Leslie Van Houten, a follower of Charles Manson who was convicted of two killings, was released on parole Tuesday, according to officials.
Hotten, 73, has spent more than five decades in prison.
Her release comes next California Governor Gavin NewsomHe, who had previously blocked attempts at parole, said Friday that he would not challenge Houten’s release to the state Supreme Court.
An appeals court ruled in May that Van Houten was eligible for parole, reversing Newsom’s decision to deny parole.
Hoten was originally sentenced to death on August 10, 1969, for the murders of Lino and Rosemary La Bianca.
According to a statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, “The original conviction and death sentence were overturned on appeal and she was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.”
In 1969, Manson and fellow cult member Charles “Tex” Watson entered the couple’s home and tied them up.
Manson went outside and told Van Houten and one other person to go and follow Watson’s instructions, according to court records. Watson told them to kill Rosemary LaBianca, and Watson killed Lino LaBianca.
The day before, Watson and other members of the cult—not Van Houten—had killed actress Sharon Tate and others in her home.
Manson died in hospital in 2017 while serving a life sentence. Watson is serving life in prison.
A relative of one of the people killed by the Manson family in the 1960s, who regularly attended parole hearings for cult members, described Van Houten’s release as a failure of the parole system.
“Every governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger has revoked parole for Manson killers,” said Kay Martley, 86, whose cousin Gary Hinman was tortured and murdered by Manson followers on July 27, 1969.
He did not kill Van Houten Hinman. Bobby Beausoleil was convicted and is serving a life sentence for the Hinman murder.
Gov. “Let Newsom the judicial system override his parole power, which will affect the families of all the victims, not just those of us fighting against the five Manson killers,” Martley said.
In announcing Friday that the governor would not seek review in the state Supreme Court, Newsom’s office said the case was unlikely to be heard by the court.
Newsom’s office said additional appeals are unlikely to be successful.
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