As of 2020, who is the longest serving female in the California state prison system?

Patricia Dianne Krenwinkel is the longest serving female prisoner in the state of California. Born December 3, 1947 she is an American murderer and a former member of the Manson family. She was sentenced to death on March 29, 1971.

Krenwinkel was a participant in the murders on August 9, 1969, at 10050 Cielo Drive, home of actress Sharon Tate and her husband, director Roman Polanski. After stabbing Abigail Folger, Krenwinkel went back inside and summoned Tex Watson, who also stabbed Folger. During her trial, Krenwinkel said, "I stabbed her and I kept stabbing her." When asked how it felt, Krenwinkel replied: "Nothing, I mean, what is there to describe? It was just there, and it was right."

Krenwinkel participated willingly in more murders the following night. Krenwinkel recounted during her December 29, 2016 parole hearing the events of the night of August 10, 1969. Along with Manson, Watson, Atkins, Clem Grogan, Leslie Van Houten, and Linda Kasabian, Krenwinkel went to the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca where Krenwinkel, Watson, and Van Houten murdered the couple.

As of November 2020, Krenwinkel remains incarcerated at the California Institution for Women in the Chino district of Corona, California. She is now the holder of the record as the longest serving female prisoner in the state of California. She will be eligible to have a further parole suitability hearing in 2022; when she'll be 76.