The Menendez brothers, whose 1989 murders of their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion once transfixed the nation, are back in the spotlight as California’s parole board weighs their fate nearly 36 years after the crime. On Thursday, August 21, 2025, Erik Menendez, now 54, was denied parole after a marathon hearing that stretched nearly 10 hours, marking a major setback in his and his brother Lyle’s decades-long quest for freedom. Lyle Menendez, 57, faces his own parole hearing on Friday, August 22, 2025, in what could be a pivotal moment for the infamous siblings.
The case, which first erupted into public consciousness in the early 1990s, has seen renewed interest in recent years—spurred by documentaries, true crime series, and fresh legal scrutiny. The brothers, Lyle and Erik, were convicted in 1995 of first-degree murder for the shotgun killings of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Their grisly crime—committed in one of America’s wealthiest neighborhoods—became a national obsession, especially after televised trials revealed a tangled web of family dysfunction, allegations of sexual abuse, and the brothers’ extravagant spending spree in the aftermath of the killings.
On August 20, 1989, Lyle Menendez called 911 to report the murder of his parents. Both brothers initially claimed the killings were related to Mafia activity or their father’s business dealings. But the truth unraveled when Erik confessed to his psychologist that he and Lyle had committed the murders. The brothers would later claim they acted out of fear, alleging years of emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of their father, Jose Menendez—a prominent Cuban-American business executive. Prosecutors, however, argued that greed was the real motive, pointing to the brothers’ lavish purchases of Rolex watches, cars, and homes after their parents’ deaths.
Their first trial in 1993, televised gavel to gavel, ended in hung juries for both brothers. The retrial, held without cameras and with tighter restrictions on testimony about sexual abuse, resulted in convictions for first-degree murder and life sentences without parole. As Robert Rand, a journalist who has covered the case for decades, put it, "It was clear politics had a major impact on the second trial, because the D.A.’s office had suffered a string of major high-profile case defeats."
For years, the Menendez brothers’ appeals were denied by state and federal courts. Yet, inside prison, they sought to reshape their lives. Both engaged in education, participated in self-help classes, and launched support groups for fellow inmates. They even started a prison beautification project inspired by Norway’s rehabilitation-focused incarceration model. Over time, the Menendez case became a staple of true crime media, most recently with Netflix’s 2024 drama, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
Their legal fortunes shifted in May 2025, when a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge reduced their sentences to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole. This development followed a petition by prosecutors in October 2024 to resentence the brothers, citing new evidence and shifting legal standards for crimes committed by young adults. According to the Associated Press, because both were under 26 at the time of the murders, California law allowed for their immediate eligibility for parole after the sentence reduction.
The parole hearings, held via video feed from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, drew intense scrutiny from both the public and the media. Erik’s hearing was particularly grueling. Parole Commissioner Robert Barton, a former district attorney, led the questioning, probing Erik’s criminal history—including burglaries as a teen, prison rule violations, and a recent incident involving a contraband cellphone. Barton stated, "Contrary to your supporters’ beliefs, you have not been a model prisoner, and frankly we find that a little disturbing." He cited Erik’s drug use, participation in a tax fraud scheme, and persistent use of cellphones in prison as evidence of ongoing rule-breaking.
During the hearing, Erik Menendez expressed remorse for his actions, telling the board, "I just want my family to understand that I am so unimaginably sorry for what I have put them through from Aug. 20, 1989 until this day, and this hearing. I know that they have been here for me and they’re here for me today, but I want them to know that this should be about them. It’s about them and if I ever get the chance at freedom I want the healing to be about them." He called the murders a "forever crime" and acknowledged the lasting trauma inflicted on his family.
Despite these statements, Commissioner Barton was unpersuaded. He concluded that Erik was not in "imminent fear" for his life before the murders, directly refuting the brothers’ long-standing defense. Barton also suggested that financial motives played a significant role. The board ultimately determined that Erik still represented an unreasonable risk to public safety. As a result, Erik cannot seek parole again for three years, though he may petition to appear before the board in as soon as 18 months.
Family members, about 20 of whom attended the hearing virtually, voiced support for the brothers’ release. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, on the other hand, opposed parole, insisting that the brothers had not fully taken responsibility for their crimes. In a statement after the hearing, the Menendez family said, "Our belief in Erik remains unwavering, and we know he will take the Board’s recommendation in stride."
Lyle Menendez’s parole hearing, scheduled for the following day, could yield a different outcome, as parole panels are independent and weigh each case on its own merits. Should Lyle be granted parole, the process would still require further review by the California Board of Parole chief counsel and Governor Gavin Newsom—a process that could take months. Governor Newsom, for his part, told reporters he had refrained from watching documentaries or news coverage about the Menendez brothers to avoid any bias, stating, "So the facts themselves will speak for themselves, not my opinion, not what’s on TikTok or what’s on YouTube."
Beyond parole, the brothers have pursued other legal avenues, including a habeas petition based on new evidence of alleged sexual abuse by their father and fresh accusations raised in recent documentaries. In July, a judge ruled that there was enough evidence to consider their claims, and prosecutors have been asked to respond. The outcome of those proceedings could yet impact the brothers’ fate.
The Menendez saga, with its blend of Hollywood intrigue, family tragedy, and evolving legal standards, continues to fascinate—and divide—the American public. As the parole process unfolds, the story remains a touchstone for debates about justice, rehabilitation, and the legacy of the 1990s’ tough-on-crime era. For now, Erik Menendez will remain behind bars, while Lyle’s future hangs in the balance.
