No Compassionate Release for Susan Atkins

Manson Family member Susan Atkins denied compassionate release by California Parole Board, no surprise.

The infamous rampage in Los Angeles on August 8th and 9th 1969 known as the Tate-LaBianca left 7 people dead and a notable influence on pop culture.

The Murders gripped America, but the impact was, here in Los Angeles, most profound of all. Few Angelenos are surprised Atkins request for parole on the ground of compassionate release was denied.

Atkins, now 60 had been recommended for release by the prison physicians which was approved by officials at the California Institution for Women in Corona as well as corrections officials in Sacramento.

The release was also supported by the case prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi writing in a supporting email, "just because Susan Atkins showed no mercy to her victims, we therefore are duty bound to follow her inhumanity and show no mercy to her".

But the parole board and many in LA agree that the punishment for these horrific crimes should run it's course. Atkins reportedly has approximately 6 months to live and will serve them out behind bars.

The killings and greater purpose to ignite a race war left an indelible mark on LA and the nation. Arrested on unrelated charges on in early September 1969, Atkins told her cell mate Virginian Graham about Charles Manson, Spahn Ranch and the double murders.

According to Graham, Atkins related the brutality of the murders, the "tasting" of Sharon Tates' Blood and the further plans to murder more celebrities including Steve McQueen, Frank Sanatra and Elizabeth Tailor.

Atkins, along with co-defendants Charles Manson, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten were sentenced to death for the Tatr-LaBianca murders on March 29, 1971, but California Supreme Court ruling in 1972 declaring the state's death penalty law unconstitutional spared there lives. Time will do the job it seems.