The Menendez Brothers Just Got Their Shot at Freedom — and It All Comes Down to Next Week

The long-awaited resentencing hearing for the Menendez brothers, who are both serving life in prison for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez, has been set for next week.

On Friday, May 9,  Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic announced that the fate of Erik, 54, and Lyle, 57, will be determined during court dates scheduled for May 13 and May 14, according to the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. The decision comes months after the brothers’ initial resentencing hearing in December 2024 was delayed multiple times.

Since their 1996 convictions, the brothers fought for decades to be released from prison, claiming self-defense. They’ve said they feared for their lives after claiming that Jose had sexually abused them for years with Kitty’s knowledge, and that Jose had threatened to kill them if they told anyone.

However, prosecutors at the time said the brothers’ motive was greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the slayings.

In October 2024, then-Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón formally recommended that the brothers each be resentenced to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole. He said the two would qualify as “youthful offenders” due their ages at the time of the killings. (Erik was 18 and Lyle was 21.)

However, Gascón lost the November election to Nathan Hochman, who then opposed his predecessor’s resentencing recommendation. Hochman previously said at a press conference that the brothers have not taken full responsibility for their crimes and accused them of telling “lies” for the “past 30 years.”

While Hochman tried to withdraw the resentencing request, Jesic denied it, the New York Times reported.

Still to be determined is whether Governor Gavin Newsom’s risk assessement investigation request to the state parole board can be considered as part of the brothers’ bid for resentencing. Newsom has said his decision on clemency will not be made until after their final hearing.

Many members of Lyle and Erik’s family have openly supported their bid for release, including their maternal aunt Joan VanderMolen.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.