US EditionMenendez Brothers Receive Parole Hearings After Decades in Prison
After resentencing to 50 years to life, the Menendez brothers face parole hearings amid legal debate and public interest fueled by recent media portrayals.
- Erik Menendez begins his hearing via videoconference Thursday from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, with the California parole board expected to issue a same-day ruling under strict media blackout.
- The resentencing in May opened the path to parole for Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted in 1996 for the August 20, 1989, murders and now eligible under California youthful offender law due to their age under 26 at the time.
- Parole records show the brothers were rated 'moderate risk' by the Board of Parole Commissioners, with documented rule violations and over 20 supportive relatives backing them.
- If the board recommends parole, a 120-day legal review follows before Governor Gavin Newsom has 30 days to decide, potentially delaying release by up to five months.
- Renewed media portrayals have revived public debate over the Menendez case, with Netflix's Monsters reigniting interest; then-DA George Gascón recommended resentencing, opposed by Nathan Hochman, while the 2023 habeas petition cited new evidence advancing legal review.
23 Articles
23 Articles
For years, Chandrika M. Kelso has worked with Lyle and Erik Menéndez in prison, as they became leaders in non-violence workshops, meditation groups, and a palliative care program for elderly and sick inmates at the R.J. Donovan Correctional Center near San Diego. He heard the gossip in the prison courtyards this year, when the case of the brothers returned to be the public care center, driven by two new programs in Netflix and campaigns on youth…
Menendez brothers’ parole hearings underway
(KTLA) – The Menendez brothers’ parole hearings got underway Thursday morning, with each of the brothers having their own day in court. Erik Menendez, 54, and Lyle Menendez, 57, have spent the last 35 years behind bars for the shotgun killings of their parents, Jose Menendez and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home. “I believe that these parole hearings for Erik and Lyle Menendez are going to be historical days, given the no…
Gov. Gavin Newsom has final say on Menendez brothers' freedom
(NewsNation) — A California parole board will hear arguments this week over whether Erik and Lyle Menendez deserve to be released, but even if the brothers are given the green light, their freedom will ultimately be in the hands of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Under state law, Newsom has the final say over parole decisions, adding an additional hurdle for the brothers, who have spent three decades in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents. The bro…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
