Post by JoannaL on Jul 11, 2023 16:22:47 GMT -5
Manson 'Girl' Leslie Van Houghten Paroled
After serving 53 years, Leslie Van Houghten, who will turn 74 August 23, has been released from prison. The former “Manson Girl” was convicted for her participation in the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca and sentenced to life.
She had been recommended for parole five times since 2016, but Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Gov. Jerry Brown rejected the recommendations. In May, however, a state appellate court determined she should be released, noting her “extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends” and the favorable reports of her behavior in prison. Subsequently, Newsom announced he wouldn’t ask the state supreme court to block parole.
“She’s thrilled and she’s overwhelmed,” Nancy Tetreault, Van Houten’s attorney told reporters. “She’s just grateful that people are recognizing that she’s not the same person that she was when she committed the murders.”
There have been so many changes during the past five decade, Van Houghten will spend approximately a year in a halfway house learning basic life skills. “She’s been in prison for 53 years. She just needs to learn how to use an ATM machine, let alone a cell phone, let alone a computer,” her lawyer added.
But not everyone is thrilled about her release. “My family and I are heartbroken because we’re once again reminded of all the years that we have not had my father and my stepmother with us,” Cory LaBianca told a reporter in a telephone interview. “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.”
Although Van Houten did not participate in the Tate murders, she accompanied Charles Manson, Charles “Tex” Watson and Patricia Krenwinkle to the LaBianca home the following night, and when Watson insisted Van Houten do her part, she proceeded to stab Rosemary LaBianca in the lower back at least 16 times.
Sources: Robert Jablon and Jonathan Lloyd, The Associated Press, July 11, 2023, and "Two Infamous Murder Houses," WhatLiesBeyond, August 10, 2015.
