Susan Atkins, a follower of Charles Manson who took part in the killing of pregnant actress Sharon Tate nearly 40 years ago was denied compassionate release Tuesday.

Atkins, who was a leading character in one of the most horrible crimes in California history, hoped to be allowed to go home, because she is dying due to brain cancer.

But the Board of Parole denied her release.

Although supporters of Atkins’ release outnumbered the ones who opposed the request, the 12-member California Board Of Parole voted unanimously to deny Atkins’ desire to die out of prison. The opponents of Atkins’ release spoke for only 20 minutes, Los Angeles Times informs, but it seems that was enough to convince the Board. Relatives and friends of the eight people murdered by the Manson gang in 1969, recalled the tragedy that happened in that summer.

“Obviously, it was too hot of a potato for them to handle," said one of Atkins' attorney, Eric P. Lampel, as quoted by ABC News. “Of course we're disappointed. There's no basis for denying this.”

Atkins, 60, has served 37 years in prison so far, which is longer than any other woman currently a prisoner in California. She suffers from brain cancer, has one of her legs amputated and the other paralyzed, and the doctors said she has only a few months to live.

“Susan has served a life sentence,” Virginia Seals, Atkins' sister-in-law, said, hoping to impress the Board. “This is about her death.”

Atkins’ husband, James Whitehouse, argued that his wife could not even sit up in bed or snap her fingers, so there was no reason to keep her incarcerated anymore.

When she was arrested for killing Sharon Tate, Atkins said she was on LSD at the time of the crimes. She gave cold-blooded confessions and details about her criminal actions, but she only apologized for her terrible deeds during a parole hearing several years later.

Along with the victims’ families and friends, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was also against the compassionate release of Atkins.

“Those kinds of crimes are just so unbelievable that I am not for compassionate release in that case,” Schwarzenegger said Tuesday before the parole board took the decision.