Leslie Van Houten, a former follower of Charles Manson, was released from prison on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, after serving 53 years for her role in the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. She was 19 years old at the time of the murders.
Van Houten was originally sentenced to death, but her sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1972. She was first eligible for parole in 1977, but her requests were denied several times by the parole board. In 2016, the parole board recommended her release for the first time, but Governor Jerry Brown blocked her release. In 2020, the parole board again recommended her release, and this time Governor Gavin Newsom did not block her release.
Van Houten will be under parole supervision for the rest of her life. She will be required to live in a transitional housing facility for the first year of her release. She will also be required to participate in therapy and counseling.
The release of Leslie 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.
Who is Leslie Van Houten?
Leslie Van Houten was a former follower of Charles Manson who was convicted of the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in 1969. She was 19 years old at the time of the murders.
Van Houten was born in Altadena, California, in 1949. She had a troubled childhood, and she was expelled from high school. In 1967, she met Charles Manson and joined his cult, the Manson Family.
On August 9, 1969, Van Houten and other members of the Manson Family went to the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. They stabbed the couple to death, and they wrote “Death to Pigs” on the walls in the victims’ blood.
Van Houten was arrested and charged with the murders. She was convicted and sentenced to death, but her sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1972. She was first eligible for parole in 1977, but her requests were denied several times by the parole board. In 2016, the parole board recommended her release for the first time, but Governor Jerry Brown blocked her release. In 2020, the parole board again recommended her release, and this time Governor Gavin Newsom did not block her release.
Van Houten was released from prison on July 11, 2023. She will be under parole supervision for the rest of her life.
Van Houten has expressed remorse for her role in the murders, and she has said that she is a different person today. She has participated in therapy and counseling, and she has worked to educate people about the dangers of cults.
The release of Leslie 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.
Why Leslie Van Houten was convicted?
Leslie Van Houten was convicted of the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in 1969. She was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder.
The evidence against Van Houten included her own testimony, which she gave at her trial. She admitted to being present at the LaBianca murders and to participating in the stabbings. She also admitted to writing “Death to Pigs” on the walls in the victims’ blood.
In addition to Van Houten’s testimony, the prosecution presented other evidence against her, including eyewitness testimony from other members of the Manson Family, physical evidence from the crime scene, and Manson’s own words.
Based on this evidence, the jury found Van Houten guilty of murder. She was sentenced to death, but her sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1972.
Van Houten has expressed remorse for her role in the murders, and she has said that she is a different person today. She has participated in therapy and counseling, and she has worked to educate people about the dangers of cults.
The release of Leslie 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.
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