…By Jack Sylva for TDPel Media.
After serving more than 50 years of a life sentence for her involvement in two infamous murders, former Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten has been released from a California prison.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed her release and stated that she is now under parole supervision.
Van Houten’s lawyer, Nancy Tetreault, mentioned that she left the California Institution for Women and was taken to transitional housing in Corona, California.
Adjusting to Freedom and the Modern World
Van Houten is still acclimating herself to the idea of being free after spending decades in prison.
Her lawyer mentioned that she needs to adapt to the changed world since her incarceration.
This includes learning basic skills such as using the internet, making purchases without cash, and utilizing a debit card.
Van Houten, now in her 70s, intends to find employment as soon as possible and has earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree while in prison, working as a tutor.
The Manson Murders and Van Houten’s Involvement
Initially sentenced to death for her participation in the August 1969 killings of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, Van Houten’s sentence was later commuted to life in prison when California overturned its death penalty law in 1972.
She played a role in holding down Rosemary LaBianca as others stabbed her, before stabbing her multiple times herself.
These murders occurred a day after Manson followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others.
Van Houten, then 19 years old, did not participate in the Tate killings.
Legal Battles and the Governor’s Decision
Van Houten’s release was made possible after California Governor Gavin Newsom decided not to appeal a state appeals court ruling granting her parole.
The governor believed that the state Supreme Court was unlikely to consider an appeal.
Previously, her release had been blocked by Governor Newsom, who viewed her as a continued threat to society.
Van Houten filed appeals with the trial court and appellate courts, with the May ruling from the appellate court overturning Newsom’s denial of parole.
Controversy and Victim Impact
The decision to release Van Houten has faced criticism, including disappointment from Governor Newsom’s office.
The governor’s statement highlighted the ongoing impact felt by the families of the victims, emphasizing that more than 50 years after the Manson cult’s brutal killings, the pain persists.
Manson himself died in prison in 2017 at the age of 83 from natural causes, ending his nearly five-decade-long incarceration.
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