Lyle Menendez has been denied parole, just one day after his brother Erik’s request was also rejected. Despite the setbacks, the brothers may still have future opportunities for release.
The Menendez brothers have been incarcerated since 1989, when they were arrested for the murders of their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez. Convicted in 1995 and originally sentenced to life without parole, their punishment was later reduced to 50 years with the possibility of parole after years of appeals and family advocacy.
Lyle’s request this week was his first parole attempt since the sentence reduction. A panel of two commissioners ruled against him, citing public safety concerns, and ordered that he remain in prison for at least three more years before reapplying.
The decision came only a day after the California parole board rejected Erik’s parole, stating he would “pose an unreasonable risk to public safety” if released. Erik will also be eligible to reapply in three years.
During his hearing, Erik was criticized for failing to be a model prisoner. Commissioner Robert Barton pointed to prison violations including drug smuggling, inappropriate behavior with visitors, and unauthorized phone use. Barton said that Erik’s crimes, particularly the killing of his mother, showed a troubling lack of compassion.
Following the denial, Erik’s wife, Tammi, claimed on X that the hearing was “a complete setup,” alleging that the commissioner had decided against him from the start.
The brothers’ strongest chance at freedom may come from a habeas corpus petition filed in May 2023. The petition challenges the legality of their imprisonment and seeks a new trial. While the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office opposed the filing, a judge is still reviewing it.
The petition gained traction after Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo, accused Jose Menendez of sexual abuse in the Peacock docuseries Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed. Rosselló has said his testimony could have changed the outcome of the brothers’ second trial.
California Governor Gavin Newsom could also intervene. His office has acknowledged that he has the power to grant clemency, though he has said that reviews must be thorough before any decision is made.
The Menendez brothers’ legal battle has stretched over three decades, with resentencing hearings, new evidence reviews, and multiple appeals shaping their path through the justice system.
For now, both remain behind bars, awaiting either a successful appeal, a future parole opportunity, or a potential act of clemency.
