Leslie Van Houten, a former Manson family member who was convicted of murder, was released from prison on Tuesday. She had been in custody for 53 years.
Van Houten was 19 when she joined the Manson family, a cult led by Charles Manson. In 1971, she was convicted of taking part in the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.
Van Houten has been eligible for parole since 1977, but her release was repeatedly blocked by governors. In 2023, a state appellate court ruled that she was eligible for parole, and Governor Gavin Newsom decided not to appeal the decision.
Van Houten will now be on parole for three years. She will be required to participate in a transitional housing program and to seek employment.
The release of Van Houten has been met with mixed reactions. Some people believe that she has served her time and deserves to be released, while others believe that she is still a danger to society.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to release Van Houten was up to the parole board. They determined that she is no longer a danger to society and that she has taken steps to rehabilitate herself.