Story perspectives

Parole Denials Keep Bruce Davis Locked Up Until Death

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 11:31 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Bruce Davis died at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville on Sept. 11, 2026.
He was serving life after a 1972 conviction for the 1969 murders of Gary Hinman and Donald “Shorty” Shea.
Governor Gavin Newsom, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Governor Jerry Brown repeatedly rejected parole board recommendations for Davis.
During a 2014 parole hearing, Davis said he wanted to be cult leader Charles Manson’s favorite guy.

History

Historical Context

California’s parole policy shifted in 1976 when Governor Jerry Brown signed the Uniform Determinate Sentencing Act, converting indeterminate sentences to fixed terms and curbing parole eligibility. The change helped fuel a nine-fold prison population rise and created a system that now supervises over 148,000 adult parolees. Bruce Davis, a 1969 Manson associate, has faced repeated denials from Governors Schwarzenegger, Brown and Newsom.

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Story summary

Bruce Davis died at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville on Sept. 11, 2026.
He was serving life after a 1972 conviction for the 1969 murders of Gary Hinman and Donald “Shorty” Shea.
Governor Gavin Newsom, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Governor Jerry Brown repeatedly rejected parole board recommendations for Davis.
During a 2014 parole hearing, Davis said he wanted to be cult leader Charles Manson’s favorite guy.

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