Van Houten, like Leopold, deserves parole

Van Houten, like Leopold, deserves parole

Kudos to the California Parole Board for recommending parole for Manson Family killer Leslie Van Houton who has spent the last 50 years locked up for the grisly murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in 1969. At 19 Van Houton was the youngest of Manson's followers. Her crime and prison conduct bear a strong resemblance to another teen convicted of a grisly murder 95 years ago who earned parole after just 34 years of incarceration.

Nathan Leopold was also 19 then he joined his psychotic lover Richard Loeb to commit their infamous 1924 ''thrill killing' of Loeb's 12 year old cousin in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood. The case is one of many termed the 'crime of the century' but probably deserves the honor for two reasons: it started the movement to end the death penalty, and, based on Leopold's amazing life during and after prison, argues eloquently against life imprisonment.

Graduate students at the University of Chicago in 1924, Leopold and Loeb, 18, fancied themselves Niettzschean supermen (Ubermenschen); men so gifted they were not bound by the normal laws of society. Their fascination with crime led them from petty theft to arson and finally murder, bashing in the head of young Loeb relative Bobby Franks. Satisfied they committed the 'perfect crime' it took only a week for their arrest. Within 4 months they were sentenced to life after pleading guilty.

Had they been poor and/or black, Leopold and Loeb would surely been executed. But they were rich and white; allowing them to hire the 'attorney for the damned', Clarence Darrow, who took their case to promote his opposition to the death penalty. His 12 hour summary convinced the judge in their sentencing hearing, resulting in seemingly certain life in prison. Their landmark case began the long, unfinished journey to abolish capital punishment; gone now in 18 states.

Loeb was killed by a fellow inmate in 1936. Leopold, a genius, added 12 languages to the 15 he'd already mastered. He made significant contributions to improving conditions at Statesville Penitentiary, including reorganizing the prison library, revamping the schooling system, teaching its students, and volunteering in the prison hospital. In 1944, Leopold served as guinea pig for a prison malaria study. He was deliberately inoculated with malaria pathogens and then subjected to multiple experimental malaria treatments.

Leopold's exemplary conduct won him parole in 1958 after serving 34 years. He relocated to Puerto Rico where he became an X-Ray technician in a church hospital. He went on to earn a master's degree and taught at the University of Puerto Rico, became a researcher in social services in Puerto Rico's health department, did research in leprosy, urban renewal and housing, and traveled extensively to research a book he published on Puerto Rico bird life. He married a widow in 1961 who was with him till his death at 66 in 1971.

Nathan Leopold's case argues not only for abolishing capitol punishment, but for modifying our sentencing guidelines to offer a path for similar offenders to demonstrate both their rehabilitation and their readiness to rejoin society at some point. Nobody lost when Nathan Leopold was paroled after 34 years. No potential murderer thought that 34 years imprisonment was a fair trade to kill someone. As much as Nathan Leopold gained from his freedom, society achieved even more.

Van Houton has also led an exemplary life behind bars these past 50 years; earning a masters's degree and heading up programs to council troubled inmates. California should stop wasting tax dollars further confining a woman seduced into murder as a teen by a psychopath. She is no threat to society. Her release further debunks the foolish concept of life without parole without consideration of rehabilitation.

The Board's recommendation goes to Governor Gavin Newsom in 150 days. He should act justly and mercifully, returning Van Houton to the society she forfeited half a century ago. Our better angels will be pleased.