Victoria Harkless
Assistant Editor-in-Chief
Leslie Van Houten was denied her fourth attempt at parole on November 19th, 2020. If you do not know why this is a big deal, Leslie was one of three women convicted for the horrendous acts carried out by the Manson Family cult.
On August 11, 1969, Van Houten broke into the home of Roman Polanski with four other cult members. As a result of the break in, five people were murdered including Polanski’s actress wife, Sharon Tate, who was eight and a half months pregnant at the time. The Manson family went on the next night to attack Rosemary and Leno LaBianca in their home. The couple was stabbed dozens of times and ultimately died from their injuries.
Van Houten admitted to pinning Mrs. LaBianca down while another member stabbed her, and to holding her down while she tried to go to the aid of her husband who was being attacked in another room by other members. She also confessed (in 2002) to stabbing Mrs. La Bianca fourteen to sixteen times according to a New York Times article.
The family left phrases such as “Death to Pigs”, “Rise”, and other references to Helter Skelter, the Manson Family’s apocalyptic race war, written in the victims’ blood on the home's walls and the refrigerator.
Van Houten wiped down surfaces, changed clothes and drank chocolate milk at the crime scene according to crime scene investigation and testimony from other members. She showed no remorse for her actions as seen by the way she acted in court. These actions were all allegedly illustrated by Manson to create a wide spread panic in Los Angeles.
Governor Newsom said, “I remain concerned by Ms. Van Houten’s characterization of her participation in this gruesome double murder, part of a series of crimes that rank among the most infamous and fear-inducing in California history.” He did acknowledge Ms. Van Houten’s numerous attempts to better herself within the corrections system, like taking self help classes and her good disciplinary record, but said they were not enough to garner her parole.
Leslie’s lawyer, Rich Pfeiffer, has voiced concern for his client’s safety if she is to remain in jail. He stated that “At her age, she's at a high risk” when he said this he was speaking about COVID-19. With this in mind, the governor has stood by his statement.
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