Patricia Krenwinkle went before a parole board on Thursday, January 20, 2011, for the 13^th time.  Once again, she was denied parole and will have to wait another seven years to go before she is up for parole again.

Krenwinkle was a follower of Charles Manson more than 40 years ago.  She, along with Manson, and several other Manson followers, went on a killing spree in California back in August 1969 where they tortured and killed seven people in the course of two days.  Manson led his crew to believe that they were supposed to begin an ‘apocalyptic race war.’  The seven victims totaled 169 stab wounds and 7 gun shot wounds.

Krenwinkle was convicted of seven counts of first degree murder for her involvement in the killings.  Krenwinkle was originally sentenced to death, but her sentences were automatically commuted to life back in 1972 when the US Supreme Court briefly removed the nation’s death penalty laws.

According to CNN.com a tearful Krenwinkle said, “I’m just haunted each and every day by the unending suffering my participation in the murder has caused the family and friends of my victims.  The enormity of the grief I caused fills me with intense sorrow.”

In response, the parole board said, “The panel concludes that she is not suitable for parole and would present an unreasonable amount of danger if released.”

The murders of Manson and his crew are known world wide, and remain one of the most notorious crimes of the 20^th century.

by Jana Hughes

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