Manson Family Member Leslie Van Houten Released On Parole After 53 Years In Prison For Two Murders

Leslie Van Houten was released on parole after 53 years in prison for committing murders as part of the Mason family cult.  

Van Houten was recommended for parole multiple times but was denied by the California governor. She is now set to be on parole for a maximum of three years, but after one year she will be reviewed for parole dischargement. 

Van Housten first met Charles Manson when she was 19 years old and became a follower of his cult, the “Manson family.” 

She was serving seven years to life after murdering Leno LaBianca, a supermarket exec, and Rosemary, his wife, in their home in Los Angeles. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has stated he will not challenge the court’s parole decision but disproves it. 

The governor’s spokeswoman, Erin Mellon, spoke about Newsom’s view on the matter. “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 Houten’s parole grant three times since taking office and defended against her challenges of those decisions in court.” 

She clarified that the governor is “disappointed” by this decision, but “will not pursue further action as efforts to further appeal are unlikely to succeed.”

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Anthony DiMaria, the nephew of Jay Sebring, who was another Mason murder victim, was distressed by the governor’s decision. “Our families strongly, vehemently, disagree with their decision not to file an appeal,” he said in a statement to the press. He described Van Houten as a “cold-blooded killer in one of the most notorious murder rampages in United States history.” In addition to this, he believes that her release will set a “dangerous” example and precedent for other criminals. 

According to Nancy Tetreault, Van Houten’s attorney, she has received “40 years of psych evaluation” and attended many courses that assisted her in understanding the murders she committed. Tetreault asserted that Van Houten has taken “full responsibility” for her actions. 

After Van Houten’s originally was sentenced to death after she was found guilty, but the death penalty was overturned shortly after in California, so her sentence was commuted to life in prison.