The Menendez brothers, who were convicted of murdering their parents in a case that shook America more than three decades ago, are a step closer to being released on parole.
The District Attorney of Los Angeles County has suggested a resentencing for Erik and Lyle Menendez due to new evidence warranting further examination.
The notorious 1989 killing of Kitty and Jose Menendez in their Beverly Hills home shocked the United States and even inspired a recent Netflix series.
For the brothers to be released, a judge must first accept the resentencing recommendation, followed by parole board approval.
Erik Menendez, now 53, and Lyle Menendez, 56, are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole in California.
The trial highlighted their motive for the killings, during which their parents were shot 13 times while watching TV.
George Gascón, the Chief Prosecutor of LA County, stated on Thursday, “I believe the brothers endured significant dysfunction and molestation at home.”
He further stated that although murder cannot be excused, “I believe they have paid their debt to society.”
In their trials in the 1990s, the prosecution depicted the brothers as rich kids who meticulously orchestrated their parents’ murder to inherit their wealth.
Conversely, their defense claimed the brothers were responding to prolonged emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, acting in self-defense.
This latest development from Mr. Gascón, who is currently facing a challenging re-election, is based on newly surfaced claims of sexual abuse.
A newly uncovered letter from Erik Menendez to another relative from 1988 reveals details about the alleged abuse by their father, Jose.
Additionally, a former minor member of the 1980s Puerto Rican boy band Menudo alleges that Jose Menendez, an executive at RCA Records at the time, drugged and raped him during a visit to the Menendez home.
The case began on August 20, 1989, when the brothers, then 18 and 21, called the police to report discovering their parents’ bodies after they returned home.
The question remains: Will the Menendez brothers be granted their freedom?
Mr. Gascón announced his office’s intention to submit a re-sentencing recommendation on Friday. This submission will include detailed evidence and arguments supporting a reduced sentence.
In the next 30-45 days, a hearing is set to take place where a judge will consider arguments concerning their potential release. The brothers may also be present. The hearing is likely to be divisive.
Mr. Gascón acknowledged that some members of his team might oppose him during the proceedings.
Kitty Menendez’s brother, Milton Andersen, has vehemently accused the district attorney of engaging in political games.
Even if the parole board agrees to their release, Governor Gavin Newsom of California has the authority to overturn this decision.
In May 2023, the Menendez brothers submitted a motion that introduced new evidence in their case, requesting the overturning of their convictions.
This announcement came 12 days before Mr. Gascón’s challenging re-election bid, though he refuted claims that his decision was politically motivated, asserting that it had been in consideration for a long time.
What were the Menendez brothers accused of doing?
Jose and Kitty Menendez were discovered deceased in their Beverly Hills home, having been shot 13 times in August 1989.
Their sons, Erik and Lyle, reported to the police that they had found their parents dead upon returning home.
The severity of the crime initially led investigators to suspect mafia involvement.
However, the brothers began to attract suspicion due to their extravagant expenditures, including purchases of Rolex watches and their indulgence in gambling and parties.
Their downfall was precipitated by a confession to their psychologist, which was secretly recorded by the doctor’s girlfriend and subsequently handed over to the police.
Charged by the police in March 1990, they faced trial in 1993, where they confessed to the murders but claimed they acted in self-defense.
They detailed long-standing emotional, physical, and sexual abuse by their father, Jose, who was a Hollywood film executive.
During the trial, Lyle and Erik testified that they had confronted their parents about the sexual abuse, which led to a violent altercation as they believed their parents intended to kill them.
While family members testified to witnessing abuse, none could confirm the sexual abuse allegations firsthand.
The prosecution contended that the brothers were motivated by financial gain, specifically their parents’ $14 million fortune.
The prosecutors depicted the brothers as spoiled sons who believed they could escape any consequences.
Their initial trial resulted in a mistrial, but a subsequent trial in 1995 found them guilty of first-degree murder.