Menendez Brothers Set to Face Their Fate at Parole Board Hearing: Will They Go Free? By Liam Quinn

Lyle and Erik Menendez could be one step closer to freedom, as the brothers are set to face the California parole board beginning on Thursday, Aug. 21.

The Menendez brothers have been incarcerated for more than three decades after they were convicted of the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in Beverly Hills. They were originally sentenced to life without parole.

In May, however, a judge resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole, due to their young ages at the time of the murders. Lyle was 21, while Erik was 18.

Lyle and Erik do not dispute that they killed their parents, but have long contended they were sexually abused by their father, which Kitty was allegedly aware of but did nothing to prevent.

Over the past several months, efforts to free the Menendez brothers have seemingly gained steam and there are now multiple avenues that could lead to their releases, including possible parole.

The Associated Press reported that the parole hearings will be in front of a panel of two or three members of a commission that will assess the brothers separately. Erik is set to appear first on Aug. 21, with Lyle slated for the following day, according to the state’s parole hearing schedule.

“As always, our family remains cautiously optimistic, grounding ourselves in the reality that California’s parole process is incredibly rigorous, with low grant rates,” the Menendez family said in a statement, noting the brothers have a “stellar record” behind bars. “We respect that and know Erik and Lyle are prepared for that level of scrutiny.”

“We know that Erik and Lyle will come home, that is no longer a doubt. We just hope that they are granted this second chance in time to hug their Aunt Joan and Aunt Terry,” the statement continued, referring to the brothers’ elderly relatives who are supportive of their potential release.

If granted parole by the panel, the brothers would not walk free immediately. The panel’s decision is subject to review by the parole board’s legal office, which would have 120 days to evaluate the decision, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

If the legal office approves of the parole decision, it is then sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has final say over their potential release and could decide to affirm or reverse the decision, or send it to the full parole board for another vote.

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Newsom was previously asked if he would grant the brothers clemency — but he requested the parole board to perform a risk assessment first.

The brothers also have a separate legal effort that could lead to their release if successful. In May 2023, they filed a habeas corpus petition that claimed new evidence supported their claims of sexual abuse.

In July, a judge ruled that the government needed to explain why the brothers’ convictions did not warrant a second look.