12 July 2023 , 16:36
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Leslie Van Houten is out on parole, released from prison mere days ago. And Sharon Tate's sister Debra is furious.
Van Houten, who was a follower of Charles Manson, was convicted for the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in 1969.
The brutal killings rocked the nation at the time, and they're often associated with the murder of pregnant young actress Sharon Tate and her friends the day before — together, they're known as the Manson Family murders.
The murder cult shot, stabbed and beat to death over a half dozen people in two days.
While Van Houten was only present for the slaughter of the LaBianca's, the murderess has said before that she wished she had been present for Sharon's killing.
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Van Houten was convicted for the murders of Leno and Rosemarie LaBianca in 1969 (Bettmann Archive)And that's prompted Debra to believe that, more than 50 years after her original conviction, Van Houten could kill again.
Debra told TMZ that she is "deeply offended" by the California Court of Appeals' decision to let Van Houten out.
She expressed her disappointment in the system and with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who she believed "dropped the ball" and didn't fight hard enough to prevent Van Houten's release.
The governor previously rejected several pushes for Van Houten's parole, but this time, he said he wouldn't fight back. He did, however, say he was disappointed with the decision.
Newsom could have easily taken the decision to a higher court, but opted not to.
Debra Tate is upset with Governor Gavin Newsom over his handling of Van Houten's release (AP)Debra told TMZ that his refusal to do so was a "huge slap in the face to the families of Manson's victims."
The 70-year-old also fears that Van Houten will kill again — she doubts the murderess's claims that she's a changed, reformed woman.
She said she and the families of the other victims were content with Van Houten's life sentence and had assumed it would be carried out.
Van Houten's release is "just another example of California going soft on crime," Debra believes.
"A monster is afoot," she said.
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Debra sponsors several petitions aimed at keeping members of the Manson Family locked up.
Cory LaBianca, the daughter of Leno, came forward and said she and her family are "heartbroken" by Van Houten's release, echoing Debra.
"We're once again reminded of all the years that we have not had my father and my stepmother with us," the 75-year old said. "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."