After more than three decades behind bars for the infamous 1989 murders of their parents, Lyle and Erik Menendez are facing the most consequential week of their lives. The brothers, whose televised trials in the 1990s gripped the nation and ignited fierce debates over wealth, trauma, and justice, are each appearing before California’s parole board in separate hearings—Erik on Thursday, August 21, 2025, and Lyle on Friday, August 22—via video feed from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.
The hearings mark a pivotal turning point in a saga that has never quite faded from public consciousness. Once sentenced to life without parole for the shotgun killings of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, inside their Beverly Hills mansion, the brothers are now newly eligible for parole after a Los Angeles judge in May 2025 reduced their sentences to 50 years to life. The change stems from California’s youthful offender law, which grants parole consideration to those who committed crimes before age 26—Erik was 18, and Lyle 21 at the time of the murders.
Each brother’s hearing is being conducted separately, with different parole board members and prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office involved in each case. According to ABC News, the panels typically consist of two or three commissioners, all appointed by the governor, and a deputy commissioner who is an administrative law judge. The commissioners are tasked with weighing a host of factors: the brothers’ criminal histories, their conduct and rehabilitation while incarcerated, psychological evaluations, and statements from the DA’s office, victims’ relatives, and the public.
“There will be different parole board members each day. There will be different lawyers from the D.A.'s office each day, as well, is my understanding,” attorney Mark Geragos told KABC. “And you're going to have a different proceeding. Each brother, if you will, stands or falls on their own.”
While the hearings are expected to last two to three hours, the process is anything but swift. Even if the parole board recommends release, the decision is subject to a 120-day review by the board’s chief counsel for legal or factual errors. Only after this review does the case move to Governor Gavin Newsom, who then has 30 days to approve, deny, or modify the board’s recommendation. If all hurdles are cleared, the brothers could walk free in about five months.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, now led by Nathan Hochman, has made its opposition clear. “We have consistently opposed their release because they have not demonstrated full insight into their crimes or shown that they have been fully rehabilitated, and therefore continue to pose a risk to society,” Hochman said in a statement, as reported by Fox News Digital. He further accused the brothers of “never fully accept[ing] responsibility for the horrific murders of their parents” and of maintaining a “false narrative of self-defense that was rejected by the jury decades ago.”
Hochman also cautioned against letting the renewed media frenzy—fueled by popular Netflix dramatizations and documentaries—sway the process. “While recent documentaries and films have drawn renewed attention to this case, parole decisions must be based solely on the facts and the law,” he insisted. “Justice should never be swayed by spectacle. My personal opinions are irrelevant. What matters and what guides my office is the evidence, the facts of the case, and the application of the law.”
Yet the Menendez brothers’ push for freedom has drawn an unusual coalition of supporters. Over 20 relatives of the victims, Jose and Kitty Menendez, are expected to address the board in favor of release—an uncommon occurrence in parole proceedings. In a family statement distributed by the Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition, they said: “For more than 35 years, they have shown sustained growth. They've taken full accountability. They express sincere remorse to our family to this day and have built a meaningful life defined by purpose and service.”
High-profile advocates have also weighed in. Kim Kardashian, who visited the brothers in prison and has become an outspoken supporter, wrote in an NBC News essay: “We owe it to those little boys who lost their childhoods, who never had a chance to be heard, helped or saved.” Kardashian cited their academic achievements, hospice work, and mentorship roles behind bars as evidence of transformation. Other celebrities, including Rosie O’Donnell and rapper X-Raided, have publicly backed the brothers, while the Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” has introduced the case to a new generation.
Inside prison, both brothers have participated in the Echo Yard program for inmates with exemplary behavior. Erik co-founded hospice and victim empathy programs, while Lyle launched a mentorship group for youth offenders and a prison beautification effort. Their attorneys describe them as model inmates. However, recent infractions—such as being caught with cellphones—could weigh against them. “The board is really big on the philosophy that if you can't follow the rules in prison, you can't follow the rules in free society,” parole attorney Michael Beckman told the Associated Press.
The parole board’s risk assessment rated both brothers as “moderate risk”—not the lowest category, but not considered highly dangerous either. This status means the board will scrutinize their rehabilitation and readiness for release even more closely. If denied parole, the brothers could face a three-to-fifteen-year wait before another hearing, though their moderate-risk status might allow for a review after just one year.
Media access to the hearings is tightly restricted. According to Newsweek, no live audio or video coverage is permitted; only a pool reporter from the Los Angeles Times may observe from a state facility, with updates released after the sessions conclude. State officials say these measures are necessary to prevent misinformation and ensure a fair process.
Governor Newsom, who holds the final authority, has so far avoided watching the Netflix dramatization, stating on his podcast, “I don't want to be persuaded by something that's not in the files.” Newsom previously ordered a comprehensive risk assessment after former DA George Gascón recommended resentencing, emphasizing that “this process simply provides more transparency, which I think is important in this case, as well as provides us more due diligence before I make any determination for clemency.”
As the parole board weighs whether the Menendez brothers are fit for release, the case remains a lightning rod for debates over justice, rehabilitation, and the enduring scars of family trauma. Whatever the outcome, it’s clear that the Menendez story continues to challenge assumptions and stir strong emotions—just as it did more than 35 years ago.
