In August 1989, the Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, stepped into the family den of their Beverly Hills mansion, where their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, were relaxing and watching TV. What followed was unthinkable: over 15 gunshots rang out, leaving both parents dead. It was the horrifying end of a childhood that the brothers later claimed was filled with abuse of every kind, including sexual abuse by their father.
Fast forward six months, and the two brothers were arrested for first-degree murder. Their trial began in July 1993, and the courtroom drama that unfolded would grip the nation. Prosecutors argued that the brothers killed their parents to inherit their fortune. They pointed to the brothers’ wild spending spree after the murders — over $700,000 on fancy jewelry, cars, and even homes — as proof. The district attorney’s office claimed they had planned the killings to cash in on their inheritance, insurance money, and anything else left in their father’s will.
But the defense had a completely different story to tell.
Led by attorneys Leslie Abramson and Jill Lansing, the defense painted a chilling picture of life inside the Menendez home. They said the brothers had endured years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from their father, José. Both brothers testified in agonizing detail, describing the horrors they allegedly suffered.
By the time the trial ended in January 1994, the jury was deadlocked — unable to agree on a verdict. Interestingly, the split seemed to fall along gender lines. Many female jurors believed the brothers acted out of fear and voted for manslaughter, while most male jurors pushed for first-degree murder. The divide wasn’t just about the evidence; it also seemed influenced by Erik’s sexual orientation, which prosecutors had tried to make part of their case.
The case went to a second trial in 1995, but this time the rules were very different. The judge, Stanley Weisberg, banned any mention of sexual abuse. He also removed the defense’s argument of “imperfect self-defense,” which would have required proving the brothers believed their lives were in immediate danger. This made a manslaughter conviction impossible, leaving the jury with only one option: murder.
In 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Over the years, the brothers tried to appeal their convictions, but by 2005, all their efforts had been exhausted. It seemed like their fate was sealed.
But by 2023, new evidence came to light that could change everything.
A letter Erik wrote to his cousin in December 1988 — eight months before the murders — surfaced. In it, he described the sexual abuse he said he was enduring from his father. Around the same time, a former member of the boy band Menudo revealed that José Menendez, a powerful entertainment executive, had sexually abused him in the 1980s. Armed with this new evidence, the brothers’ lawyers, Cliff Gardner and Mark Geragos, filed a petition to challenge their convictions.
For months, the petition sat untouched. But in September 2024, the case gained new momentum thanks to a Netflix series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The show reignited public interest in the case, especially among Gen Z, who took to platforms like TikTok to express their support for the brothers. By October 2024, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón recommended resentencing the Menendez brothers, opening the door for a possible new chapter in their lives.
Not everyone agreed with Gascón’s timing, with some accusing him of trying to boost his reelection campaign. By November, a new DA, Nathan Hochman, took over, and a hearing about the brothers’ potential release was delayed so Hochman could fully review the case.
As of now, there are three main ways the Menendez brothers could be released from prison.
One possibility is clemency from California Governor Gavin Newsom, though he has said he will wait until the DA finishes reviewing the case before making any decision. Another option is a new trial, based on the newly discovered evidence. But a retrial could be tricky. It would require significant resources and time, and finding an impartial jury for such a high-profile case might be next to impossible.
The most likely path seems to be resentencing. If the court decides the new evidence and the brothers’ behavior in prison warrant a lighter sentence, the case could move to a parole board. There, officials would decide whether to release Lyle and Erik after nearly 35 years behind bars.
The Menendez brothers’ time in prison has been marked by remarkable efforts to improve themselves and help others. Lyle earned a sociology degree and started support groups for abuse survivors, while Erik earned multiple college degrees and worked with sick and disabled inmates. Together, they launched a program called Green Space, aimed at creating a healing environment for inmates.
Many argue that the brothers have already served far more time than others convicted of similar crimes. Lyle has even spoken about seeing fellow inmates convicted of murder come and go while he and Erik remain behind bars.
The story of the Menendez brothers is about more than just a crime. It’s about the lasting scars of childhood abuse and how society views victims. Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s, discussions about abuse were rare. Domestic violence wasn’t even officially recognized as a crime in the U.S. until 1994. At the time of their trial, the idea that a father could sexually abuse his own children was shocking and largely dismissed.
Today, society has a deeper understanding of abuse and its long-term effects. Research shows that trauma can take years to process and can lead to extreme actions like those taken by Lyle and Erik. Movements like MeToo and organizations supporting abuse survivors have helped shift the conversation, making it clear that abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of wealth or background.
As the brothers await their next hearing in January 2025, their case continues to spark debate. Whether they are ultimately released or not, their story has shed light on the devastating effects of abuse and how far we’ve come in understanding and addressing it.
In Lyle Menendez’s own words: “It wasn’t even accepted back then that fathers could be predators. It took decades after our trial for people to understand that child molesters aren’t just creepy strangers in trench coats but can be anyone — a teacher, a coach, a father. Now, people know better.”
