Relatives of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who have served about 35 years behind bars for the 1989 shotgun slayings of their parents, said Wednesday that they welcome a two-month delay in the brothers’ parole hearing, giving them time to prepare a case in support of the siblings’ release.
The parole hearing for the brothers had been originally set for June 13, but was rescheduled for Aug. 21-22, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The brothers had been serving sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole, but last week Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic re-sentenced them to 50 years to life in prison, making them immediately eligible for parole consideration because they were younger than 26 when the crime occurred.
The brothers had already been scheduled to appear before a parole board on June 13 in connection with their attorneys’ request that the governor consider granting them clemency. But in light of Jesic’s re-sentencing decision, that hearing was converted to a parole consideration hearing, pending any objections from attorneys on either side.
According to CDCR, “objections were received” to the scheduling of the parole hearing, prompting the delay of the matter until August.
In a statement Wednesday, the Menendez family said they wanted additional time to prepare for the appearance before the parole board.
“Now that Erik and Lyle’s clemency hearing has been converted to a suitability parole hearing, a few things have changed,” according to the family. “This is a different and rigorous process, and practically speaking, requires that the victims’ family be given proper notice under Marsy’s Law to provide time to prepare.
“Given the change, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s decision to move the hearing is a recognition of our rights.”
The family added: “We look forward to Erik and Lyle’s hearings on August 21 and 22, 2025, and as always, remain cautiously optimistic. We are grateful that Erik and Lyle have an opportunity to speak directly to their insight, remorse, and their rehabilitation journey. It’s an opportunity to demonstrated that if given the chance to re-enter society, that they are prepared to lead a purposeful and productive life.”
If the parole board recommends the brothers for parole, the issue will then be forwarded to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who will have 90 days to review the matter and could reject the parole grant. Attorneys for the brothers have also submitted a request for Newsom to consider granting the pair clemency.
Lyle Menendez, 57, and Erik Menendez, 54, have spent about 35 years behind bars without the possibility of parole for the Aug. 20, 1989, killings of Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez in their Beverly Hills home. The Menendez brothers claim the killings were committed after years of abuse, including alleged sexual abuse by their father.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman, however, has opposed efforts to secure their release, saying they have repeatedly lied about the motivation for the killings. He said the brothers most notably contended earlier that they carried out the crime because they believed their parents were planning to kill them.
However, Jesic said during a hearing last week he was convinced the brothers deserved a new sentence due to all the work they did in prison on behalf of the inmate population. The judge also noted unexpected letters he received in favor of the Menendez brothers from correction officers, including a lieutenant.
In a 2023 court petition, attorneys for the brothers pointed to two new pieces of evidence they contend corroborate the brothers’ allegations of long-term sexual abuse at the hands of their father — a letter allegedly written by Erik Menendez to his cousin Andy Cano in early 1989 or late 1988, and recent allegations by Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo, that he too was sexually abused by Jose Menendez as a teenager.