Leslie Van Houten is set to be released from prison in the next few weeks, according to her lawyer, who confirmed the news to AFP. Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, decided not to contest Van Houten’s parole, which led to the announcement.

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Who is Leslie Van Houten?

Leslie Van Houten was a former member of the Manson Family, a cult that Charles Manson oversaw in the late 1960s. She was born in Altadena, California, in 1949. 

When Leslie Van Houten was 19 years old in 1968, she started to associate with the Manson Family. She took part in the tragic murders that shook the country in August 1969. She participated in the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, a wealthy couple in Los Angeles, along with other Manson Family members. 

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After being detained, Van Houten was charged with first-degree murder and murder conspiracy. In the end, she was found guilty and given the death penalty. However, when the death penalty was temporarily banned in California, her sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

Van Houten has gone through numerous parole hearings throughout her time in jail, where she has admitted remorse for the murders and undertook rehabilitation programs. Despite all her efforts, she had already had many bids for parole rejected. She served more than fifty years in prison for her part in the crime and is currently 73 years old.

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Now, Nancy Tetreault, her attorney, announced the news of her upcoming release, saying, “She will be released from prison on parole within the next few weeks.” Van Houten’s delight was further stated by Tetreault, who emphasized how happy she was that the parole board and court had recognized her attempts at rehabilitation and determined that she no longer posed a threat to public safety.

Her lawyer claimed that Houten, who obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees while she was in jail, is thinking about continuing her work as a tutor for students once she is released.