Janelle Delabar passed away at the age of 69 following a heart attack. Though she spent only a short time around the girls, that brief period left a lasting impression on her and became a meaningful part of her life story.
Janelle held a deep admiration for them, especially Sandy, whose act of kindness meant so much that Janelle kept the shirt Sandy gave her for all those years. It was a simple gesture that became a lifelong keepsake, a tangible reminder of a moment she never forgot.
Her connection to that chapter of history continued long after her time with the girls. Janelle became an advocate for the release of Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel, maintaining her own convictions about their lives and futures.
In the years that followed, Janelle pursued a different path, appearing in B-movie horror and science-fiction films. She seemed to embrace the fun of making these productions, regardless of how cheesy, low-budget, or over-the-top they might have been. One of her later films was Attack of the 50 Foot Cam Girl, a fitting example of the wonderfully unconventional world she enjoyed being part of.
I also remember a conversation that revealed something endearing about Janelle. She told me about being around the girls outside the courthouse. When I sent her a photograph from that time, she was surprised and asked how I had obtained it. I explained that it was available on the internet, and she responded that the girl in the picture was her. She had not even realized that she appeared in photographs that had been published over the years. That moment offered a glimpse of someone who was not particularly internet-savvy, yet had unknowingly become part of the photographic record of a significant period in history.
Janelle's story reminds us that even a brief encounter can leave a lasting mark. History is made up not only of its most famous names, but also of the people who passed through those lives, carried their memories forward, and preserved their own connections to the past.
Janelle will be remembered for the kindness she received and never forgot, the causes she supported, the films she enjoyed making, and the unique experiences that made her story her own.
Rest in peace, Janelle Delabar. May she be remembered with warmth and affection by those who knew her and those who continue to discover her story.
