Leslie Van Houten, a former follower of Charles Manson, was released from a California state prison after being convicted in 1971 for two notorious 1969 murders. On Tuesday, the 73-year-old left the prison and was taken to an undisclosed transitional housing location.
Van Houten was 19 when she joined other members of the so-called Manson Family in breaking into the home of wealthy grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, and stabbing them dozens of times on August 10, 1969. This happened only one night after five people were killed at the home of movie director Roman Polanski—including his pregnant wife, the actress Sharon Tate. All of the murders were committed under the direction of Charles Manson, who died in 2017 at the age of 83.
Van Houten’s lawyer, Nancy Tetreault, said in an interview that Van Houten is going to have to learn to live in the world after 53 years in prison. During the LaBianca murders, Van Houten held down Rosemary LaBianca while Patricia Krenwinkel stabbed her in the collar bone and Charles “Tex” Watson stabbed her with a bayonet eight times. Van Houten then stabbed Rosemary LaBianca in the back and buttocks 14 to 16 times before cleaning the area of fingerprints, changing clothes, and drinking chocolate milk out of the LaBiancas’ refrigerator.
California Governor Gavin Newsom had previously denied Van Houten’s parole but the decision was overruled by an appeals court in California in May of this year. The court judges wrote that Newsom’s rejection “fails to account for the decades of therapy, self-help programming and reflection Van Houten has undergone in the past 50 years.” Newsom did not appeal the court’s decision.
Van Houten’s lawyer said that she is looking forward to beginning her new life on the outside. She also said that everyone, regardless of criminal history, deserves a second chance. Van Houten will be monitored around-the-clock and will have regular parole meetings, group therapy sessions, and mental health appointments.
The tragic murders that Van Houten took part in over 50 years ago shook the world and the current release marks a significant milestone in the healing process. Van Houten and the other members of the Manson family have been in prison for over five decades and the free world still has a long road to recovery.
Van Houten served her sentence and still faces supervision, and this release is a reminder to us all of the effects of cruel and senseless crimes. Let us remember the LaBiancas and Tate victims and the pain and suffering their families have endured and use this moment to appreciate the justice and second chances that our world’s judicial system provides.
