Manson Family Killer Leslie Van Houten Fights For Parole

LOS ANGELES, CA — Leslie Van Houten, the prom queen turned Manson Family killer, is fighting for her freedom – this time before an appeals panel in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday.

The panel heard arguments from Van Houten's attorney and prosecutors, but made no ruling on whether the notorious killer should go free. The 69-year-old Altadena native has been granted parole three times, and each time, former Gov. Jerry Brown reversed the recommendation. Van Houten, often described as the model prisoner, will have a chance to test her luck under Gov. Gavin Newsom now.

Van Houten was sentenced to die for her role in the Tate-LaBianca murders, but like the rest of the Manson family murderers, she had her sentenced commuted to life in prison when California briefly abolished the death penalty. One of the younger Manson followers who didn't participate in the infamous Sharon Tate murder, Van Houten has long been seen as the most likely Manson Family killer to gain freedom. However, her role in the state's most infamous murders has made her parole a political non-starter for years.

Arguing before a three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal, Van Houten's attorney, Rich Pfeiffer, said his client deserves to be released because she has been fully rehabilitated, is no longer a threat to anyone, has been a model prisoner and takes full responsibility for her crimes.

Jill Alicia VanderBorght of the state Attorney General's Office argued against Van Houten's release, citing the "extreme gravity" of the crimes and her continued "minimization" of her role in them.

Van Houten, who is serving a life prison term, was convicted of murder and conspiracy for participating with fellow Manson family members Charles "Tex" Watson and Patricia Krenwinkel in the August 1969 killings of grocer Leno La Bianca, 44, and his 38-year-old wife, Rosemary, who were each stabbed multiple times in their Los Feliz home.

The former Monrovia High School cheerleader did not participate in the Manson family's killings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others in a Benedict Canyon mansion the night before.

Manson died in November 2017 of natural causes while serving life in prison.

At the hearing, Associate Justice Helen Bendix questioned whether Van Houten had expressed remorse for her crimes.

"I do know that she has expressed remorse at every single parole hearing," Pfeiffer responded. "The hardest part for her is describing what she did ... because she can't undo it."

But VanderBorght said that she had not seen any remorse from the defendant.

The parole board recommended Van Houten's release in January, triggering a five-month review process before the matter is submitted to Newsom. The appeals court justices gave attorneys five days to file letters detailing how the governor's decision would affect the case. The panel questioned whether they still would have jurisdiction to rule if Newsom denies Van Houten's parole.

Pfeiffer said he is optimistic that Van Houten will be set free, but admits that it is a difficult decision.

"Nobody cares to put their name on her release," the attorney said outside court. "These are difficult decisions -- but that's why we have courts."

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.