In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills mansion. The brothers were 18 and 21 years old at the time, and they shot their father multiple times with a shotgun purchased shortly before the attack. Their mother suffered 10 gunshot wounds. Initially, the brothers claimed they discovered their parents deceased upon returning home but were arrested following a tip related to Erik’s threats against a psychologist.
In 1996, both brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder, receiving life sentences without the possibility of parole. A significant change occurred in 2024 when the Los Angeles district attorney, George Gascón, sought to have their sentences reduced to 50 years to life. A resentencing hearing took place where the brothers apologized for their actions, and the judge ultimately ruled in their favor, citing their eligibility under California’s youthful offender law.
In May 2025, a judge made them eligible for parole, but they were denied release in August of that year. Erik Menendez, 54, and Lyle Menendez, 57, were deemed to still pose a risk to public safety. During his parole hearing, Erik was informed he had not demonstrated exemplary behavior in prison. Lyle’s board cited his violent past and ongoing issues with impulse control.
Going forward, both brothers can apply for parole again in three years, which may be shortened to 18 months with good behavior. California Governor Gavin Newsom is evaluating a separate clemency request for them.
The brothers’ case received renewed attention following the release of Netflix’s drama, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” in 2024. The series drew interest from the public and celebrities, further complicating the narrative surrounding their actions and motivations, which they claim were responses to long-standing abuse, though this was not substantiated during the original trials.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y2dgep4zzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss