Leslie Van Houten, Manson Family Cult Member, Tentatively OK'd for Parole

[IceWizard]

APR 14 2016, 7:11 PM ET
by CORKY SIEMASZKO, ALEX JOHNSON and ANDREW BLANKSTEIN


Leslie Van Houten, the youngest of member of the murderous Manson Family cult, finally took the first step toward parole Thursday after having been denied 19 previous times.

A two-person panel of the California Board of Parole Hearings found Van Houten, 66, who was convicted of the 1969 thrill killings of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, "suitable for parole" after a hearing at the California Institution for Women in Chino, authorities told NBC News.


Former Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten is seen during a hearing before the California Board of Parole Hearings at the California Institution for Women in Chino, Calif., on Thursday.  Nick Ut / AP


The full parole board now has 120 days to review the finding. If it's upheld, Gov. Jerry Brown will have 30 further days to approve or deny parole or order the case sent back to the board for a rehearing.

A model prisoner who has used her time behind bars to edit a prison newspaper and counsel other inmates, Van Houten has previously apologized for her role in the brutal killings and said she was "deeply ashamed" of her crime.

That was not enough to spring Van Houten in 2002. And it remains to be seen whether the parole board will see fit to free her this time.

Van Houten was a 19-year-old hippie when she fell under the spell of Charles Manson.

Manson's minions struck on Aug. 9, 1969, killing actress Sharon Tate — the wife of Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski — and four others in a rented Benedict Canyon home.


Charles Manson 1969


The next day, Van Houten joined in the LaBianca murders. She later admitted she was on LSD when she stabbed Rosemary LaBianca 14 times.

At her last parole hearing in 2013, Van Houten admitted what she did was "unforgivable" and apologized again for the murders.

"I can create a world where I make amends," she said. "I'm trying to be someone who lives a life for healing rather than destruction."


Leslie Van Houten, 19, a member of Charles Manson's 'family,' in court in Los Angeles in December 1969.  George Brich / AP —file


But LaBianca family members insisted that Van Houten was a remorseless killer who remains a danger to society — and the parole board agreed.

Manson, 81, is serving nine life sentences at Corcoran State Prison in California. Two years ago, he and 26-year-old Afton Elaine Burton, aka "Star," got a marriage license.

But it expired before they could tie the knot.

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[IceWizard]

SIDE FACTS


Patricia Krenwinkel after her arrest in 1969


Born... Patricia Dianne Krenwinkel December 3, 1947 (age 68) Los Angeles, California, U.S

Other names... Big Patty ,Yellow, Marnie Reeves, Mary Ann Scott, and Katie

Criminal penalty... Death, commuted to life in prison after the California Supreme Court overturned the death penalty

Criminal status ...Incarcerated



Susan Atkins

Born ...Susan Denise Atkins May 7, 1948 San Gabriel, California

Died...September 24, 2009 (aged 61) Chowchilla, California

Other names ...Sadie Mae Glutz, Sexy Sadie

Criminal penalty ...Death, commuted to life in prison after the California Supreme Court overturned the death penalty

Criminal status ...Deceased


Lynette "Squeeky" Fromme (1965 high school junior)


Born ...Lynette Alice Fromme October 22, 1948 (age 67) Santa Monica, California, U.S.

Other names ...Squeaky

Criminal charge ...Attempted assassination of U.S. President Gerald Ford

Criminal penalty... Life in prison

Criminal status ...Paroled

*She was never charged with involvement in the murders, but was convicted of attempting to prevent Manson's imprisoned followers from testifying, as well as contempt of court when she herself refused to testify. She was given short jail sentences for both offenses.




Charles Denton Watson California mugshot 1971


Born... Charles Denton Watson December 2, 1945 (age 70) Dallas, Texas, U.S

Other names... Tex; Charles Montgomery; Texas Charlie

Criminal penalty... Death penalty commuted to life in prison

*His next scheduled parole hearing is in November 2016




Charles Manson in 2014


Born... Charles Milles Maddox November 12, 1934 (age 81) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.

Criminal charge Murder, conspiracy

Criminal penalty... Death, reduced by abolition of death penalty to life in prison.

Imprisoned at Corcoran State Prison



Note

I remember this as it happened... Had the newspaper clippings in a scrapbook whick I gave to Lamar University in 1988...

Said he was tryong to instigate "Helter Skelter" (a song from the Beatles 'White' album) .. It was supposedly to bring about a race war till the end times...

He is still a very very "Warped" indiviual...

Ice

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Gosh... My mustashe looks like that (without the beard)... Ugh Oh..

[Spanky]

APR 14 2016, 7:11 PM ET
by CORKY SIEMASZKO, ALEX JOHNSON and ANDREW BLANKSTEIN


Leslie Van Houten, the youngest of member of the murderous Manson Family cult, finally took the first step toward parole Thursday after having been denied 19 previous times.

A two-person panel of the California Board of Parole Hearings found Van Houten, 66, who was convicted of the 1969 thrill killings of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, "suitable for parole" after a hearing at the California Institution for Women in Chino, authorities told NBC News.


Former Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten is seen during a hearing before the California Board of Parole Hearings at the California Institution for Women in Chino, Calif., on Thursday.  Nick Ut / AP


The full parole board now has 120 days to review the finding. If it's upheld, Gov. Jerry Brown will have 30 further days to approve or deny parole or order the case sent back to the board for a rehearing.

A model prisoner who has used her time behind bars to edit a prison newspaper and counsel other inmates, Van Houten has previously apologized for her role in the brutal killings and said she was "deeply ashamed" of her crime.  

That was not enough to spring Van Houten in 2002. And it remains to be seen whether the parole board will see fit to free her this time.

Van Houten was a 19-year-old hippie when she fell under the spell of Charles Manson.

Manson's minions struck on Aug. 9, 1969, killing actress Sharon Tate — the wife of Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski — and four others in a rented Benedict Canyon home.


Charles Manson 1969


The next day, Van Houten joined in the LaBianca murders. She later admitted she was on LSD when she stabbed Rosemary LaBianca 14 times.

At her last parole hearing in 2013, Van Houten admitted what she did was "unforgivable" and apologized again for the murders.

"I can create a world where I make amends," she said. "I'm trying to be someone who lives a life for healing rather than destruction."


Leslie Van Houten, 19, a member of Charles Manson's 'family,' in court in Los Angeles in December 1969.  George Brich / AP —file


But LaBianca family members insisted that Van Houten was a remorseless killer who remains a danger to society — and the parole board agreed.

Manson, 81, is serving nine life sentences at Corcoran State Prison in California. Two years ago, he and 26-year-old Afton Elaine Burton, aka "Star," got a marriage license.

But it expired before they could tie the knot.

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I've kind of followed Leslie's story, and that's a tough one for me.  Leslie herself says her crime was "unforgivable".  I don't think she is the same person, as opposed to Manson, who is.  If I was a family member of the victims, it would be an easy call.  I'm not sure what "justice" amounts to on this one.  

Spanky

[IceCreamMan]

I am sort of with you with this one Spanky, I don't know really which way to lean. It was a horrible crime. If my family were involved, i would like to see them all rot in jail. But in certain situations, I believe in second chances. I am glad I was not deciding.