For the first time in decades, Lyle and Erik Menendez are beginning to feel hope regarding their potential release from prison. The brothers, who have spent over 30 years behind bars for the notorious murders of their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home, expressed this newfound optimism in a recent jailhouse interview with TMZ, which aired on Fox. "My brother and I are cautiously hopeful," said Lyle Menendez, 57, during the interview. "Hope for the future is really kind of a new thing for us. I think Erik would probably agree with that. It's not something we've spent a lot of time on."
The Menendez brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996, sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the 1989 shotgun killings of their parents. The case shocked the nation, not only due to the brutal nature of the crime but also because of the dramatic courtroom proceedings that followed. Their first trial ended in a hung jury after both brothers detailed years of sexual abuse they claimed to have suffered at the hands of their father, a high-powered music industry executive. However, prosecutors in the second trial cast doubt on these claims, arguing the brothers acted out of greed, aiming to inherit their parents' wealth.
As they prepare for a parole hearing scheduled for June 2025 and a resentencing hearing in mid-April, the brothers are reflecting on their lives if they are granted freedom. "What I want to do in terms of my day-to-day life is much of what I'm doing in here. I want to be an advocate for people that are suffering in silence," Erik Menendez, 54, told TMZ. He added, "Lyle and I aren't talking about leaving prison—should we be able to get out—and not looking back. Our lives will be spent working with the prison and doing the work that we're doing in here, out there."
Part of their bid for parole hinges on a risk assessment that will evaluate whether the brothers are still considered a threat to society. Both Erik and Lyle assert they have changed during their time in prison. "I'm striving to be a better person every day, and I want to be a person that my family can be proud of," Erik stated. "Who I've evolved into, who I've seen Lyle evolve into. I'm beginning to like myself, be proud of myself, and find it's okay to like myself."
In prison, both brothers have initiated rehabilitation programs for disabled and elderly inmates and have taught classes on trauma healing and meditation. "Our best moments are the ones that are not spoken about, and we just help somebody, or we help an animal, or we make somebody smile that's feeling down that might have gone and harmed themselves if we weren't there," Erik said, speaking of their volunteer work.
Despite the upcoming parole hearing, uncertainty looms over the brothers' future. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman recently withdrew a motion for resentencing that had been filed under his predecessor, George Gascón, signaling a tougher stance on the case. Hochman has publicly stated he will not support the brothers' release, though the final decision rests with a judge. This move has stirred controversy within the DA's office, as two former prosecutors who worked under Gascón and advocated for the brothers' resentencing have filed a legal case against Hochman, accusing him of harassment, retaliation, and defamation. They claim they were demoted because of their stance on the case and have faced intense public scrutiny as a result.
Some members of the Menendez family have also criticized Hochman, suggesting he is allowing personal bias to influence his actions. However, Hochman denies these allegations. "Hochman doesn't seem to want to listen or engage with us," the brothers' cousin Tamara Goodell told US media. Goodell accused the prosecutor of dismissing and ignoring the family, stating he is "not acting like a neutral party." Public opinion on the case remains divided. In the same TMZ special, Alan Abrahamson, a former Los Angeles Times reporter who covered the Menendez trials in the 1990s, described the brothers as "two of the most skilled and accomplished liars." He expressed concern that the Menendez brothers are capable of adapting their narratives to suit their audience.
Tom Linehan, a former Beverly Hills detective assigned to investigate the murders, echoed Abrahamson's sentiments, stating, "This is the most heinous murder case I've had." Linehan believes the Menendez brothers were motivated by money and that they grew up accustomed to getting whatever they wanted. "If somebody is challenging what they want to do, they'd take them out if they had to," he added. As they await their parole hearing, the brothers remain hopeful that the board will view their case differently. "You never know how long you'll be blessed to be on the Earth, so we don't sit around waiting for something," Lyle said.
In addition to their legal battles, the Menendez brothers have expressed gratitude for the Netflix series created by Ryan Murphy, which dramatized their story and brought renewed attention to their case. Lyle commented on the series, stating, "We were able to see quite a bit of it. I watched some of it through video chat that they allow us to do here and obviously we've seen a million clips of it on TV and heard about a lot about it so we feel like we've seen the entire thing but we have not yet." He praised the performances of the cast, particularly Cooper Koch's portrayal of Erik, saying it was "pretty extraordinary," and noted that the series helped educate many people about the trauma they experienced during their childhood.
Despite the criticisms the series faced upon its release, the Menendez brothers have found a way to view it positively, acknowledging its impact on their healing process. Lyle remarked, "Once you shine a light on it, the bullying and trauma tend to find healing or recourse. I feel that Ryan Murphy's project did just that, and for that reason, I think we are grateful." As they look toward the future, the Menendez brothers are committed to using their experiences to help others, should they be granted their freedom.
