Free Republic

Leslie Van Houten, age 73, has been released into the transitional care of a halfway house, having spent about 52 years in prison. 54 years ago, in August of 1969, she and a gang of other young thugs were followers of the now famous psychopath Charles Manson, who ordered his acolytes to commit a bunch of ghastly murders in a two-day California killing spree. The most famous victim was aspiring actress Sharon Tate, then the young bride of director Roman Polanski. Leslie Van Houten’s direct victims were Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, the following day. 19 years old at the time,...

U.S. Charles Manson cult follower Leslie Van Houten should be paroled, appeals court rules May 30, 2023 / 6:02 PM / AP A California appeals court said Tuesday that Leslie Van Houten, who participated in two killings at the direction of cult leader Charles Manson in 1969, should be let out of prison on parole. The appellate court's ruling reverses an earlier decision by Gov. Gavin Newsom to reject parole for Van Houten in 2020. She has been recommended for parole five times since 2016. All of those recommendations were rejected by either Newsom or former California Gov. Jerry Brown,...

A parole board on Wednesday rejected Manson family member Leslie Van Houten's 19th attempt to win freedom. The board also decided she could not seek parole again for five years. Van Houten, 63, was convicted of murder and conspiracy in the 1969 killings of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in their home in Los Feliz. She has repeatedly been denied bids for parole over the last four decades. “Given the brutality of the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca and Van Houten’s willing and active participation in this evil, pre-planned and violent crime, we are pleased with the parole board’s decision...

"Manson apparently refused to go back to his cell and assumed a fighting stance with a correctional officer, said Todd Slosek, a spokesman for the California Department of Corrections. Slosek didn't have exact details on when the incident occurred, other than to say it happened sometime this week. He said he didn't believe either Manson or the officer was injured in the confrontation. "