Leslie Van Houten stood before the California panel that would soon recommend her parole as a slight woman with shoulder-length gray hair, a wrinkled face and glasses, a far cry to from the rebellious teen she was when she joined the cult of Charles Manson more than 40 years ago and helped kill a wealthy grocer and his wife.
At a five-hour hearing she described in detail how she descended from an idyllic childhood into psychedelic drug use and eventually found Manson, whom she described as a “Christ-like man that had all the answers” for an angry young girl whose parents’ divorce had left her feeling abandoned.
On Thursday she convinced the state panel that the murderous young women she’d been was a long-distant memory and that she was now fit to be paroled. She has completed college degrees and been a model inmate.
“Your behavior in prison speaks for itself. Forty-six years and not a single serious rule violation,” Commissioner Ali Zarrinnam told Van Houten at the close of her 20th parole hearing.
The decision will now undergo administrative review by the parole board. If upheld it goes to Gov. Jerry Brown, who has final say on whether Van Houten is released.
The now-66-year-old Van Houten was “numb” after the panel announced its decision, said her attorney Rich Pfeiffer.
“She’s been ready for this for a long time,” Pfeiffer said outside the prison. “It really should have happened a long time ago.”
Van Houten participated in the killings of Leno La Bianca and his wife Rosemary a day after other so-called “Manson family” members murdered pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others in 1969.
Thursday’s decision makes her the first Manson follower involved in the Tate or La Bianca killings to reach this stage in the parole process. Family member Bruce Davis, who was not involved in those killings, has been recommended for parole, but it was blocked by the governor.
Van Houten was the youngest Manson follower to take part in the killings after she joined the cult in the 1960s.
At the hearing, she described in graphic detail for the panel how she helped secure a pillow over the head of Rosemary La Bianca with a lamp cord and hold her down while another member of the “Manson family” began stabbing the woman in her home.
Van Houten said she had looked off into the distance until another Manson follower told her to do something and she joined in the stabbing.
“I don’t let myself off the hook. I don’t find parts in any of this that makes me feel the slightest bit good about myself,” she told the panel.
The La Biancas were stabbed numerous times and the word “WAR” was carved on the stomach of Leno La Bianca.
After her arrest, she said at the hearing, Van Houten heeded Manson’s calls to disrespect the court during trial, and took LSD on death row in the early 1970s, imagining she was breaking down her molecules so she could exit the building.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office vehemently opposed Van Houten’s release. After the decision, District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement she would evaluate how to proceed.
Louis Smaldino, nephew of Leno La Bianca, pleaded with the panel not to release Van Houten after the horror she and the others inflicted by taking a carving knife used at annual Thanksgiving dinners to mutilate his family.
“The Manson family are terrorists, albeit homegrown,” he said. “They’re long before their time. What we’re seeing today, these people were back in the 60s.”
Van Houten did not participate in the Tate killings but went along the next night when the La Biancas were slain. She was 19 at the time.
During the penalty phase of her trial, she confessed to joining in stabbing Rosemary La Bianca after she was dead.
Van Houten’s conviction was overturned on appeal. She was retried twice and convicted in 1978 of two counts of murder and conspiracy.
Manson, 81, and other followers involved in the killings are still jailed.
Patricia Krenwinkel and Charles “Tex” Watson have each been denied parole multiple times, while fellow defendant Susan Atkins died in prison in 2009.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
The potential for this evil woman to gain her freedom after participating in one of the most horrific murders in history with one of the most evil organizations in history, is vulgar and nauseating to contemplate. Her good behavior while in prison should have no bearing on the potential for her release. She showed no mercy to the LaBiancas and deserves none now.
I agree and couldn’t have said it better!
She took two lives destroyed families and she should be allowed to have a life? Why do I find this sickning? She should have to give up her life in prison for the lives she took.
Release her she been in prison more than 40 yrs. she can be turned around to become a good citizen. Give her that chance. Stop being so sellfish or being the dumbest democrat that you people are.
Well said! Even Presidents had released criminals and nothing is said. This woman was too young and we all were Hong too and when on drugs and ignorant big mistakes are committed. This woman had paid her dues with society. Let her out and punish her with knowing the life she lost for being stupid. What an irony that terrorists and criminals held in Guantanamo will be released and sent to other countries to regroup and be back to kill . But that is ok!
No! That is neither okay, nor is releasing 36,000 hardcore repeat offending violent criminal illegals out on our streets with nowhere to go. Or dipping into the SS funds for illegals! Or not taking care of our VETS! Or bold faced lying to the American people daily. But this writer says this should have happened long ago. …um…no! It should have never happened; and, John Hinkley Jr. should have never seen the freedom side of prison walls again, but he has some limited freedom and supervision now. That’s BS! I absolutely believe in giving people second chances; but, when you don’t give a person a chance to ever have a second chance again, then you shouldn’t get one either. Who cares if she has been thinking about this for 40 years. All she had to do was think for 4 minutes. It would take most of us less than a fraction of a second to decide not to kill someone.
I wonder….the people who were killed must have been freighted and yelled out their screams for mercy. I was not there but I can only imagine the hell they went through before they died. Funny thing is this crime was allowed not to be punished as it should have. Going to prison for any length of time is not equal to what happen to these people. Nor would have been shot dead on the spot…….they got away with murder! My punishment would be to have crippled each of them so they suffered pain for the rest of their lives. The only way I would partially forgive them is if they can bring these people back to life. They don’t deserve forgiveness but they should ask for it every day of their lives. There is no justice here!
I’m sickened at the thought she maybe released. I am not her judge and jury however, though I was a little girl when this happened I still remember my Mom crying over their deaths very clearly. What Was done to Sharon Tate I can’t believe, the La biances family incredibly cruel. I pray God the Governor say’s No and returns her to where she belongs for life.
She’s a murderer plain and simple. She should NEVER be granted parole but instead should spend the rest of her life behind bars. We can all thank the so called liberals who obviously feel criminals of all kinds have all these rights and we who obey the law and try to live productive lives have none. Next thing we know, Manson will be granted parole, too. And what’s to keep them from going out and committing murder again. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
The entire Manson gang should have been executed. But they were given life sentences, and this allows for parole eventually. She is an old, wrinkled hag. If she writes a book, the victims’ families can take the money. Hopefully, she just hides in an old-folks-home and keeps quiet.
The victims relatives should have the final say, not us. And the relatives said no over and over again. Look at the crime scene photos and maybe you rescind your remarks. I support the family members efforts to keep her confined for life. I say this with respect for your view.
It is not my choice to give her parole. And I’m not a citizen of California that didn’t award death penalty. But except for Charles, they will all be paroled eventually.
Who knows Tugboat maybe We The people will have to stand-up for the victims. Works for me..
The fact that release would even be considered is appalling. Many children have idyllic lives and then suffer through the divorce of parents at one point, but do not resort to drugs, joining a cult and then murder of innocent people. It is not an excuse. She should have received the death penalty, and definitely should not be considered for release. The LaBiancas are dead. They have no further chance of enjoying life with their family.
Exactly, I am a child of divorce I have never in 62 years of age broke the law. If I had God help me when Ma and dad got a hold of me.I don’t care what she says, why should she be allowed to enjoy life at the expense of the Tate’s and LA Biances..
She does not accept responsibility for her actions. She blames her disillusionment on the divorce and ‘abandonment’ of her parents, and her ‘intoxication’ of Manson’s charisma.
There is no mention of remorse, desire to repay her debt to society, ambition to use her prison acquired college degree to benefit a charitable organization, nada. She states her crimes are all a ‘distant memory’. It appears that she continues to be self absorbed as opposed to having a ‘rehabilitated’ mindset.
Tragic.
Exactly, When you choose to break the law you choose your destiny.
What they did is unforgivable and they should be kept in prison until they meet their maker for their judgment which then I will pray for their souls.
Murderers, such as her, should rot in prison.
Everyone remember, this is California, THE LAND OF FRUITS AND NUTS.
Agree they are real different out there. I will stay on the East coast Thank you very much. And she should rot in prison Those people she brutally killed never got to live out their lives , why should anyone forgive her. These bleeding hearts don’t understand because this was not their family member.
I was in the State Police Academy when these attacks occurred and we studied them and the trial/s. I agree with others on this site she should rot in prison. What she and her companions did is totally Murder in the 1st degree and she should have the same punishment as her victims. DEATH.
Leave it up to those California Idiots on the Parole Board to come up with something stupid. Now the Question is :: WHY ARE THEY STILL ON THE PAROLE BOARD drawing Tax Payer Checks ????????
Its a very tough issue. We know that there are plenty of kooks running around free who did far worse. We also know that family members are still grieving their people who died in the awful slayings. Obama is orchestrating the freedom of dangeorus people still at Gitmo. Bill Ayers wanders around free, a university professor still spewing some of his hatred, never having paid for his crimes.
But none of the above are the real issue. Inconsistencies in our society should not decide this woman’s fate. The merits of the unique case at hand should decide it.
I would never want to see Charles Manson go free. But…… perhaps this woman can be granted a parole now. It can, and should be a carefully crafted and staged parole.