Leslie Van Houten Paroled (Manson Family murders / Sharon Tate)

[Sloane]

Leslie Van Houten, a former member of the notorious “Manson family” murderers, has officially been approved for parole by the state of California as of today. Van Houten was convicted in 1971 for the murders of Leno La Bianca and his wife Rosemary—events she recounted detail during a hearing this Thursday.

“The only violent thing she has ever done in her entire life was this crime and that was under the control of Charles Manson,” Van Houten’s lawyer, Rich Pfiffer, said in a previous interview arguing for her release. “She is just not a public safety risk, and when you are not a public safety risk, the law says you shall be released.”

Still, the news is certainly unwelcome by the family members of Manson’s victims, some of whom have publicly spoken out against Van Hoten. Two weeks ago, Debra Tate—the sister of Manson victim Sharon Tate—launched an online campaign protesting Van Hoten’s parole. In it, Tate refers to Van Houten as “remorseless,” and references the horrible events of August 10th, 1969:

Ms. Van Houten broke into the home of Leno & Rosemary LaBianca on August 10, 1969- after Charles Manson had gone into their home & tied the couple up. She placed a pillowcase over Mrs. LaBianca’s head & tied it with a lamp chord. She held Mrs. LaBianca down so Patricia Krenwinkel could stab her to death. When the knife bent stabbing Mrs. LaBianca in the collar bone, Ms. Van Houten held Mrs. LaBianca down so Tex Watson could come in & stab her. She stabbed Mrs. LaBianca in the lower back several times. Mrs. LaBianca was stabbed a total of 41 times. Words were written in blood on two walls & a refrigerator door. Ms. Van Houten then took a shower, stole one of her dresses to wear, & ate food from the refrigerator before leaving.

Van Houten, who was 20 at the time of her conviction and is now 66, was originally sentenced to death along with Manson and two other members of the “family” when her case first went to trial, making her the youngest woman in the state of California ever to be sentenced thusly. The ruling was eventually thrown out, and Van Houten has spent her life since then on the receiving end of more than 20 failed parole hearings.

Charles Manson, now 81 years old, remains imprisoned in the Corcoran State Prison in Central California. He has been denied parole 12 times as of 2012, and hasn’t shown up to a hearing since 1997.

[Guest Mauro]

Ugh.

[Sloane]

Apparently it's been sent to the governor and more votes might be needed, but the parole board did approve her.

[Guest Pud Whacker]

gross.

[Jazzy Jan]

I never thought any of the Manson family murderers would ever get paroled. What an evil group of people to do the things they did.

[Guest Rachelle of London]

What a messed up system? How on earth can she be eligible for parole.

[Guest]

Holy shit! I can't believe it.

I never thought I'd see this day.

I hope her swastika scar is still visible for all to see.