In a highly anticipated development, Lyle and Erik Menendez, known as the “Menendez Brothers,” are scheduled for separate parole hearings this week, marking the closest they have come to freedom after spending nearly three decades in prison. The brothers were convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home.
The case, which captivated the nation, revolved around two competing narratives. The brothers’ defense team argued the murders were an act of self-defense following years of alleged sexual abuse by their father. In contrast, prosecutors contended the killings were a cold, calculated plot to inherit their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate. Despite the defense’s claims, a jury sentenced the brothers to life in prison without parole in 1996.
The brothers’ path to parole opened in May when a Los Angeles judge reduced their sentences from life without parole to 50 years to life. This resentencing made them immediately eligible for parole under a California law that applies to individuals who were under the age of 26 when they committed their crimes.
The hearings will be conducted via video conference, with Erik’s scheduled for Thursday and Lyle’s on Friday. A panel of parole hearing officers will assess whether the brothers pose an “unreasonable risk of danger to society” if released. This assessment will consider their criminal history, motivation for the crime, behavior in prison, and demonstrated remorse.
Even if the board grants parole, freedom is not guaranteed. The decision must be reviewed by the chief legal counsel within 120 days. Subsequently, California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, has 30 days to either affirm or deny the parole. Newsom, who previously ordered a risk assessment of the brothers, has noted that he is the “ultimate arbiter” of such decisions.
The push for the brothers’ release has gained significant momentum recently, fueled by support from celebrities like Kim Kardashian and a growing number of advocates who see them as victims. The case has been reignited in the public consciousness through recent documentaries and a Netflix drama series, which have brought new attention to their claims of abuse.
The brothers, through their attorney, Mark Geragos, have also been pursuing a habeas corpus petition to have their convictions reviewed based on new evidence of the alleged abuse. A judge has ordered prosecutors to explain why the case shouldn’t be reexamined. As the parole hearings begin, all eyes are on San Diego as the brothers’ three-decade-long quest for freedom reaches a pivotal moment.
