krenwinkel was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. She was sentenced to death in 1971, but her sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after the California Supreme Court invalidated the state’s death penalty in 1972.

Over the decades of her incarceration, Krenwinkel has expressed remorse for her actions and has become a model prisoner. She has pursued education, earning a bachelor’s degree, and has participated in various rehabilitation programs. She has repeatedly sought parole, expressing a deep understanding of the gravity of her crimes and a desire to atone for her past. However, her parole requests have been consistently denied, primarily due to the heinous nature of her crimes and the immense pain she inflicted on the victims’ families. Patricia Krenwinkel remains a symbol of the darkness that can consume individuals susceptible to manipulation and the enduring impact of the Manson Family’s reign of terror.