Van Houten Again Denied Parole
Tuesday, December 31st, 1991
FRONTERA, Dec. 31 — Ex-Manson-family member Leslie Van Houten closed out 1991 by being denied paroled for the eighth time for killing Rosemary and Leno LaBianca 22 years ago.
Ms. Van Houten, 42, the youngest of Charles Manson’s followers, has been imprisoned at the California Institution for Women 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles. She was denied another parole hearing Monday for two years, said Jim Dowling, spokesman for the board of prison terms.
Ms. Van Houten has been a model prisoner, but the nature of the crime was so odious that she is “unsuitable for parole at this time,” Dowling said.
The former homecoming princess has been doing “vocational work in the area of clerical skills,” and has had no offenses while imprisoned, Dowling said.
The LaBiancas were butchered Aug. 10, 1969 the night after actress Sharon Tate and four others were murdered in Benedict Canyon by other members of the Manson family.
Ms. Van Houten admitted stabbing Mrs LaBianca once, probably after she was dead. She also was convicted of conspiracy in the murders at the Tate home.
She originally was sentenced to death but the sentence was commuted to life in prison with parole after the death penalty was abolished. It has since been reinstated.
Other former Manson family members Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Charles “Tex” Watson were convicted of first degree murder in the Tate and LaBianca killings and repeatedly have been denied parole.
Deputy District Attorney Stephen Kay once said he would support parole for Ms. Van Houten after she turned 40, but backed down when the date approached.
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