Notorious Manson family cult murderer released from jail after over 50 years
Charles Manson family murder Leslie Van Houten has been released from jail after more than four decades behind bars.
Ms Van Houten, now in her 70s, received a life sentence for helping Manson’s followers carry out the 1969 killings of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife, Rosemary.
She and other Manson followers killed the LaBiancas in their home in August 1969, smearing their blood on the walls after.
Ms Van Houten later described holding Rosemary LaBianca down with a pillowcase over her head as others stabbed her, before herself stabbing the woman more than a dozen times.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said she “was released to parole supervision.”
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Cult leader Charles Manson (Michael Ochs Archives)Her lawyer, Nancy Tetreault, who confirmed she was released from a Caifornia prison in the early morning hours after serving more than 50 years of a life sentence, said: “She’s still trying to get used to the idea that this is real."
She was driven to transitional housing where she will spend around a year in a halfway house, learning basic life skills such as how to go to the grocery and get a debit card, according to her lawyer.
“She’s been in prison for 53 years...She just needs to learn how to use an ATM machine, let alone a cell phone, let alone a computer," Ms Tetreault said.
She received a life sentence for helping Manson’s followers carry out the 1969 killings (Bettmann Archive)"She has to learn to use the internet. She has to learn to buy things without cash. It's a very different world than when she went in."
Her lawyer says that Van Houten, who will likely be on parole for about three years, hopes to get a job as soon as possible.
Whilst in prison, she earned a bachelors and a masters degree and worked as a tutor.
Her release comes days after Governor Gavin Newsom announced he would not fight a state appeals court ruling that Ms Van Houten should be granted parole.
Susan Denise Atkins, (left), Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten, (right), laugh after receiving the death sentence for their part in the Tate-LaBianca killing at the order of Charles Manson (Bettmann Archive)She was recommended for parole five times since 2016 but Newsom and former Governor Jerry Brown rejected all those recommendations.
However, a state appeals court ruled in May that Ms Van Houten should be released, noting what it called her “extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends” and favourable behaviour reports while in prison.
Her lawyer Nancy Tetreault said she was "grateful" people recognised that she is not the same person anymore.
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Leslie Van Houten is shown in a Los Angeles lockup on March 29, 1971 (AP)She said: "She’s just grateful that people are recognising that she’s not the same person that she was when she committed the murders."
Cory LaBianca, Leno LaBianca’s daughter, has admitted her family are "heartbroken" over the murderer's release.
She said: "My family and I are heartbroken because we’re once again reminded of all the years that we have not had my father and my stepmother with us.
She helped Charles Manson carry out the murders of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife, Rosemary (Bettmann Archive)“My children and my grandchildren never got an opportunity to get to know either of them, which has been a huge void for my family."
The LaBianca murders happened the day after Manson followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others. Van Houten did not participate in the Tate killings.
Manson died in prison in 2017 of natural causes at age 83 after nearly half a century behind bars.
Her parole had been denied multiple times (AFP via Getty Images)Van Houten, now in her 70s, received a life sentence for helping Manson's followers carry out the August 1969 killings of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife, Rosemary.
The LaBiancas were killed in their home, and their blood was smeared on the walls afterward.
Van Houten later described holding Rosemary LaBianca down with a pillowcase over her head as others stabbed her, before she also stabbed the woman more than a dozen times.
From left to right, Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins and Leslie Van Houten trial leave the Los Angeles courtroom after being convicted of first degree murder in 1971 (Popperfoto)The slayings happened the day after Manson followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others.
Van Houten, who was 19 at the time, did not participate in the Tate killings.
She was found suitable for parole after a July 2020 hearing, but her release was blocked by Mr Newsom, who maintained that she was still a threat to society.
She first filed an appeal with a trial court, which rejected it, and then turned to the appellate courts.
The three female members of Charles Manson's Family' ham it up and smile for photographers in 1970 (Bettmann Archive)The appellate court's ruling in May reversed an earlier decision by Mr Newsom, who rejected parole for Van Houten in 2020.
She had been recommended for parole five times since 2016 and all of those recommendations were rejected by either Mr Newsom or former governor Jerry Brown.
Mr Newsom's office said the governor was disappointed by the decision.
In a statement issued on July 7, the governor's office said: "More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal killings, the victims' families still feel the impact."
Manson died in prison in 2017 of natural causes at age 83 after nearly half a century behind bars.
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