In a surprising turn of events, Leslie Van Houten, a follower of Charles Manson and convicted participant in two killings, has been granted parole, Your Content is learning.
The decision comes after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Friday that he would no longer challenge her release on parole at the state supreme court, ending years of legal battles.
“She’s thrilled,” Van Houten’s attorney Nancy Tetreault said, revealing her client’s reaction to the parole decision. After spending a staggering five decades behind bars, Van Houten, now 73, is expected to be released within the next several weeks, according to NBC News, who were first to break the story.
An appeals court ruled in May that Van Houten is eligible for parole, setting the stage for her potential release. However, Governor Newsom, a Democrat, had the opportunity to challenge the decision until Monday, yet ultimately decided against doing so.
“The Governor is disappointed by the Court of Appeal’s decision to release Ms. Van Houten but will not pursue further action as efforts to further appeal are unlikely to succeed,” stated Erin Mellon, spokesperson for the governor’s office.
Mellon further clarified the governor’s stance, stating, “The California Supreme Court accepts appeals in very few cases, and generally does not select cases based on this type of fact-specific determination.”
Leslie Van Houten’s life sentence stemmed from her involvement in the infamous 1969 murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in Los Angeles. Alongside other cult members, she was convicted for her role in these heinous crimes.
Newsom’s decision to drop his opposition to Van Houten’s parole grant echoes the actions of his predecessor, Governor Jerry Brown, who had also previously reversed her release on three separate occasions.