Menendez Brothers Denied Parole After 1 Year Petition for Release

The Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, were denied parole after a meeting with the California parole board on Friday, following a year-long petition for their release. The brothers were famously convicted of maliciously murdering their parents in 1989. The decision was handed down on Friday after a virtual hearing, which included statements from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, Lyle and Erik Menendez, and their supportive family member, who were also considered victims of this tragedy.

The Crime and Initial Trials

On August 20, 1989, Erik and Lyle entered the family’s den inside their Beverly Hills home, where they shot and killed their parents, José and Kitty Menendez. Both brothers have continued to state they killed their parents out of fear after a lifetime of abuse, especially at the hands of their father, José.

Their first trial ended in a mistrial as the jury couldn’t decide between the charges of murder or manslaughter. In the retrial the following year, the brothers were not allowed to claim self-defense after a ruling from the state’s high court. Prosecutors had also found evidence that Lyle had asked a friend and ex-girlfriend to make false claims in favor of their defense, which prevented Lyle from testifying during the retrial. Erik and Lyle were then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Menendez Brothers’ Chance for Release

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced on October 24, 2024, that he would seek to have both Erik and Lyle resentenced to 50 years to life, based on good behavior, which would immediately make them eligible for parole. A judge ruled on May 13th, 2025, that the brothers did not pose a serious risk to society and resentenced Erik and Lyle to 50 years to life.

The judge set forth a date in August 2025 for hearings with the California parole board to determine whether the brothers would be released on parole. Each brother held a separate hearing: Erik’s on August 21st and Lyle’s on August 22nd. In each hearing, both brothers were denied parole, with each denial lasting up to three years. Both hearings cited evidence of prison rule violations as reasons for the denied parole. 

What’s Next?

While these parole hearings did not go in favor of Erik and Lyle Menendez, their journey towards being released is not over. Under a 1988 California state law, Governor Gavin Newsom has the ultimate decision on whether the brothers are to be released or not. This law allows the California governor to approve, deny, or modify parole board decisions for convicted murderers who are sentenced to an indeterminate term.

The first step would be for the parole board’s decision to go under an internal review, which can last up to 120 days. From there, Governor Newsom has 30 days to approve or reverse the board’s decision. Both Erik and Lyle have sought clemency from Governor Newsom, but that process is ongoing.