The family of the actress who became one of the victims of Charles Manson family cult pleads with California Governor to turn down killer Leslie Van Houten's latest parole bid.
- Jul 29, 2020
AceShowbiz - The sister of tragic actress Sharon Tate is appealing to California Governor Gavin Newsom to shut down plans to release the youngest member of Charles Manson's Family cult.
Leslie Van Houten, 70, has been in prison ever since she confessed to partaking in the killings of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca back in 1969, when she was 19.
She has applied for parole more than 20 times, and has had her last four petitions approved by officials on the California Parole Board, only for former Governor Jerry Brown to reject the recommendation on two prior occasions, citing concerns for public safety.
Governor Newsom, who took office in January, 2019, also blocked her release last year (19).
Her fourth successful petition, passed by parole board bosses last week (23Jul20), is now under a 120-day legal review, after which Newsom will be given 30 days to ultimately decide Van Houten's fate - and Tate's sister, Debra Tate, is again lobbying the Governor to ensure he keeps the killer behind bars.
She has fired off a letter to the state leader explaining why Van Houten doesn't deserve to regain her freedom, including questioning the extent of the Manson Family murderer's rehabilitation.
In the note, obtained by TMZ, Debra writes, "The danger of letting these people out of prison is ever-present and real. I am scared, not just for myself and other family members who may be targeted, but for society..."
"Age is immaterial to psychopathology. There is no cure for the sociopath," she continues. "The disposition to committing violent crime does not have an expiration date. And criminals do not retire."
Governor Newsom has yet to publicly respond to the appeal.
The LaBianca murders occurred a day after another group of Manson killers slaughtered five people, including actress Sharon, who was heavily pregnant with her director husband Roman Polanski's baby, at the former home of record producer Terry Melcher.
