A Los Angeles judge has given prosecutors 30 days to explain why Lyle and Erik Menendez should not be granted legal relief that could overturn their long-standing murder convictions.
The ruling, issued by Judge William Ryan, marks a major development in the decades-long case. The Menendez brothers have been in prison since the 1990s for the brutal shotgun murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, but have consistently claimed the killings were the result of years of sexual and emotional abuse, particularly at the hands of their father.
As part of their habeas corpus petition, the brothers submitted new evidence they argue supports those claims, including:
- A 1989 letter Erik allegedly wrote to a cousin describing sexual abuse by his father—written before the murders.
- An affidavit from Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo, who accused Jose Menendez of raping him.
Judge Ryan ruled that the brothers had made a prima facie case for relief, meaning there is sufficient basis to warrant a full review—unless prosecutors can prove otherwise within the 30-day deadline.
The order directs the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Sex Crimes Division to respond and justify why habeas relief should not be granted.
District Attorney Eric Hochman has previously expressed opposition to overturning the convictions, questioning the credibility of the newly surfaced letter from Erik and calling it “not credible evidence.”
Even if the petition fails, both brothers still have a path to potential release. In May 2025, they were resentenced to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole immediately. Their parole hearing is scheduled for August.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also has the authority to grant clemency, though he has said he will wait until the parole board makes its decision before considering such action.
The Menendez case remains one of the most infamous family murder trials in U.S. history, and this latest development could mark a turning point in the brothers’ decades-long bid for freedom.
