A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Leslie Van Houten's life and career.
Leslie Van Houten is an American convicted murderer known for her involvement with the Manson Family. She used aliases like Louella Alexandria and Linda Sue Owens during her time with the group. She was convicted of murder for her participation in the Manson Family's crimes.
1969: Arrested and Charged
In 1969, Van Houten was arrested and charged in relation to the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.
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1970: Prosecution Focus
In 1970, the prosecution emphasized that the motive for the LaBianca murders had nothing to do with robbery, and the killers ignored valuable pieces of property.
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March 29, 1971: Conviction of Murder
On March 29, 1971, Van Houten was convicted of murder along with other defendants and during the sentencing phase, she testified about a killing in which she was not involved, in an attempt to exonerate Manson.
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1971: Testimony in Court
In 1971, Van Houten testified about her involvement in the stabbing of Rosemary LaBianca.
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1972: Death Sentence Commuted
In 1972, Van Houten's death sentence was automatically commuted to life in prison after the California Supreme Court's People v. Anderson decision.
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1972: Death Penalty Overturned
In 1972, the California Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional, and Van Houten's death sentence was commuted to life in prison.
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1975: Moved to General Population
In 1975, Van Houten and other Manson women were moved to the general population at the California Institution for Women.
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1976: Conviction Overturned
In 1976, an appellate court overturned Van Houten's conviction, granting her a retrial.
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1977: Retrial Granted
In 1977, Van Houten was granted a retrial due to the failure to declare a mistrial when her lawyer, Ronald Hughes, died.
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1978: Second Re-Trial Conviction
At Van Houten's second re-trial in 1978, the prosecution altered the charges by adding a charge of robbery. Van Houten was found guilty of first-degree murder.
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1978: Third Trial Conviction
In 1978, at her third trial, Van Houten was convicted of two counts of murder and one count of conspiracy, and sentenced to seven years to life in prison.
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November 8, 1988: Proposition 89 Passed
On November 8, 1988, Proposition 89 was passed, granting California governors the power to rescind parole.
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2004: Denial of Parole Review
In 2004, California Supreme Court Justice Manuel Ramirez denied review of a Court of Appeal ruling upholding Van Houten's denial of parole, noting the prosecutor's suggested motive for the murders.
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2011: Parole Difficulty
Before 2011, very few inmates with even a single conviction on a charge of murder had been able to obtain parole in California.
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2013: 20th Parole Denial
In 2013, Van Houten was denied parole for the 20th time at a hearing.
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April 14, 2016: Parole Recommended, Vetoed
On April 14, 2016, the California Parole Board recommended granting Van Houten's parole, but Governor Jerry Brown vetoed the release.
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September 29, 2016: Governor's Reversal Upheld
On September 29, 2016, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan upheld the governor's reversal of a parole board's decision to release Van Houten.
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October 27, 2016: Tex Watson Denied Parole
On October 27, 2016, Tex Watson, another member of the Manson Family, was denied parole for the 15th time.
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September 6, 2017: Parole Recommended Again
On September 6, 2017, Van Houten was again recommended for parole at her 21st parole hearing.
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January 19, 2018: Parole Denied Again
On January 19, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown again denied Van Houten's parole.
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June 29, 2018: Parole Vetoed Again
On June 29, 2018, Van Houten's parole was once again vetoed by Judge William C. Ryan.
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January 30, 2019: Parole Recommended a Third Time
On January 30, 2019, Van Houten was recommended for parole for the third time.
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June 4, 2019: Governor Newsom Overrules Parole Board
On June 4, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom overruled the parole board's recommendation, claiming Van Houten was still a "danger to society".
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September 21, 2019: Appeals Court Rules in Governor's Favor
On September 21, 2019, the appeals court panel ruled 2-1 in the governor's favor, upholding the decision to deny parole.
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July 23, 2020: Parole Recommended a Fourth Time
On July 23, 2020, Van Houten was recommended for parole for the fourth time at a 23rd parole hearing.
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November 9, 2021: Parole Board Recommends Parole
On November 9, 2021, Van Houten was again recommended for parole by a parole board.
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February 9, 2022: California Supreme Court Rejects Review
On February 9, 2022, The California Supreme Court rejected Van Houten's request for review, after Governor Newsom again vetoed Van Houten's parole on November 28.
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March 29, 2022: Governor Overrules Parole Board Recommendation
On March 29, 2022, Governor Newsom again overruled the parole board's recommendation.
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May 30, 2023: California Court Sets Aside Governor's Parole Denial
On May 30, 2023, the California Court of Appeal in Los Angeles overturned Governor Newsom's denial of Leslie Van Houten's parole, marking her as the first Manson family member to have a court rule in favor of her parole recommendation.
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July 7, 2023: Governor Newsom Declines Appeal
On July 7, 2023, Governor Newsom announced he would not appeal to the California Supreme Court to block Van Houten's parole, clearing the path for her release.
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July 11, 2023: Van Houten Released on Parole
On July 11, 2023, Leslie Van Houten was released on parole after serving over 52 years in prison and was moved to a transitional living facility under parole supervision, which is expected to last up to three years.
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