California Governor Denies Parole For Manson Follower
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Jerry Brown is denying parole for Leslie Van Houten, the youngest follower of murderous cult leader Charles Manson.
The Democratic governor said Friday Van Houten's "inability to explain her willing participation in such horrific violence" leads him to believe she remains an unreasonable risk to society.
Van Houten, 66, is serving life for the first-degree murders in 1969 of wealthy grocer Leno La Bianca and his wife, Rosemary.
The couple were fatally stabbed a day after other "Manson family" members killed pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others.
Brown's decision overturns a parole board recommendation that Van Houten be freed.
Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey and relatives of the victims last month turned in signatures of 140,000 people opposing Van Houten's release.
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